The method used for your hardwood floor installation will depend upon the type of wood you have decided on, where the flooring will be installed and the type of sub-floor. Solid hardwoods look like traditional floorboards. They must be nailed down, and so can only be installed by nailing onto existing floorboards or directly onto joists.

"Floating floors" are floors that do not need to be nailed down. If you have a concrete sub-floor, a floating floor can be installed directly on top with underlay between the concrete and your new floor.  It is also possible to install floating floors on top of existing boards or where you have a mixture of both concrete and boards.

A floating floor can be either solid hardwood, through and through, or it can consist of a layered construction called engineered (real wood on the surface). Engineered boards are less prone to expansion and contraction and are ideal for kitchens, conservatories and rooms that have temperature and humidity extremes. Engineered boards are also compatible with under floor heating.

Once you understand what your hardwood flooring options are, picking just the right floor for the rooms in your home is made easier with our assistance. There are several species, colours and grain variations to consider. After your home decoration, the floor represents the largest expanse of colour or pattern in a room.

Your floor should compliment the furnishings and the whole feel of the space, as well as enhancing the unique personality of the room as a whole.