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Hi all

I will be buying my wood floors in January, hopefully getting some bargains in the sales. I was thinking about engineered 3 strip. I am primarily looking for a floor that is hard waering rather than esthetics but didn't want to pay too much (<£30 per m2)

How does hardwood v's engineered v's laminate compare. To keep the cost down I am happy with smaller strips

Also any recommendations as to where to get good deals. Hard to tell when comparing floors as you can never really compare like with like (unless they give the manufacturer me thinks)


Cheers

Hi,
having laid many of the 3 types of flooring you are debating on it really comes down to a few things.
firstly the look of it as there is no comparison with a solid wood floor if laid correctly ie; angle nailed through tongues of each board.
Also it will be a lot firmer to walk on with a more solid feel to it.

Secondly engineered flooring is a nice alternative to the more common laminate and just as easy to lay as they usally all tend to be click type but bear in mind that as they are an overlay floor they will be floating and therefore have more of a bounce when walked on.

last of all is the good old laminate which aesthetically does not quite ooze the same quality as the afore mentioned but does have some obvious benefits other than the cost being lower.
These being they are resistant to marking by the almighty enemy of many a wood floor THE STILLETO HEEL
Spills are easy cleaned up and also heat will not mark the surface.

If you do decide to go for a real wood solid floor and it is in a place of high traffic such as front hallway then be expected to have to re laquar it every few years .

My favorite is the solid wood albeit it is the most work to lay.

Hope this helps