-GB-Carpy wrote:

Now we are trying to decide between laminate flooring (looking at Witex
Castila range) and engineered wood flooring (such as Kahrs Linnea range).

I have Kahrs Oak London. Kahrs Linnea is the cheaper range closer to
laminate in thickness but with a thin veneer of real wood. So more real
than laminate but possibly not as robust as the full 15mm engineered type.


I think part of the problem is that there is simply too much choice out

Having chosen between laminate and veneered and engineered. The choice
is type of wood, which apart from appearance is a matter of hardness and
propensity to shrink/expand with change in temperature and humidity.

Then you can choose 1,2 or three strips per board, and width and length
of board. Careful choice of width and length may reduce wastage, other
things being equal.

You also get to chose how even and well matched the wood is. Ranges
described as 'natural' or some such mean more variation in grain,
colour, filled knots etc.

Oiled or lacquered? I was advised against oiled as part of the room is a
kitchen and oiled is prone to staining. OTH I find the lacquer finish a
little too shiny and more yellow. But its been down 18 months now and
sunlight and wear seems to be mellowing things.

On price: you pay more for: a rarer species; a thicker layer of wood;
the labour of selection and wastage implied by wider strips, matched
grain and colour etc. Many on-line shops have special offers for seconds
and bin ends ie pay less but have more wastage from planks with a really
odd looking filled knot or other imperfection in an obvious place.

[having laid my floor in autumn 2004, it had to come up last summer to
change pipework for a new boiler, the difference in colour after a year
between exposed and covered parts was noticeable. Took the opportunity
to swap out a couple of boards with really odd looking grain in obvious
places. and that was was a full price floor. So do check the boards
carefully as you lay them and think about what will be on show.]

Consider the room, will most of the floor be on show or hidden by
furniture and rugs?

there. Our floors are just floorboards, with plywood over the top. I'm
assuming I can just underlay straight over the ply and then get laying....

Assuming the ply is flat and firm yes. The 200 year old floorboards in
my flat are very uneven, That and the need for sound insulation led to
my using an acoustic foam layer on top of fibreboard.

Anyone got any more experience with either of these types of floors?



--
David Clark

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