The finish is the last thing that goes onto a wood floor, and in many ways it is the most important decision you will make. It sets the look, the feel underfoot and, crucially, how the floor copes with real life, children, pets, heels and the daily traffic of a busy London home. The two finishes we are asked about most are hardwax oil and lacquer. Here is how they differ, and how to choose.

What is hardwax oil?

Hardwax oil is a blend of natural oils and waxes that soaks into the timber rather than sitting on top of it. It hardens within the surface of the wood, leaving a natural, low-sheen finish that shows off the grain beautifully. Because the oil becomes part of the wood, the floor keeps its authentic texture. You feel the timber, not a coating.

What is lacquer?

Lacquer, sometimes called varnish, forms a thin, durable film on top of the wood. It seals the surface under a protective layer, which can be matt, satin or gloss. That film is what gives lacquer its hard-wearing, easy-wipe reputation, and it is why many pre-finished floors arrive lacquered as standard.

Look and feel

This is where personal taste comes in. Hardwax oil gives a soft, matt, natural appearance with real depth. It is the choice for anyone who wants the floor to look and feel like wood. Lacquer sits slightly above the timber and can range from a barely-there matt to a bright gloss, giving a crisper, more uniform surface.

Durability and everyday wear

Both finishes are tough, but they wear differently. A lacquered surface is very resistant to spills and scuffs, but when it does wear through, typically in doorways and other pinch points, the damage shows as a visible patch, and putting it right usually means re-coating the whole floor. Hardwax oil is more forgiving of that kind of localised wear, and small scratches tend to blend in rather than stand out.

Repairs and maintenance

This is the deciding factor for many of our clients. An oiled floor can be spot-repaired: a worn patch in front of the kitchen sink can be cleaned and re-oiled by hand, blending seamlessly, without touching the rest of the room. A lacquered floor cannot be patched invisibly. When it needs attention, the whole surface is screened and re-coated. For high-traffic areas, the ability to maintain an oiled floor area by area is a real advantage.

Day to day, both are easy to live with. Oiled floors like an occasional maintenance oil or soap; lacquered floors just need sweeping and a barely-damp mop. You will find our full routine in how to care for your hardwood floor.

So which should you choose?

• Choose hardwax oil if you want the most natural look and feel, and you value being able to repair and refresh high-wear areas without redoing the whole floor. It is our preference for most bespoke and period-home projects.
• Choose lacquer if you want a very low-maintenance, wipe-clean surface, a more uniform appearance or a higher sheen, and you are happy to re-coat the whole floor when the time comes.

In truth there is no single right answer. It depends on your rooms, your household and the look you are after. Whichever you choose, we apply finishes by hand on site for the best possible result. You can see finishes across our hardwood collection and on our bespoke floors, or we can bring samples to your home. Book a free consultation and we will help you choose the right finish for the way you live.

Underfloor heating has become one of the most popular features in modern homes and extensions, and the good news is that a real wood floor works beautifully over it, giving you warmth underfoot and natural character. The key is choosing the right board and installing it properly.

Can you put wood flooring over underfloor heating?

Yes, absolutely, but not every wood floor is suitable. Wood naturally responds to heat and moisture by expanding and contracting slightly. Over underfloor heating, which repeatedly warms and cools, you need a floor that stays stable through those cycles. That is where the type of construction matters.

Why engineered wood is the best choice

Engineered wood is the ideal partner for underfloor heating. Its cross-layered core is far more dimensionally stable than solid timber, so it moves very little as the floor heats and cools. You still get a genuine hardwood surface, so it looks and feels exactly like a solid floor, but it behaves far better over heating.

Solid wood, by contrast, moves more and is generally not recommended over underfloor heating unless very carefully specified.

Getting the installation right

• Commissioning: the heating should be run and the screed fully dried before the floor goes down.
• Acclimatisation: the boards need time to adjust to the room before fitting.
• Even warm-up: the temperature should be brought up gradually once the floor is laid.
• Board choice: mid-width boards and stable species tend to perform best.

Keeping your floor happy

Once installed, a few simple habits keep everything stable: bring the temperature up and down gradually with the seasons, avoid sudden spikes, and keep the surface temperature within the recommended limit. Rugs can trap heat, so we will advise on that too.

All of the engineered floors in our collection are suitable for use with underfloor heating, and can be made into bespoke patterns. Get in touch and we will help you specify the right floor for your heating system.

It is one of the first questions we are asked on almost every project: should I go for solid wood or engineered wood? Both give you a genuine hardwood floor with real character, but they are built differently and suit different situations. Here is a straightforward guide to help you decide.

What is solid wood flooring?

Solid wood flooring is exactly what it sounds like: each board is a single piece of timber, usually oak, all the way through. Its great advantage is longevity. Because it is solid throughout, it can be sanded back and refinished many times over its life, so a good solid floor can last for generations and be made to look new again decades from now.

The trade-off is that solid wood moves with changes in temperature and humidity. It expands and contracts more than engineered board, which is why it is not usually the best choice over underfloor heating or in rooms that see big swings in moisture.

What is engineered wood flooring?

Engineered wood has a real hardwood top layer, the part you see and walk on, bonded to a stable core of cross-layered plywood. You still get an authentic wood floor, but the layered construction makes it far more stable. It copes much better with underfloor heating, humidity and the drier air of modern, well-insulated homes.

Good-quality engineered board has a thick top layer, which means it too can be sanded and refinished, though usually fewer times than solid wood.

Which should you choose?

• Choose solid wood if you want maximum longevity, plan to refinish the floor several times over the years, and the room does not have underfloor heating.
• Choose engineered wood if you have underfloor heating, an open-plan or modern space, a basement or an apartment, or simply want a floor that is more forgiving of everyday conditions.

In practice, we specify engineered oak for most modern homes and extensions, and solid or engineered for period properties depending on the room. Both are available across our hardwood collection, and both can be made into bespoke parquet patterns.

Still not sure?

The right answer depends on your rooms, your heating and how you live. We are always happy to talk it through and bring samples so you can see and feel the difference. Book a free consultation and we will give you honest advice with no pressure.