A hardwax oil finish is one of the best things you can put on an oak floor. It soaks into the timber rather than sitting on top of it, which means the wood keeps its natural feel underfoot and develops a genuine patina over time. It also means the floor is easier to maintain than most people expect, and far easier to repair than a lacquered alternative. But there are some things that will damage it, and a few common mistakes that shorten a floor's life unnecessarily. This guide covers...

It's one of the most common questions we get asked, and the answer is almost always the same. But it's worth understanding why, rather than just taking someone's word for it. Both solid and engineered oak are real wood. The difference is in how they're constructed, and that construction determines how they perform in a real home over decades, not just years. What is solid oak flooring? Solid oak is exactly that: a single plank of timber milled to a consistent thickness, typically 18 to 20mm....

When choosing a wood floor, most people focus on colour or finish, but the grade of the timber has just as much impact on the final...