Firstly, we need to concern about the type of wood, based on the suitability for the area and the look you want to achieve. There is a huge amount of choice, even within the same species, in terms of color and texture. The most common choices are Ash, Beech, Cherry, Maple, Oak and Walnut, with oak being the most popular for contemporary houses, although beech and maple are not far behind.

Secondly, you will need to choose the grade, these two things will largely decide price, the highest grade does not incorporate any knots, so that floors have a uniform color and texture; however, you might actually prefer the lowest grade which has color variations, as this is less monotonous and gives the floor more “character”. Your choice will depend largely on what effect you want to achieve and what other elements ofinterior decoration dominate the room.

Thirdly, you will need to choose patterns (e.g. strip, plank, herringbone, basket weave) and construction, such as solid through and through or engineered wood floors, which is composed of multiple layers of wood pressed together and actually produces a product with more durability and stability than solid wood.

Lastly, you will need to decide on the surface finish – most popular is polyurethane, which is water-resistant and protects the wood from moisture and mould. It also makes it very easy to care for and maintain.