Journal

Notes on floors.

Guidance on choosing, laying and living with floors — from people who’ve spent twenty-five years on their knees getting them right.

Buying guide

Engineered vs solid wood, honestly.

Why engineered usually wins for modern homes — and the one case where solid still beats it.

Stuart Cairns6 min
Patterns

Herringbone or chevron: what’s the difference?

The two classic patterns, how they change a room, and what they cost to lay.

Aileen Bruce5 min
Heating

Wood floors and underfloor heating.

Which floors work over UFH, which warp, and how to lay them so they last.

Stuart Cairns7 min
LVT

Is luxury vinyl actually any good?

Where LVT shines, where it doesn’t, and how to tell quality from the cheap stuff.

Aileen Bruce5 min
Restoration

Don’t rip up those old boards.

Why sanding and restoring original floors usually beats replacing them — and costs less.

Stuart Cairns6 min
Care

Keeping a wood floor looking new.

The cleaning mistakes that dull a floor, and the simple routine that keeps it glowing.

Aileen Bruce4 min