The floor takes more punishment than any other surface in the house. The choice should follow the room, not what looks best in the showroom.
Room by room
Wood in bedrooms and living rooms, where it is dry and wear is moderate. Tile in hallways, utility rooms and bathrooms. Laminate where budget leads and traffic is heavy.
A wood floor can be sanded back several times. A laminate floor is replaced instead, once the wear layer is through.
The substrate decides
An uneven substrate is heard as creaking and seen as gaps in the joints. We measure moisture content and flatness before laying — levelling now is cheaper than relaying later.
Let the flooring acclimatise in the room for at least 48 hours before laying. Wood and laminate move with humidity, and a floor laid too early will cup or gap.
