# Kite Flooring
> Premium wood flooring and stair cladding, supplied and fitted in London
> Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.3, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.
## Posts
### [Kite Flooring Blog | Expert Tips, Design Inspiration & Flooring Guides](https://www.kite-flooring.com/blog/)
**Published:** October 27, 2021
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
Explore expert advice, design trends, and maintenance guides from Kite Flooring. Learn how to choose, install, and care for your engineered wood, laminate and parquet floors.
---
### [Everything but the floor: the renovation of plates, Shoreditch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/plates-restaurant-shoreditch-floor/)
**Published:** October 6, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** How we refloored plates on Old Street, the UK's first vegan Michelin-starred restaurant, in four days, without ripping up the old tiles.
**Content:**
This summer we refloored [plates](https://plates-london.com/) on Old Street, the UK’s first vegan restaurant to win a Michelin star.
Beautiful food. Beautiful joinery. And a floor that looked like a newsagent’s stock room and made the tables wobble.
## The floor that had to go
When a room is this good, a tired floor drags everything else down with it. It’s the biggest surface in the room. Every guest walks across it, every chair scrapes on it, and every wobbly table gets a folded napkin wedged under one leg.
The plates team had got everything else right. The floor was the last thing left.
## Why we didn’t rip the tiles up
Most people assume a new floor means tearing the old one out first. Sometimes it does. Here, it didn’t.
The old tiles were uneven, but they were structurally sound. Lifting them would have meant noise, dust and more days closed, and it can damage the screed underneath, which turns a flooring job into a building job.
So we left them where they were and levelled over them with compound to get a flat, solid base.
**A floor is only as good as what’s underneath it.** Get the base right and everything on top behaves. Skip it and no amount of expensive timber will save you.
## What went down on top
A smoked, textured engineered plank from our [Highbury Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-highbury-range/), picked to look like it had always been there. Not a shiny new floor that announces itself. A floor that sits quietly under the food and the joinery and lets them do the talking.
Then we gave it an extra coat of oil. A restaurant floor takes a full service every night: chair legs, spills, staff on their feet for hours. That extra coat is what keeps it looking good long after opening night.
## Four days
Four days later, the floor was done.
For a restaurant, every day closed is a day of no covers. Not having to strip out the old floor is a big part of why this one was quick.
## If your floor is fighting you
If you run or design a restaurant, bar or hotel and the floor is letting the room down, the fix is often simpler than a full strip-out. It depends on what’s underneath, and the only way to know is to come and look.
We supply and fit, so the person telling you what’s possible is the same team that’ll be doing it. Our showroom is at 5 Hackney Road, a short walk from Old Street, or we’re happy to come to you.
**[Book a Flooring Clarity Call](https://www.kite-flooring.com/clarity-call/)** and tell us about your space.
**Categories:** Inspiration
---
### [How to reach flooring nirvana; six essential Terms and Conditions you cannot ignore](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-reach-flooring-nirvana-six-essential-terms-and-conditions-you-cannot-ignore/)
**Published:** April 21, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** The six key flooring Terms and Conditions that you must read, whether you buy through Kite or any other flooring retailer.
**Content:**
Ok. Maybe we’ve been a bit strong there. But, unlike many other purchases, with flooring, whether you buy through us, or any other retailer, terms and conditions matter. We spend a great deal of time convincing people to read them. But every now and then somebody doesn’t. And then it has an effect on their dream home.
**Buying a floor is not like from ordering from ASOS.**
Why? because once a floor is fitted, it’s fitted. You can’t pop into your local Post office and send it back. The consequences of installing the wrong or faulty floor are dramatic, and stressful.
**It is not like ordering your new iPhone?**
Why? because it’s a natural product. This means you get faulty planks in good batches and this applies to all our floors, whether they’re premium floors made in Europe, or floors made in China.
**Buying a floor is not like buying from ASOS……**On the fitting side, we’re often reliant on our clients to project manage. We love our clients dearly, and we try to help them as much as possible, but the reality is many of them haven’t managed building sites before.
We never, ever want to fall out with people, but flooring projects always come at the end of a long building journey, which means stress levels can be off the scale.
To help you reach flooring Nirvana, we’ve put together a list of some of our key terms and conditions. A full list is available on our website – [Terms And Conditions.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/terms-and-conditions/)
## 1. **The Installers Responsibility** (Supply only)
Every flooring retailer in the world will have a policy that states the installer is to be responsible for fitting the correct floor.
Our wording is as follows –
***“It is the installer’s responsibility to carry out a final inspection of the floor prior to installation to ensure the colour, grade, quality, manufacture and finish are acceptable. On average, 1% to 2% of our boards may have a defect on them. This can vary from a crack, to a slightly raised knot. Please, please, make sure the product is checked with the end user, before it is fitted.”***
Our wording goes on, but the bottom line is that once the floor is fitted, you can’t change it or make a claim. This all sounds very dramatic. And in truth, it is
> Check the floor before it is fitted**!**
**We recently had a client who installed the wrong floor after a batch of flooring was delivered with too many knots, and it was heartbreaking for everyone.**
As a small business, you have to stop the liability somewhere, as the costs of replacing floors can get scary.
So, the simple strategy is to make sure you or your installer check the floors before they’re fitted. If we’re fitting the floor, we have more control, but we ask our clients to be onsite the first day of installation. If this is not possible, please ask us to send pictures.
**If you’re on holiday, and this is actually when we have most problems, please make sure your installer has clear instructions on the type of finish you are expecting.**
## **2. The rip out into the unknown…**(Supply and fit)
At Kite, we’re passionate about fitting floors. This doesn’t make for an easy life, especially in old houses. In fact, the majority of flooring businesses simply supply floors. But fitting floors is in our DNA; we don’t feel you can give great advice without knowing how to fit.
At Kite, we work with a lot of old properties, and if we’re removing old floors, such as carpet, tiles, laminates, solid floors, or even skirting, there is always an unknown lurking beneath.
This is really tricky for customers to get their heads around, because they want an exact price before we start work. But that’s not possible. These additional costs, can include extra subfloor work, such as securing floor boards, filling in holes, or levelling work. The worst case, is when we discover a floor so uneven that structural work has to be done. Damp can also be discovered, especially in basement flats. We always try to talk through the different scenarios with clients prior to removing floors, but sometimes, even we are surprised.
So, if you have a rip out on your project, please prepare for the unexpected.
## **3. You can’t fight chemistry! Dry times and humidity.**
Wood is a natural product that picks up moisture, so site conditions have to be stable for fitting. This means no excess humidity or excessive temperatures; a Relative Humidity (RH) between 40% and 65% and a temperature of between 18 and 22 degrees are ideal conditions. If we are laying on a concrete screed, the moisture content must be less than 4% (if we are using our [Tramex moisture tests](https://tramexmeters.com/concrete-moisture-meters)).
We have a survey team that inspects properties prior to installation, and it’s binary. The site will either pass or fail. And if the site fails, we have to delay, which is never fun when kitchens and decorators are booked to come in afterwards.
Factors that cause high RH readings, are windows not being fitted, heating not being on, and plastering being done late. Moisture content in screed will be affected by humidity, the type of screed, airflow in the property, the depth of screed, and whether the underfloor heating system has been commissioned (it must be turned on and off gradually before we fit a floor). We have had scenarios where the heating is off, the windows aren’t in, and the screed simply does not dry.
***“We’ve used a special type of screed”*** is a comment we often get from builders, but, if the drying conditions aren’t right, the product will not dry.
## **4. “Our builders will sort the subfloor”**
This is another phrase we hear often. There are very strict guidelines within the [British Standards 8201](https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/) around what is allowable in subfloors (which is the structural surface we fit our floor to). As we’re the ones fitting the floor we’re inevitably strict on these conditions (and if you’re builder isn’t fitting he can be slightly…..lassaiz faire…).
Whilst we’ve already covered that the floor must be dry, it also needs to be;
-Solid, so no movement or squeaking. **It’s very common for contractors to use particle board or OSB panels for the subfloor instead of plywood.** For glue down flooring, such as Herringbone, this is a no no; it does not have the same stability. **Structural Plywood securely screwed down, must be used, or a levelling compound if the floor is concrete.**
Please don’t use this for your subfloor!
-Flat, with no dips. The golden rule is that there must be less than 3mm deviation across a 2m rule. It doesn’t necessarily have to be completely level, as long as you know that’s how the floor will be after your new flooring is installed.
-Clean and clear; no leftover tile adhesive, dust, or debris. Also, heavy items, such as furniture or tools removed.
There can sometimes be a little wiggle room in these rules, if we’re told in advance, but one of the messiest conversations we have to have is when a client has paid a builder to prepare the subfloor, and it then fails our test.
If in doubt, get Kite to do the subfloor.
## 5. **Other trades on site**
We get it. Your project is delayed. Costs have overrun. You’re paying for rental accommodation elsewhere. The kitchen company is booked for a certain date. Other trades are always pushing to get things completed so they can move onto the next job. Ahhhhhhhh………….
Flooring always comes at the end, so stress levels are at their highest. But you cannot fit a floor if people are walking on it. This may sound obvious, but when you are gluing a parquet, especially Herringbone, the slightest movement will throw the whole thing out, and you have to redo it.
And then who pays for that?
At Kite, we try and be as flexible as possible, and there are scenarios where we can work around other trades if we have prior notice, but the default position is we need a clear site. If our fitters turn up, and that’s not the case, we have to charge cancellation fees.
## 6. And finally, **Transition or Door Bars**
Where you have a floor running into another surface, you almost always have to leave an expansion gap; the wood will expand when it picks up moisture in humid months, and shrink when you turn on your heating. At Kite, we try to keep door bar use to an absolute minimum, and our profiles are the thinnest on the market, but we still have to use them.
Regular Transition BarsMetal Transition BarsWe do get clients who request “flush finishes,” where the timber is fitted tight to a surface. We also get clients who request metal door bars or metal inlays. Common scenarios where this is requested is where the wood runs into patio doors, full length windows in modern apartments, or transitions into tiles in open spaces.
These transitions are possible, but any special requests must be flagged with us well in advance of the installation, and ideally for a second time on the first day of installation.
Miscommunication is so easy on our projects, especially as we often confirm them months in advance. **Once a standard expansion gap is left, and the floor is fitted, it’s very hard to rectify.**
So there you have it, our six most common terms and conditions, that if you read and action them, you’ll have a smooth installation. Don’t read them, and we may fall out. And we really, really don’t want to do that.
If you want to read our full terms and conditions, these are listed here – [Full Terms and Conditions](https://www.kite-flooring.com/terms-and-conditions/)
Happy Project Planning.
For more key reading, here are some of our other blogs –
[How to fit a Herringbone Floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/)
[You want a wood floor but don’t know what to choose](https://www.kite-flooring.com/you-want-a-wood-floor-but-dont-know-which-to-choose/)
**Categories:** General Knowledge, Project Management
**Tags:** engineered wood, project management, Terms and Conditions
---
### [British Standards or BS. Why they matter and how to avoid problems in the future.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/british-standards-or-bs-why-they-matter-and-how-to-avoid-problems-in-the-future/)
**Published:** July 3, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
For those of us who work in the flooring industry, the **[British Standards 8201:2011](https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/)** is entwined in everything we do. But what actually is it, and does it actually matter if you’re buying a floor?
***Some light reading for your Summer holidays?***
For those of you who don’t know, The British Standards Institution, is a non-profit body that produces technical procedures on every aspect of the construction trade.
The standard that deals with flooring is the catchily named BS8201:2011. This is a document that sets out the *“Code of practice for installation of flooring of wood and wood-based panels'”.* It covers everything from how to plan your installation, the wood you should use, design and installation considerations, different fitting strategies for almost all of the key types of wood flooring, and maintenance and upkeep. It’s pretty detailed, even listing the timbers suitable for skating rink floors…(apparently Japanese maple works really well..)
### Keep reading!! We know you’re glazing over now… but this stuff is important.
This flooring code of practice is the small print of the industry; almost every flooring retailer in the UK will say *“floors must be fitted in accordance with BS8201:2011”.*
**And do you know what’s scary? Nobody has read it.**
Well, almost nobody, as we have. Our fitters have been trained under its guidelines, but a copy doesn’t reside in their vans in case they have a last minute query. If you’re working with a building contractor I can guarantee they won’t have read it.
## And why haven’t they read it?
Well, partly it’s down to cost. The cost to buy the report (unless you’re a member…) is £289 + vat. It’s also not exactly a page turner, stretching across 82 pages….and yet fitting floors to these standards is what protects fitting teams and ultimately consumers.
Why? Well, if you have a fault with your floor (and with natural products, it does happen… ) it will either be down to manufacturing or fitting. And if the floor is not fitted to British Standards… it gets messy, with blame being passed around, and a frustrated customer in the middle.
This oak layer is splitting, and the top layer is “delaminating”. Fitting or manufacturing error? It could be both..
**Paying attention now?**
So, the next question is what do you need to do as a consumer to protect yourself?
Well, the first thing is to have an awareness that it exists (and hopefully, you do now!). The second is to ask whoever is fitting the floor whether they fit according to British Standards?
You should get a general feel of how competent the person is from this answer. We talk at length about the standards with our customers (if they want to….). Some of the recommendations are very conservative, for example the requirement for expansion gaps with glue down flooring, and also the level of deviation allowed in a subfloor if you’re floating your floor. Many of the standards also differ from our European friends (…but that’s a blog for another time…).
**But we feel, any professional fitter, should know the rules of the game (even if they break them occasionally). And if they don’t even know there’s a rule book? Well, you probably shouldn’t let them play.**
***Happy Project Planning.***
To learn more about when you need a professional fitter, read our [article here.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)
You can also learn about how to choose a [new wood floor here.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/you-want-a-wood-floor-but-dont-know-which-to-choose/)
**Categories:** Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** bespoke flooring, engineered wood, oakflooring, parquet flooring
---
### [Flooring strategy for residential property professionals](https://www.kite-flooring.com/flooring-strategy-for-residential-property-professionals/)
**Published:** January 27, 2020
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
At Kite, whilst much of our work is with consumers, we also work alongside residential property professionals looking for a flooring strategy that will deliver the best returns. In Lettings, the factors to consider are i) minimising upfront spend, ii) ensuring the features of the product fit the use case, iii) maximising lifespan, and iv) giving sufficient “wow” factor. For Sales, we give “wow factor” more weighting, but the other factors are broadly similar.
i) Minimising upfront spend
This is generally the starting point for investors. But, remember, flooring is not simply based around product cost. Fitting should also be factored in, plus additional materials. Certain products, such as those with click systems, are easier to fit, other products are harder, such as Chevron or Herringbone engineered wood. Also, some products will require underlay, others will have it built-in. Get the full cost, before making a decision.
ii) Ensuring the features of the product fit the use case
Every product has features and benefits, as well as scenarios where they’re not suitable. For example, wood products and most laminate are not suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms, and solid wood floors are not suitable for use with underfloor heating. Acoustic properties should also be considered; vinyl products will minimise sound transfer in new-build flats, and if laminate or wooden floors are used, extra precaution should be taken with high-density underlay. In some leasehold flats the freeholder will even specify the type of underlay that should be used.
iii) Maximising lifespan
The flooring industry is very good at putting long warranties on products and then creating small print to ensure it’s almost impossible to ever claim! However, these warranties can still be used as a guide for durability. For most use cases, 10 to 15 years is sufficient, it is certainly not worth paying a premium for longer from an investment perspective. Some Luxury Vinyl Tiles come with a lifetime guarantee!
What is relevant is how the product performs when stressed or damaged. For example, an engineered wood floor will always struggle to withstand stilettos or a sofa being dragged across it. Vinyl or Laminate will barely mark. In the Private Rental Sector, the reality is tenants won’t maintain the floor with the same care as an owner-occupier, so a more resilient product will prevent deposit disputes at the end of tenancy.
iv) Giving sufficient “wow” factor
At Kite, we obviously love floors, but sometimes products just need to work. On the flip side, for certain Sales markets, a Herringbone or Chevron floor could deliver the “wow” factor to make the sale. At Kite, we can provide entry-level laminate for affordable rentals, that will last for years, be fitted quickly, and will deliver more than enough “wow” factor to attract suitable tenants. We also have trained carpenters that are able to fit the most complex of wooden floors in prime residence.
For advice on the best flooring solution for your next project, please contact [**info@kite-flooring.com**](mailto:info@kite-flooring.com). We’re a UK wide full-service operation and can quote any property in the UK within 72 hours and normally fit within two weeks.
**Categories:** Project Management
**Tags:** engineered wood, flooring, investors, laminate, landlords, luxury vinyl tiles, private rental sector, property management, yield
---
### [When off-the-shelf just won’t do; customising flooring specifications to meet your needs](https://www.kite-flooring.com/when-off-the-shelf-just-wont-do-customising-flooring-specifications-to-meet-your-needs/)
**Published:** March 6, 2020
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** At Kite, we believe in a curated range and our finishes cover almost all every scenario, from rustic to contemporary, from straight boards to patterned.
**Content:**
At Kite, we believe in a curated range and our finishes cover almost all every scenario, from rustic to contemporary, from straight boards to patterned. But we also know that sometimes standard specifications need to be adjusted. For example, sometimes an extra-wide or long board is needed. Sometimes the thickness of the board needs to be adjusted to fit with the structure of the property. Or, sometimes, a design professional has a specific budget they need to work to, and the product needs to be tailored accordingly.
We had an example of this recently with a Developer in Surrey. As is always the case with a project, flooring is one of the last products to be installed. Unfortunately, this project had run over budget, and there was no budget left to install the floor that had been previously specified. Inevitably, plenty of stress ensued for the contractor, as a solution was searched for. At Kite, we were able to match the product originally specified, but reduce the thickness of both the top layer and the board, thereby reducing the spend. This was then signed off by the architect. This brought the project back within budget.
We also had another project recently, where a Residential client wanted a 4mm top layer, on our natural oak flooring. Again, we were able to adjust our product accordingly, to meet the client’s wishes.
Bespoke, isn’t everything; we sell more products in standard sizes, as they are generally cheaper. But, if your project has a specific requirement, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’ll likely have the solution.
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Project Management
**Tags:** bespoke flooring, engineered wood, interiordesign, oakflooring
---
### [What flooring Interior Designers are choosing this Summer…](https://www.kite-flooring.com/what-flooring-interior-designers-are-choosing-this-summer/)
**Published:** June 3, 2020
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** At Kite, we’re lucky to work with a number of bold designers, who set the trends for 2020 and beyond. So what are they choosing for their flooring options?
**Content:**
As with many businesses, we’ve seen a significant slowdown over recent months. But fortunately, as lockdown has eased, we’ve seen business pick up, and now we’re hoping for a busy Summer. As we’ve dealt with before, choosing your new floor can be a scary; there are so many options, the tendency is to go for the safer “natural wood” option. At Kite, we’re lucky to work with a number of bold designers, who set the trends for 2020 and beyond. So what are they choosing for their flooring options?
**1. Darker finishes**
We had so many enquiries when we launched our business about darker finishes we developed our own darker colour scheme. As you can see from the images, darker wood creates warmth within a room. Contrasted against white walls, a dark floor can also make a room feel larger. Often people are nervous about going for a dark finish, but remember, in most rooms you have rugs and other items of furniture, which create contrast. Our finishes come with both a satin and rustic look.
This product can be viewed within our Newington Range – <https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-floors/engineered-wood/newington-range/>
**2. Parquet boards, again in a dark finish.**
Again this creates warmth, and contrasted with white walls, makes the room feel bigger. The most common forms of Parquet, are Chevron and Herringbone, and both can stretch the appearance of a room; if parquet is laid widthways, the room feel wider, lengthways, the room feels longer. Parquet also makes a design statement with your floor. We love the way this Chevron floor has been used in the Hoxton Hotel, Paris.
This product is part of our Bespoke flooring collection. Please [**contact us**](https://dev.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/) for a sample.
**3. Wide, long boards**
As a minimum, our clients have been requesting a 19cm width board, but we’ve also had a number of requests for wider boards, sometimes up to 23cm. Wider boards are normally specified for larger properties with high ceilings, but we’re also seeing them specified by designers, in smaller new-build apartments as well. Here is an example, from one of our manufacturing partners, with a wide board in a new build apartment –
Wide, long boards in a new-build apartment
Almost all our products are available in varying widths.
**4. Three strip floor wood floors can become a feature…**
Whilst not in our core range, we also offer a three-strip engineered product (these floors have three strips of wood on a single plank). These are often the cheapest form of engineered wood and are popular with Developers (it’s engineered wood, at the cheapest price!?….). With some products, you can barely see the strips, however, when part of a Mid-Century scheme, the strips can be accentuated, and like parquet, can become a feature. Here it is looking suitable retro, with a Mid-Century chair.
For advice, samples and pricing on three strip boards, or any of the other products listed here, contact us at **<info@kiteflooring.com>**
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Floor Choice
**Tags:** engineered wood, flooring, interiordesign, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [Do I need a professional floor fitter?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)
**Published:** April 26, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Professional fitters are not right for every project. But if you’re looking for a high-quality finish on your wood floor, and want that floor to perform over many years, then we would always recommend spending a little more money to achieve this.
**Content:**
Fitting a floor can be easy. It can also be hard. At every step of the process, from floor selection to subfloor preparation, to the cuts, to spotting defective boards, to managing challenges like skirting or kitchen units, there are decisions to be made, and actions to be taken. Make the right decisions, and you’ll get the perfect floor. Get it wrong, and you won’t.
***What do we mean by a professional fitter?***
Whilst there are NVQs and City and Guild Courses on floor fitting, it’s less common for fitters to have professional qualifications in the way other trades might have (..perhaps, one of the challenges we have in the sector..). Instead, fitters tend to train each other. But how do you as a consumer know if they’re any good?
Well, customer reviews are a good place to start reviewing pictures of their previous work (most fitters are very eager to share these….). If possible, try and visit one of their previous installations, and review the quality of their work. But also judge them by the type of questions they ask when surveying –
*-Do they discuss the different floor fitting strategies – glue down, floated, nailed and the advantages or disadvantages of each?*
*-If they propose floating the floor, do they test the condition of the subfloor with a spirit level?*
*-Do they explain how best to flow the floor throughout the property?*
*-If you’re going for a patterned floor, do they recommend glueing it to the subfloor, and do they explain what subfloor preparation is required?*
*-Do they discuss how the floor transitions in the property will be managed – and which door bars will be used?*
*-Do they test for moisture in the floor, with a professional moisture metre?*
*-Do they have a well maintained and tidy van, with the right tools for the project?*
From our experience, professional fitters fit a lot of floors and are in high demand. Our teams might fit 60 floors a year. A standard tradesman, with flooring as a side hustle, might fit for 4 or 5. This means they generally make the right calls more often. Their finish is also better.
***So do you need a professional floor fitter?***
At Kite, our view is sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t and it comes down to the following –
1. **The type of product you’re working with**
Laminate click systems are easy to fit, so can often be fitted by contractors. Shorter straight planks, with tongue and grooves, can also be straightforward, but there are still basic mistakes we see when contractors fit these products. If you’re working with a premium oiled floor, or extra long planks, we would always go with a professional. The same would apply to patterned floors such as Herringbone or Chevron.
**2. The level of finish you want to achieve**
If the property is your forever home, and you’re buying a premium floor, then you will want the perfect finish. If you’re on a budget or are relaxed about the final finish, then you can cut corners.
**3. The amount of flooring to fit**
Professional floor fitters work quicker than contractors – especially when they are paid by the m2! Our prime fitting teams, on average, work twice as fast as contractors we know. If you’re on a tight timeline or want to minimise disruption to your home, this should be factored in.
**4. Any technical work?**
Technical work is where professional fitters come into their own. Examples of this could be stair cladding, access hatches, subfloor levelling, and removal and refitting of skirting or undercutting, such as in bay window areas.
**But here’s the catch…Professional fitters will (…and should….) always be more expensive than a standard contractor.**
Why is this? Well to deliver the best finish, they’ll need the latest, well-maintained tools. If they work in the residential space, projects will be small, taking three or four days rather than extended periods of guaranteed income. As they work on a self-employed basis, they will often be delayed or rescheduled; so will need to earn sufficient income to cover quiet periods. They’ll also need to cover holidays (..which very few take…), and the unexpected (…theft from vans, is one current challenge our teams face..). Supply and Demand also play a part – for technical floors like Chevron or Herringbone, like many other sectors in the country, there’s a war on talent. Finally, you can’t fit floors forever, it’s hard work on your knees… so much like professional footballers, you have a career. Just with less money. But just as much job satisfaction 🙂
Professional fitters are not right for every project. But if you’re looking for a high-quality finish on your wood floor, and want that floor to perform over many years, then we would always recommend spending a little more money to achieve this. To get in touch, and book a consultation, just use the following contact form – [Book Consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Book Consultation").
**Categories:** Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** bespoke flooring, engineered wood, herringbone floor, oakflooring, parquet flooring, wooden floor
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### [Want your project to be on time and on budget?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/want-your-project-to-be-on-time-and-on-budget/)
**Published:** June 11, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Here’s the hard truth. Sometimes, you can’t fit flooring. So, we’ve written a blog, listing several common themes that delay fitting and/or cause cost creep.
**Content:**
Hello, refurbishment projects! We know at some point you’ll have “Fit Flooring” listed in your project plan (probably towards the end). But here’s the cold hard truth. Sometimes, for reasons we’ll explain, you can’t fit flooring.
And when you can’t fit flooring, your project delays, and it’s no fun for anyone.
So, we’ve written a blog, listing several common challenges that delay fitting and/or cause cost creep.
The good news? All these themes can be managed, provided you plan for them in advance.
### Moisture levels in concrete.
This is our biggest challenge, as moisture levels are almost never tested by contractors. Chemistry tells us that wood floors don’t like moisture and unfortunately, concrete can take a very long time to dry, especially when the property is not sealed, and the screed is deep. The industry guidance is 1mm per day, but if the property is not sealed, it can be the case that the screed will simply not dry at all. For all our projects we professionally test the moisture levels with a [Tramex meter](https://tramexmeters.com/), and if it’s above 4%, we can’t fit the floor.
If you have underfloor heating, moisture levels can also be reduced by “commissioning” your system (provided it is concrete screed, and not a quick drying levelling compound). This is the process of turning on the system, and then gradually increasing the temperature, leaving the system on for a few days, and then gradually turning it off again. All underfloor heating manufacturers will have a slightly different process, so check with them, they’ll always have technical guidance. If the system hasn’t been commissioned, we almost always find the moisture levels are too high to fit flooring.
**Readings of over 4% are very common when the property hasn’t been sealed or the underfloor heating system hasn’t been commissioned.**
### Get the rip out done early.
This is not always possible, but if you’re removing an existing floor, tiles, or skirting boards, it’s best to do this in advance of the fitting. To achieve the perfect floor, you often can’t finalise fitting strategy until this is done.
On rip out, you may discover the subfloor is more uneven or unstable than expected. You may also discover moisture issues, especially in basement flats or old properties. If these are discovered early, additional costs can be minimised, and factored into your budget. If you can’t do the rip out until the day of fitting, allow for a contingency in your budget.
In this property, the skirting was removed…and rising damp was discovered…(which can be treated..)### **If we’re gluing a floor down, it must be level… and we mean level.**
In a previous blog, we covered fitting strategy; whether you should glue or float a floor. If we’re going the glue down route, the subfloor must be completely flat and structurally sound. With concrete screeds, it is very rare for them to be finished in this condition, especially when they have been open to the elements.
We almost always then have to apply a levelling compound, with the costs associated with this. This also raises the height of the subfloor by c3mm, which can cause challenges with doors. Where there are floorboards, you must staple sheets of 6mm ply, but if the floorboards are very uneven, thicker ply can be used, but no thicker than 9mm, then stapling no longer works. If the floorboards are very uneven, ply can be fitted, and levelling compound applied on top (we cover this in a previous blog on Herringbone floors). **Note, the level of tolerance listed by British Standards for a glue down floor is 3mm across a 2m rule. At Kite, we sometimes take a view when it’s at 5mm, in very small areas, but if it is more than this, the area will need to be levelled.**
This is how level and flat the floor needs to be for glue down…here the a levelling compound is drying.
### **You cannot glue floors to everything**
We’ve already covered floorboards, but another common scenario we come up against, is when a subfloor is OSB or particle board – again with a glue down floor, we cannot bond directly to this, so ply needs to be fitted. Alternatively, make sure your builder uses ply for the subfloor, rather than cheaper forms of wood.
Examples of particle board… none of which you can glue floors to.### **Other contractors**
When we fit floors we insist on a clear site, with no other tradespeople working. We realise this feels like a big ask, but there are some pretty good reasons. Firstly, floors, once glued, take a while to settle, and if you walk across them, before this has happened, they move, and create unsightly gaps. The floor then needs to be refitted. We’ve had this scenario a couple of times, and it’s not ideal for anyone involved.
Our teams are super-efficient, so it’s best to let them have a clear run. On completion of works we’ll always take extensive photos, to show you the finished floor. In the event the property is still a building site, we recommend the floor is then covered using a professional Correx material; there is nothing worse than a contractor dropping a tool on your newly fitted floor.
### **Anything sitting on the floor?**
If we’re fitting a new floor, it may seem obvious, but there can be nothing sitting on top of it. This applies to heavy furniture, but also appliances, free standing radiators, and toilets. If these items are flagged in advance, we can almost always plan, but it’s far trickier if we discover them on the day of fitting. We can recommend a good plumbing service, that will remove plumbed in appliances, but as with all these themes, this needs to be planned.
Not one of our better days…. when we turned up to fit a floor here..
So, there you have it. 6 challenges you can now plan and budget for, which will help make your project run smoothly.
Of course, if you have any further questions on project planning, just let us know.
**Other blog posts to help you achieve the perfect floor**
[How to fit a Herringbone floor – what you need to know if you’re having one fitted.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/)
[6 factors that determine the price of your floor.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/6-factors-that-determine-the-price-of-your-floor-how-to-know-if-youre-paying-a-fair-price/)
[Do I need a professional fitter?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)
**Categories:** Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** engineered wood, oakflooring, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [Kite Flooring’s Top 10 Most-Loved Floors of the Year](https://www.kite-flooring.com/kite-floorings-top-10-most-loved-floors-of-the-year/)
**Published:** October 20, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
At Kite, our mission focuses on range curation. But recently, we’ve been reflecting (as many businesses sometimes do…), as we now offer a lot of choice! At Kite we spend many hours debating whether to bring a floor into our range, but even with this discipline, sometimes people still feel overwhelmed. We always get our clients to think along the lines of Shape, Colour and Texture, for the design style, and of course, budget should also be a consideration. So, here are our Top 10 Most-Loved Floors of the Year –
## 1. [**Newington Range – Lewis Rustic Plank Flooring – £78 per m2**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/ "Lewis Rustic – £78 per m²")
Shape – Plank, Colour – Rustic Raw Oak, Texture – Medium Brushed, Budget – ££
Our Lewis floor is the floor that looks good in any design scheme. High quality oils, on a rustic grade plank (so with knots). It’s more modern than a traditional yellow floor, but not too light and Scandi. It’s our best selling floor, because it always looks awesome, and the oil quality make it a family favourite. Raw oak coloured floors are also more forgiving than white or dark floors (they don’t show marks). Budget wise, this floor costs £78 per m2. *“But I can get a wood floor for £50 in a sale….and there’s a special one time, school holiday discount going on….just before the back to school discount… which is then before half term holiday discount”.*
Not all floors are equal, and the difference with a Kite Floor, is we do the oiling in Belgium, as opposed to China. It means we get a more durable, matt finish on our floors. This project was created in conjunction with [Palmer and Stone.](https://www.palmerandstone.com/)
Lewis Rustic Plank## 2. [Kent Range – Lewis Large Prime Herringbone – £102 per m2](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-large-prime/ "Lewis Herringbone Large Prime – £102 per m²")
**Shape – Herringbone, Colour – Prime Raw Oak, Texture – Medium Brushed, Budget – ££**
At Kite, we generally sell clean grade parquet (so the planks with very few knots). Why? Well rustic Herringbone or Chevron, can look too busy, as you have both knots and pattern. Our Lewis Large Herringbone is perfect for wider spaces, say greater than 3/4m, and is finished with the same versatile, and practical oil that is used on the Lewis Rustic Plank. This floor is also available in the medium size, 90mm by 400mm, and in a lacquered option as well. Herringbone can get quite technical from a fitting perspective, so make sure you read our blogs.
Lewis Large Herringbone## 3. [Newington Range – **Lauren Rustic Plank Flooring** – £84 per m2](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lauren-rustic/ "Lauren Rustic – £84 per m²")
*Shape – Plank, Colour – Rustic Red Oak, Texture – Medium Brushed, Budget – ££*
Sometimes our clients are looking for a floor a little warme, and more traditional than our Lewis. Our clients will sometimes then end up with a Natural floor, such as our Natural Oak floor, but the Lauren offers something a little different. It’s still mid-toned enough to work in any design scheme, but the finish is unique enough that you still make a statement with your floor.
Lauren Rustic## 4. [Premium Laminate – Light Oak – £36 per m2](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/light-oak-laminate-premium-flooring/ "Light Oak Premium Laminate Flooring – £36 per m²")
*Shape – Plank, Colour – Raw Oak, Texture – Medium Brushed, Budget – £*
At Kite we love laminate. But not the cheap stuff. Premium Laminates don’t really get sold in the UK, because most retailers default to the shiny stuff, that chips easily. But wide, long plank laminates, that are textured and don’t have repeating patterns can look very realistic. The good quality ones can also be made in a way that makes them water proof and super hard wearing. They don’t have the feel or the depth of colour as a wood floor. But they are a floor you can fit and forget about. It’s also one of the reasons we don’t understand vinyl. Good quality Laminate does the same job, for half the price.
The Light Oak colour is the most versatile and looks good in any design scheme. We look at why laminates are awesome here – [Premium Laminate.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/tag/premium-laminate/ "premium laminate")
Wide Plank Laminate## 5. [Kent Range – Lewis Medium Prime Herringbone (Lacquered) – £72 per m2](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-lacquered-medium-prime/ "Lewis Herringbone Lacquered Medium Prime – £72 per m²")
*Shape – Herringbone, Colour – Raw Oak, Texture – Medium Brushed, Budget – ££*
At Kite, our clients love our matt finishes, but also our cleaner grades (especially with Herringbone). The majority of our floors are oiled, but we also recently sourced a super strong, invisible lacquer that is so matt, the finish is almost identical to our oiled version. As a rule, lacquer is harder to mark than an oiled floor, and also requires less maintenance (it’s like a paint on top of the wood). The flip side, is it cannot be refreshed like an oiled floor, with a light coat of maintenance oil. As this is a more straight-forward finish, we have also been able to hit a cheaper price point. Note, this floor is also available in the larger size, 120mm by 600mm –
Medium Lacquered## 6. Newington Plus Range – Nude, Clean Grade, Lacquered – £102 per m2
*Shape – Plank Colour – Nude, Clean Oak, Texture – Medium Brushed, Budget – £££*
This is one of the more beautiful floors we do. The Nude colour sits between a natural oak floor, and our raw oak colour. It’s modern, but still has a warmth to it. This floor is also a clean grade, so has very few knots. It also has a more consistent colour, than our rustic floors. It’s finished with a super strong lacquer, making it exceptionally practical.
Our Newington Plus range is made in Germany, and has the added benefit of having the strongest credentials Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCS) we know the market, with every floor being tested for chemical emissions in a chamber for 30 days (you can learn about the [Eco-Institute in Germany here – Eco-Institute](https://www.eco-institut.de/en/ "Eco-Institute in Germany here - Eco-Institute")). The floors also have independently accredited sustainability accreditations (watch out for self-assessments, that happen all the time in UK flooring market).
**This floor is a cleaner grade, so with very few knots, but cheaper floors are available, if your happy with a more rustic grade.** If you want to learn more about our low VOC range, you can read here –[ VOCs and Flooring.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/should-you-worry-about-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-and-wood-flooring/ "Should you worry about Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and wood flooring?")
Lewis Nude## 7. Reclaimed Range – Camden Town, Dark Hard Wax Oil, with hand filled knots – £108 per m2
*Shape – Plank, Colour -Dark, Texture – Reclaimed, Budget – £££*
The Camden floor is a little but special. Dark and textured. A bit like Camden at 2am. This floor is finished with a dark hard wax oil and is hand scraped, and has plenty of colour variation. It’s as close as we can get to a genuine reclaimed floor, without being one. It also has the benefit if being compatible with underfloor heating. This floor is designed in Germany, so is milled and finished to precision.
Camden Town## 8. Reclaimed Range – Lewis Warm Reclaimed Hard Wax Oil, with hand filled knots – £108 per m2
*Shape – Plank Colour – Warm Oak, Texture – Reclaimed, Budget – £££*
This floor is a floor that makes us want to buy a warehouse conversion, and cover it in timber. The planks are scraped, textured and the finished with a slightly warmer version of our Lewis floor. The planks are 22cm wide, 2.2m in length, so perfectly proportioned for wider spaces.
Reclaimed Real Wood Flooring## 9. Epping Range – Natural – from £96 per m2
*Shape – Bespoke, plank or parquet, Colour – layered hard wax oils, Texture – Medium brushed, Budget – £££*
Our Epping Natural floor is our ultimate family friendly floor. This is a bespoke floor, so we can apply the finish on any shape, from narrow planks up to XXL, from herringbone to chevron. The most common platform we have used with this finish is our clean grade herringbone. This is our ultimate family friendly floor, as it’s mid-toned, so works with any design scheme, has some texture, so is less prone to scrapes an is a statement floor, with it’s layered oils (you can see the white oils that bring out the grain). It’s so cool, we even wrote a blog about it – [FAMILY FRIENDLY FLOORS.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-epping-natural-the-ultimate-wood-floor-for-families/ "The Epping Natural; the ultimate wood floor for families")
Epping Natural 2## 10. Iris – Genuine Reclaimed Flooring – From £200 per m2
*Shape – Plank, Colour – Hard wax oils, Texture – Reclaimed, Budget – ££££*
So, is this the ultimate floor? Certainly if you like reclaimed effect floors, this must come pretty close. This floor is made from reclaimed train wagons, that are spliced up, and then pressed onto a plywood base. This makes them work with underfloor heating. We have yet to meet a client, designer or architect who has not fallen in love with these floors. One high-end fitter we work with said fitting this floor in the Cotswolds was the highlight of his career. This floor comes at a cost, so it doesn’t work with many of our projects. But, if you have the budget, this floor can completely transform a space.
IrisSo, there you have it, our top 10 floors. Hopefully something for every style and budget. Of course, we also have plenty of other finishes, which you can either order samples of, or see at our showroom.
We’re a big believer that you can’t choose a floor based on small samples, as our best projects almost always start with a showroom visit. In terms of next steps, you can either learn more about our range, order samples, or book an appointment to come and see us.
**[OUR CURATED RANGE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/ "Our Curated Range")**
[SAMPLING SERVICE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/sampling-service/ "Sampling Service")
[BOOK ONLINE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Book online")
**Categories:** Designer Tips
---
### [Low-VOC Flooring: Should You Worry About VOCs in Your Wood Floor?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/should-you-worry-about-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-and-wood-flooring/)
**Published:** September 1, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
A few months ago, we had a client who came into our showroom after they had had a vinyl floor fitted by a local flooring shop in South East London. Immediately after the floor had been fitted, they noticed a strong noxious, plastic smell that made them feel dizzy. They opened windows, but it didn’t go away. Fast forward a few weeks, and the floor was tested, and it turned out it was off-gassing harmful chemicals or VOC (or volatile organic compounds), with the most likely chemical being 2‑EH.
## The short version: how to choose a low-VOC floor
- **Ask for the data sheet** and look for independent certification, such as eco-INSTITUT, GREENGUARD Gold, FloorScore or CARB Phase 2.
- **Beware self-certification.** A made-up logo and “low VOC” on the box prove nothing.
- **Floor type matters less than you’d think.** Some vinyl is certified low-VOC; some cheap floors of every type aren’t.
- **For the strictest standard,** look for eco-INSTITUT, tested over 28 days in a sealed chamber. Our [Newington Plus](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/) range is tested this way.
## So do these chemicals actually matter in flooring?
Well, general health advice would suggest that in the short-term these chemicals could give rise to headaches, dizziness, nausea, eye/throat irritation (as happened with our clients in South East London). And Long-term exposure (especially in vulnerable populations like children, elderly, and people with respiratory issues) has potential links to many more scary conditions.
Interestingly, however, there are not any widely reported legal cases or high-profile incidents in the UK involving flooring-related off-gassing. However, there is *credible evidence and scientific case studies* showing indoor air quality problems linked to flooring materials, particularly PVC and cheaper laminate products in Europe, including the UK. One thing, that may have caused this, is a potential **regulatory shortfall**: harmful formaldehyde exposure inside homes may go under-regulated due to workplace exposure limits being high, in the absence of residential guidelines.
## So, what can you do about it?
Obviously, you don’t want to buy a floor that is giving off chemicals and there are strategies you can adopt to manage the risk.
## **Firstly, you can ask for a flooring data sheet for your flooring, and look for independent certifications**
Most flooring that is made by reputable manufacturers will have some form of accreditation in terms of VOC content. These could include eco-INSTITUT, GREENGUARD Gold, FloorScore, CARB Phase 2. Whilst we don’t believe in vinyl floors at Kite, some vinyl manufacturers have these accreditations, showing that it is possible to have a low VOC plastic floor. It’s harder with bespoke floors (and we do sell these at Kite), but even with these there is normally data on the raw materials involved. If there is some form of accreditation on your flooring, whether you buy a floor from us, or somebody else, you will be fine.
Our clients who bought the cheap vinyl floor in South East London would have quickly discovered the floor wasn’t certified.
## **But, beware!! Look out for self-certification**
The wood flooring industry, as a whole, is a master of self-certification. But any person with a grasp of the wider world will know self-certification doesn’t work; look at the water companies, diesel emissions, tuna industry etc. etc.
We see companies all the time saying “Low VOC floors” and then including a made-up logo. But there can be very little science behind the claim. It is so easy to miss this, and the logos look genuine. It’s also very common to see logos of trees and then “sustainably sourced”. We know one large wood flooring retailer that has created their own Sustainability grading system! What could possibly go wrong with that?!
## **So, what is Kite doing about it?**
At Kite, we’re on a mission to be transparent about everything we do in flooring. This started with explaining how floors are priced (so no fake sales). And we’ve also looked at VOC content. Almost all our floors are CARB 2 compliant. This is a respected level of certification that originates from California and for most of our clients this is sufficient peace of mind that they are buying a properly made product.
However, we also have clients that want even more assurance. For that we looked to source a flooring range that was tested under the strictest possible standards. After a research visit to Germany, we discovered the [eco-INSTITUT (Germany).](https://www.eco-institut.de/en/) This is the strictest testing process in the world, where the products are left in a sealed chamber for 28 days. After this, the flooring chemicals are tested and they must reach the following standards –
**Limits (after 28 days in chamber) for eco-INSTITUT:**
- **TVOC:** < 0.25 mg/m³
- **Formaldehyde:** < 0.05 mg/m³ (often stricter in practice)
- **Carcinogens:** Essentially **0 tolerance
- **TSVOC (Semi-VOCs):** Strict limits
- **Odor:** Must be “low” to “imperceptible”
[A testing chamber at the eco-Institute](https://www.eco-institut.de/en/das-labor/)
These floors now sit in our [Newington Plus Range.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/ "Newington Plus") Finish wise they are just as beautiful as our Newington Range, and come in the same colour and similar grading, but they have been tested in an eco-INSTITUTE chamber.
They’re also slightly wider and longer than our standard ranges, and fully FSC certified (so genuinely sustainably sourced). From a construction perspective, you will also notice that they have a pine core, as opposed to plywood. Whilst we sell many plywood core floors, having a pine core reduces the amount of adhesive in the product. They are also a click system floor, meaning you don’t have to use PVA glue to attach the tongues into the grooves, again reducing the amount of adhesive. Finally, the finish is a lacquered finish.
They’re awesome for clients looking for a beautiful floor, with total peace of mind.
At Kite, we’re proud that we don’t self-certify our floors. We only reference independent, international agencies, and this allows our customers to make the most informed decisions.
## VOCs and flooring: FAQs
Is vinyl flooring toxic?Not all vinyl. Some vinyl manufacturers have independent low-VOC certification, which shows a low-VOC plastic floor is possible. The risk is with cheap, uncertified floors: one of our clients had a vinyl floor fitted by a local shop that gave off a strong plastic smell, and testing found it was off-gassing VOCs.
Is engineered wood flooring toxic?A well-made engineered wood floor with independent certification is fine. Almost all our floors are CARB 2 compliant, and our Newington Plus range is tested to eco-INSTITUT standards. As with any floor, check the data sheet and look for independent certification rather than self-certified claims.
What is the lowest-VOC flooring?Look for floors tested to eco-INSTITUT standards, among the strictest in the world: products sit in a sealed chamber for 28 days, with tight limits on total VOCs and formaldehyde. Our Newington Plus floors are tested this way, with a pine core, a click system that avoids PVA glue, and a lacquered finish.
What does CARB 2 mean on flooring?CARB Phase 2 is a respected certification for formaldehyde emissions that originates from California. Almost all our floors are CARB 2 compliant, which for most clients is enough peace of mind that the product is properly made.
How can I check if a floor is low VOC?Ask for the flooring data sheet and look for independent certification, such as eco-INSTITUT, GREENGUARD Gold, FloorScore or CARB Phase 2. Be wary of self-certification: made-up logos and “low VOC” claims with no independent testing behind them.
Worried about pets or children? Read [the best flooring for dogs](https://www.kite-flooring.com/pet-friendly-floors-more-myths-and-misconceptions/) and [engineered oak vs LVT](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-big-debate-engineered-oak-vs-lvt-and-something-that-will-really-shock-you/).
If you’d like to do more research on healthy materials, then this is a great place to start
–[Healthy Materials Lab ](https://healthymaterialslab.org/)
–[My Chemical Free House – Choosing a non-toxic engineered wood floor](https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2021/03/choosing-a-non-toxic-engineered-wood-floor.html)
[-EWGs Healthy Home Guide](https://www.ewg.org/healthyhomeguide/flooring/)
To discuss this subject, or view any of our floors, the best place to start is our showroom. Or you can view our [Newington Plus](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/ "Newington Plus") range here.
Happy Project Planning
**Categories:** Designer Tips, Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** engineered wood, interiordesign, sustainable wood floors, wooden floor
---
### [Beautiful wood floors for less, if you plan ahead](https://www.kite-flooring.com/beautiful-wood-floors-for-the-hyper-organised-for-less/)
**Published:** August 9, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
## Introducing the Kite Forward Order Scheme.
### *Save 15% on selected best-selling floors when you confirm early.*
**Update:** the scheme now has its own page, with the current list of floors and the full details. [See the Forward Order Scheme](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/).
At Kite, we know people love our floors and we work hard to bring unique flooring into the UK market. But we’re also realistic: we’re still a line on your renovation spreadsheet, and over recent years almost every cost has been heading in one direction.
This summer, off the back of another price increase, we went to our European manufacturers and agreed new terms on the condition that we could bulk our orders. The result: on certain best-selling floors, we can now offer reduced pricing to clients who are happy to confirm early and pay a deposit in advance.
We ran the numbers on our last two years of data. If clients confirm their flooring within **14 days of our final quotation**, the point at which you have everything you need to decide, we can collate orders and pass back a **15% discount on our retail pricing.** We don’t do fake sales at Kite, so that’s a genuine, meaningful saving.
## How the scheme works
The **Kite Forward Order scheme** is designed for projects needing floors **between 6 weeks and 6 months away.** Most of our clients are well organised, so this fits naturally. If your target date is more than 6 months out, there’s no need to order yet. If it’s less than 6 weeks away, we’ll look after you from our existing stock, but we can’t offer the same pricing on certain floors at that notice.
**In short:**
- Tell us your target delivery date during the sales process, and we’ll issue a **guide quotation**.
- Once you have all the details, we issue your **final quotation**.
- If the pricing works and your target date is 6 weeks to 6 months away, you have **14 days** to lock in the 15% discount.
- Confirm with a deposit, and your price is fixed, protected against any further increases before delivery.
## Paying for your floor
To confirm your order we take a **15% deposit.** The balance is then split into two further payments, which also helps spread your cashflow across the project:
- **35%** at the halfway point between your deposit date and your target delivery date.
- The final **50%** six weeks after that, or before delivery, whichever is sooner.
*(The 15% deposit and the 15% discount are separate things — the deposit secures your order and stock; the discount is your saving against retail pricing.)*
## Floors currently in the scheme
- [Newington Range, Lewis Rustic](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/ "Lewis Rustic – £78 per m²")
- [Newington Range, Lewis Warm](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-warm-rustic-plank/ "Lewis Warm Rustic – £82 per m²")
- [Newington Range, Daniel Rustic](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-rustic/ "Daniel Rustic – £82 per m²")
- [Newington Range, Lewis Prime](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-clean-grade/ "Lewis Clean Grade (knots up to 10mm) – £102 per m²")
- [Kent Range, Lewis Large Herringbone](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-large-prime/ "Lewis Herringbone Large Prime – £102 per m²")
- [Newington Plus Range, all floors within this range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/ "Newington Plus")
*We add new floors regularly, but these represent our current best seller*s. This doesn’t include the bespoke floors from our Clissold range.
## FAQs
**What if my target delivery date changes?**
Not a problem, delays are more the rule than the exception on building projects. We can store your floors free of charge for up to 6 months. If you need your floor sooner than planned, we’ll do our best, but we can’t always guarantee it.
**Why can’t I order closer to my target delivery date?**
The scheme only works if orders are spread evenly across the 6-week-to-6-month window. That even spread is what lets us collate orders and secure the better pricing. If everyone leaves it to the last minute, we can’t collate, and we’re back where we started, without the saving to pass on.
**What if I want to change or cancel my order?**
Because your deposit pre-orders stock and commits us with our manufacturers, please get in touch as soon as you can. In practice we can almost always make things work, particularly when the change involves other floors within the scheme.
**How much notice do I need to give for delivery?**
As soon as your floor is available, our customer services team will be in touch. We then normally need 3 working days to arrange delivery.
**Are all floors part of the scheme?**
No, the scheme covers a selection of our best sellers.
### Next Steps?
To move your flooring project forward, the best way to tick flooring off your to-do list is to book a consultation, either online or at our Hackney showroom.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Book a Flooring Consultation")
## Terms and conditions
### Quotations and confirming your order
- During the sales process you’ll confirm a target delivery date, and Kite will issue a guide quotation. Once you have all the information you need, we issue a final quotation.
- Your guide quotation is an estimate. Your **final quotation is the binding price** and is what the 14-day window and the 15% discount are based on.
- If your final quotation is acceptable and your target date is between 6 weeks and 6 months away, you have **14 days from the date of the final quotation** to confirm and secure the 15% discount.
- If your project is more than 6 months away, you don’t need to order yet. If it’s less than 6 weeks away, we’ll quote from stocked options, which may not carry the scheme discount.
- All prices and the 15% discount are quoted inclusive of VAT. The discount applies to floor materials only, so not underlay, trims, accessories and delivery.
### Deposit, payments and price
- Your order is confirmed on receipt of the 15% deposit. Two further payments follow: 35% at the halfway point between deposit and target delivery date, and the final 50% six weeks later or before delivery, whichever is sooner.
- Once your deposit is paid, **your price is fixed** and protected against any further price increases before delivery.
- If a scheduled payment is missed, we’ll contact you to arrange it. Delivery cannot proceed until any balance is cleared.
### Changes, cancellations and refunds
- Taking your deposit means we pre-order your stock and commit to it with our manufacturers. For that reason the deposit is non-refundable, but we may be able to transfer the payment to other floors in the scheme. If you need to change or cancel, contact us as early as possible, we can almost always find a workable solution, especially where the change involves other floors within the scheme.
### Quantities and shade batches
- Quantities are based on the measurements available at the time of your final quotation. If the required quantity changes once the site is finalised, we’ll adjust your order and pricing accordingly; but we cannot guarantee any extra product will include the 15% discount.
- Wood and engineered floors vary slightly between production batches. Where possible we supply from a single batch, but if you order additional material later we can’t guarantee an exact shade match to an earlier delivery.
### Storage, delivery and risk
- If your target date is delayed, common on building projects, we can store your floors free of charge for up to 6 months.
- After 6 months’ storage, we reserve the right to charge £10 per week per pallet.
- When your floor is ready, our customer services team will let you know. We normally need **3 working days** to arrange delivery.
### General
- Scheme pricing applies to the specification in your final quotation, is offered per project, is not transferable to other customers, and can’t be combined with trade pricing or any other offer. The minimum value for the scheme is £1,500.
- Floors are added to the scheme from time to time; availability of any particular floor is subject to our manufacturers’ continued supply.
- Neither party is liable for delays caused by events outside its reasonable control, including shipping, manufacturing or import disruption.
- These terms don’t affect your statutory rights as a consumer.
**Categories:** Designer Tips, Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** engineered wood, interiordesign, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [The Ultimate Flooring Guide. 21 questions to take you from novice to expert.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-ultimate-flooring-guide-21-questions-to-take-you-from-novice-to-expert/)
**Published:** August 8, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** For most of our clients, when they approach us, they're working on their first renovation, so when it comes to flooring, we need to start at the beginning.
**Content:**
I got 21 questions to go. I got 21 questions to flow….
For most of our clients, when they approach us, they’re working on their first renovation, so when it comes to flooring, we need to start at the beginning. To help people make the right floor choice, we’ve created a list of the most common questions we get asked.
Some of these questions you might already be thinking about. Others might come out of the blue. Some come with some extra reading, but if it all becomes too much, just give us a call. It will take you about 10 minutes to read, but we guarantee you’ll learn something, and it could save you time and money. Look at it like an Ultimate Flooring Guide.
### 1. Is a wooden floor right for our home?
Wood floors are softer than man made products such as Laminate or Vinyl. They’re also more expensive from a fitting and preparation perspective. They’re not perfect for every project, but we (…obviously…) think they’re awesome. We’ve written a blog about this topic here
[*Will a wood floor work for you?*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/is-a-wooden-floor-right-for-your-home/)
### 2. Is Laminate any good?
Laminate is not good. It’s great. At Kite, we sell Premium Laminate, and it’s both super strong and realistic to wood. We struggle with vinyl floors, as Laminate performs just as well and is cheaper. If your on a tight budget, this is your best floor choice. You will also save on fitting costs, as it can be fitted by a local tradesmen. You can order samples of our Laminate floors from our website below and read a blog about them –
[*Laminate is awesome*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/beautiful-and-hard-wearing-premium-laminate-is-awesome-dont-buy-a-cheap-wood-floor/)
### 3. So, Kite Flooring, help me, what floor shall I choose?
You can learn more about our range full range below –
[*Our curated range*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/)
We sell premium laminates from £36, engineered oak planks are double this, and parquet is slightly more expensive again. Bespoke floors are the most expensive floors we sell; the more treatments, the more expensive the floor. Fitting wise, allow a similar cost to the product price, with a premium for parquet.
If your set on a wood floor, this blog can be helpful –
[*What wood floor to choose*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/you-want-a-wood-floor-but-dont-know-which-to-choose/)
It can get very confusing. Our advice is to book a consultation with one of our team over the phone.
[*Book online*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
### 4. What is parquet flooring?
Parquet flooring are our patterned floors, such as Herringbone (small rectangles), or Chevron (the pointy one…). There are other types of parquet, as explained **HERE**, but these are the best sellers and most cost effective. Our best selling parquet products can be found in our Kent Range.
[*Kent range*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)
### 5. I’ve had a bad experience with a wood floor, will yours be different?
Like everything in life, there’s the average, good, and the awesome. An awesome wood floor will be well milled (so the planks slot together), have an attractive grade (no ugly knots..), and has high quality finishing to protect it, in either a lacquer or an oil. If you buy a cheap wood floor, the specification of all these factors will be low so the floor won’t perform well. We wrote a blog on floor pricing here.
[*How floors are priced*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/6-factors-that-determine-the-price-of-your-floor-how-to-know-if-youre-paying-a-fair-price/)
### 6. Can I fit a wood floor in a Kitchen or Bathroom?
So, wood flooring doesn’t like liquid. It’s fine with light mopping or spills, but if puddles are left on it, over time, regardless of finish, it will mark. Wood flooring in kitchens or high traffic areas is fine, but we recommend additional matt protection is applied, such as this Maintenance Oil. This product from Ciranova is great – [Maintenance Oil.](https://www.ciranova.eu/en/distributor/products/maintenance-oil)
This will also help with slightly stronger liquids such as wine or oil. If you think your kitchen is really going to take some punishment (think 5 dogs and you run a nursery…), then you can apply additional coats of a strong hard wax oil to protect the floor, for not that much extra money. Just ask our advice on this.
We don’t recommend wood floors where there is going to be surface water left over time, such as shower rooms or kids bathrooms.
### 7. Are Kite floors eco friendly?
The flooring industry has some real challenges with sustainability. The default position of most flooring companies is to just say “we source sustainably”, but dig deeper and that’s not always the case. It’s a big topic, so we wrote a blog on it here.
[*Sustainability & Flooring*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/eco-friendly-flooring-four-strategies-to-get-to-the-truth-about-sustainable-flooring-options-in-your-home/)
### 8. Do you ever offer sales?
This comes back to our blog about floor pricing. Most online flooring companies have a constant sales where they artificially discount products to stimulate demand. The sales never end…….literally. At Kite, we do things differently. This means selling on features and benefits, rather than through a countdown clock on a Valentines Day.
### 9. Is engineered wood a real wood floor and do you do solid wood floors?
An engineered wood floor is a layered, man made floor with an oak veneer on top (typically 3 or 4mm), and then a ply or birch and ply layered core. There are some variations on this design, but broadly, that’s the product. Engineered wood floors are more stable than solid floors, as they expand and contract less with heat changes (so less gaps and movement). We don’t sell solid oak floors unless we are doing complex parquetry with border work.
### 10. But I want a really thick oak veneer?
You can get floors with 6mm or even 7mm oak veneers, but we don’t often sell them. Remember, 1) you won’t ever see or notice that extra material (it’s on the floor) and 2) these are not structural floors, so extra thickness doesn’t give more stability (we dig into the numbers in [the thick floor myth](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/)). The one argument that’s commonly used is that a thicker floor will give more sands (should you want to refresh it). We think it’s important to be able to sand floors, but don’t think it’s necessary beyond one of two sands, which you can achieve with a 3mm veneer. If you’re going for an expensive floor, remember, if you sand it, you remove all the expensive finishing.
### 11. Should I buy an oiled or a lacquered wood floor?
These are the two main finishing types for the oak veneer of your floor. The normal rule is that an oiled floor will mark easier, but is easier to repair. A lacquered floor is harder to mark but harder to repair. At Kite, we generally sell oiled floors, even though they require more maintenance, because we love how you can make them shine again with a little oil. You can also create more interesting finishes. There is nothing worse than a cheap lacquered floor (you may have ordered samples online…), but with premium lacquers it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between oiled floors. For most residential uses, we normally recommend oils, unless clients say to us ***“I want a wood floor, and I never want to think about it again”***. In which case, lacquer is a good choice, as there is almost no maintenance required. But, don’t overthink this. A good oil or lacquer will both perform well, so just choose the floor you like and move on.
### 12. Click system or tongue and groove?
These are the systems that join the planks of your floor together. Tongue and groove systems require PVA glue to fully bond the tongues into the grooves, click systems just click together. Generally, more expensive floors are a tongue and groove system, and our fitters prefer them, because this method never fails. Click systems have a bad reputation with the flooring community because they tend to be used on cheaper floors, and can fail, causing the floor to then move. Builders often prefer to fit click systems, because it’s quicker to fit. At Kite, we generally sell tongue and groove floors, and that’s because the better quality floors use this attachment system. However, the concept behind a Click System is a sound one, and if the system is good quality, it can work just fine. Having said this, we often see poorly designed click systems. Laminate Flooring and our Newington Plus range are both click systems (and they’re really strong).
### 13. Is my floor compatible with underfloor heating?
Boom! This is a big one. Generally, the answer is yes. But the question is not “is my floor compatible with underfloor heating), it’s “is the floor I want compatible with the system I have chosen”. This is a full blog topic, which we have written here –
[*Underfloor heating strategy*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/we-need-to-talk-about-underfloor-heating-wood-flooring-heating-systems-and-how-to-get-it-right/)
### 14. What order should I fit the floor?
Flooring generally comes at the end of a project. The one possible exception are decorators, but make sure they cover the floor when they’re working. **The big debate everyone has is always “Kitchen or Floor” first.**
Generally, if you’re fitting a floated floor, you should fit the kitchen first. Then leave of the plinths and the end sections off and run the new flooring up to the legs of the kitchen units. The plinths can then be refitted, and you will have a perfect finish. With a glue down floor, you can put the kitchen on top, and some kitchen companies prefer this way of working. There are definitely some plinth designs where the kitchen needs to be fitted on top, but this is quite rare and only with very expensive kitchens. Generally the arguments go, Kitchen on top and you will have a cleaner finish (although we don’t always agree with this..) and you will be able to change your kitchen layout in future, or, alternatively, floor in last, and you will be able to change your flooring easily if you have any problems (say a leak..) and you will save some money on floor area and fitting costs (this is very marginal!). So really, the answer is both options work, but check with your kitchen company on their preference.
### 15. Whereabouts does Kite fit floors?
Our fitting teams are based in and around Central London, so we try and keep most of our work there. We do sometimes travel for larger projects however, 1) we strongly believe our teams should be no more than one hours drive from their projects, meaning they can not only return if snagging is needed, but can also maintain a work / life balance, and 2) we struggle to compete with local labour, especially when they are willing to work for cash and are below the £85,000 VAT threshold. Our fitters generally focus on Parquet and Glue Down floors, so whilst their final finish is better, they can be more expensive.
### 16. What is a subfloor and why does it matter?
The subfloor is the structural floor your new floor will sit on; remember, the flooring we sell is only cosmetic. Subfloors are either floorboards, some form of man made wood structure (such as plywood or OSB boards), or concrete. Your subfloor must be sound (so no movement), level (no dips, humps or ridges), dry (no moisture) and ideally flat (but this is nice to have…). There are tolerances for this that are set out in the British Standards 8201 for floor fitting – we have a blog on this here –
[*British Standards or BS?*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/british-standards-or-bs-why-they-matter-and-how-to-avoid-problems-in-the-future/)
If your subfloor doesn’t meet these requirements, then remedial work must be taken. This can involve stapling plywood, levelling compound, and damp reduction strategies. It can all get very technical. There are also certain things you simply cannot do, such as glueing floors directly to OSB boards or damp concrete. There’s another great blog about some of the issues we come up against here.
[Project planning](https://www.kite-flooring.com/want-your-project-to-be-on-time-and-on-budget/)
### 17. Do your prices include installation?
Unfortunately not. Floor fitting prices vary based on the type of flooring (so Laminate, Plank or Parquet), and also the fitting strategy (Glued down or Floated). Also don’t forget subfloor preparation costs. With Parquet, the floor almost always needs some form of levelling compound. Our fitting costs can be anywhere from £35 per m2 for our cheaper floors, up to £70 per m2 for parquet with block borders. Subfloor costs can vary a similar amount based on its condition.
### 18. Do I need a professional floor fitter?
It makes sense to use a professional floor fitter, where it is a technical fitting project, with subfloor works, and where the final finish needs to be perfect. However, sometimes it makes sense to work with a local contractor. This is especially the case 1) where you have a competent contractor onsite, 2) it’s a small area or 3) it’s a straightforward floor to fit such as a laminate. We’ve written a blog about this topic here –
[*Do I need a professional?*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)
If you do decide to use another fitting team, remember to read our terms and conditions. The big one is always the fitter responsibility. Check the floor before its fitted, as there can be no claims after the floor has been installed.
[*T’s & C’s not to ignore*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-reach-flooring-nirvana-six-essential-terms-and-conditions-you-cannot-ignore/)
### **19. Floated or Glued down?**
Most people don’t know there is more than one way to fit a floor. But, it’s one of the most important decisions you can make, and has a big impact on your finished project. Factors that will affect your decision are 1) the type of flooring, 2) the condition of your subfloor, 3) your budget, 4) whether you need sound insulation or a Damp Proof sheet and 5) what your contractor is comfortable with. At Kite, we try to glue our floors down, as you can then ensure there is no movement. It’s also easier to replace planks, should any issues arise down the line. Laminate floors, however, are always floated. We’ve written a blog about this topic here.
[*Floated or Glued?*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/)
### 20. Expansion gaps? What’s the deal….
Most people know that wood floors expand and contract with changes in the season. You crank your heating on in the winter, the wood dries out, and the floors shrink. In Summer, it’s more humid, so the floors pick up moisture and expand. To prevent problems, the floor needs to have somewhere to move to, and this is where expansion gaps come in. For floated floors, this is generally around 10mm to 15mm, for glued down floors, it can be slightly less. The planks will always expand more in the width, than in the length. This expansion needs to be covered with something, and broadly there are three strategies; 1) remove and refit skirting boards, 2) scotia beading or flat bar and 3) 9mm mdf to create a second skirting and then decoration. Most of the time, at Kite, we do option 1, but remember, you may need to buy new skirting, if it doesn’t come off the wall cleanly, and you almost always need some decorating, to ensure a good finish. A presentation, with the different options is attached below –
[*Expansion gap strategy*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kite-flooring-Skirting-Options-2.pdf)
### 21. How do I maintain my floor?
The first thing is no strong detergents! For oiled wood floors, use a natural soap, say every two weeks, and you can also use a maintenance oil, if you want to make the floor look like new again. You’ve guessed it, we have a blog just here –
[*Maintaining your floor*](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-look-after-your-new-wood-floor-use-of-a-natural-soap-and-a-maintenance-oil-will-keep-your-floor-looking-great/)
Lacquered floors just require light mopping, ideally with a floor soap suitable for lacquered floors. Laminates are also much less sensitive, so a light mopping is fine.
So, there you have it. 21 of our most common flooring questions. It’s quite a long list. But we guarantee, if you made it to the end, your flooring project will run a lot smoother.
Floor Novice to Floor Expert; I got 21 questions to go…. 21 questions to flow…..
Let’s go.
**Categories:** Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** engineered wood, floorexpert, floorguide, flooring, oakflooring
---
### [Introducing The Solid Floor Trio; Laminate, Vinyl And Wood](https://www.kite-flooring.com/introducing-the-solid-floor-trio-laminate-vinyl-and-wood/)
**Published:** January 21, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
The flooring industry is a master at confusing people. Firstly, we love our acronyms; LVT, SPC, DPM… you get the idea. Also, on every flooring website there always seems to be a new fancy product that has just been launched, that promises to be both your perfect floor, while also delivering world peace.
There are plenty of flooring myths that get recycled again and again, based on hearsay, or say, your builder having a bad experience with a cheap product 15 years ago…
To help you navigate this, sea of misinformation, here are our top tips on choosing the right solid floor for your project –
**Broadly, there are 3 main options; Laminate, Vinyl and Wood based products (either engineer or solid).**
There are also other products like Cork, Lino, Hardened Wood or SPC (Stone Polymer Composite), but these are more specialist.
**Laminate is a man-made wood product (its core is a composite compressed wood).** The Laminate structure is protected by an ultra-thin plastic sheet that is pressed on top, that is both textured and made to look as realistically wood-like as possible. Laminate has a bad reputation, and the cheaper ones that are sold in builder’s merchants or online are horrible. But, premium laminates are a great option if you’re on a budget. Some of the most hard wearing floors we know are laminates, and provided the finish is matt, and not shiny, they can be beautiful as well. Wider plank laminates are also better than narrow, stubby planks. At Kite, our range of [Premium Laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/) floors can be viewed here – Premium Laminate. Prices start from £36 per m2.
**Vinyl floors, or LVT “Luxury Vinyl Tiles” are thin plastic floors that are either glued or floated on top of your subfloor.** Common brands include Karndean or Amtico. The sales pitch for these floors is how hard wearing they are and that they require very little maintenance. Having said this, the exact same argument can now be applied to premium laminate floors, for half the price. Another argument is that they are waterproof, but again, many laminate floors, through their locking systems, have some element of water resistance. Aesthetically, we also don’t like how many of these floors have a fake sheen to them, and the fact that when we change vinyl floors for clients, it’s very hard to recycle them. As an overriding principal, at Kite, we feel there should be less plastics in this world. So, as you may have guessed, this doesn’t make us a fan of these so-called “Luxury” vinyl products (if you’re interested in exploring this further, there is a great interview here – [Materials Lab](https://healthymaterialslab.org/courses/ceh-exposing-luxury-vinyl-flooring)).
Having said all this, we also know tastes and opinions vary, and there are many flooring businesses that swear by vinyl products. One of our core commitments at Kite is to curate the best of the best floors, rather than simply offering every option available. We could very easily sell these floors, but as we don’t believe in them, we don’t. So if you’re looking for a vinyl floor, we’re not the right place for you.
**Engineered wood products have a solid wood veneer, and then a layered wood core. The veneer makes the floor look identical to a solid product, the layers make the floor more stable than solid floors.**
An engineered plank. An oak veneer, with a birch ply core.But what do we mean when we talk about stability?
Well, the floor won’t expand and contract as much with changes in humidity. With solid floors, it’s very common to see gaps in your flooring during the winter, as your heating dries out your flooring. In the Summer ridges can appear as they expand with a humidity increase.
There are only a very few niche use cases when solid flooring is better than engineered, and provided your engineered veneer is sufficiently thick to allow for sanding (2.5mm thick or more), it’s hard to see any benefits. Note, we also don’t believe in thick veneered engineered flooring, say 6mm, as these floors don’t work as well on underfloor heating.
At Kite, we offer a range of engineered floors in our[ Newington](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/) and [Kent ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)ranges, which start at £60 per m2. Our [Clissold Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-clissold-range/), is our premium, fully European Range, and prices start from £100 per m2. We explore our different ranges in more detail, in some of our next blogs. We also offer a [Newington Plus](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/ "Newington Plus") range which is accredited to the highest standards, both from a sustainability and VOC (volatile organic compounds) perspective.
**From a performance perspective, wood floors can work in almost any residential property provided they use good quality oils or lacquers.** Bad experiences with wood floors are normally caused by low-quality, mass-produced floors. A wood floor will always have a texture and feel that is more natural than man-made products, and we obviously love them (it’s our job to love them!!). But they do require more maintenance than Laminates.
If budget is a challenge, please, please don’t buy a cheap wood floor. Buy, a premium laminate, instead.
On our next blog, we look at [What should I budget for flooring?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-much-should-i-budget-for-my-new-flooring/)
**Categories:** Designer Tips, Floor Choice, Project Management
**Tags:** engineered wood, oakflooring, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [Eco-Friendly Flooring: How to Check If a Floor Is Really Sustainable](https://www.kite-flooring.com/eco-friendly-flooring-four-strategies-to-get-to-the-truth-about-sustainable-flooring-options-in-your-home/)
**Published:** April 4, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Almost every floor claims to be sustainable. Four ways to check if it really is: life cycle, FSC or PEFC certification, how it's made and how much wood it uses.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
## Is your floor really eco-friendly? Four checks
1. **Whole life cycle:** where it’s made, how far it travels, and what happens at the end of its life.
2. **Certification:** is the wood FSC or PEFC certified, and is the whole product covered?
3. **How it’s made:** the more energy-intensive the process, the worse it scores. Vinyl scores worst.
4. **How much wood it uses:** a 3.5 to 4mm oak top layer is plenty. Thicker means more trees.
Like any industry, the flooring industry faces sustainability challenges.
Almost every flooring manufacturer we know claims their floors are sustainable. We see a never-ending line-up of badges and accreditations, that rubber stamp environmental credentials, so it is no surprise that things get confusing.
If sustainability matters, and for many of our customers it does, then how can you be sure you are making the right choice? Here are our top tips when it comes to eco-friendly flooring.
## 1. Think about the “whole-life cycle” of the product.
When assessing sustainability, you cannot simply look at what the product is made from. You also need to think about where the raw materials are sourced from, the carbon footprint to get the floor to your home, and, most importantly, how the product will be handled at the end of its life. This is called a life cycle analysis, and if companies are serious about sustainability, they will have completed one for their product. There is a detailed article explaining this process here – [**Life Cycle Analysis.**](https://www.circular-flooring.eu/news/what-is-a-life-cycle-assessment/)
[](https://www.circular-flooring.eu/news/what-is-a-life-cycle-assessment/)The reality is, the majority of mid-priced engineered floors have a supply chain where European Oak is exported to Asia, where manufacturing costs are lower, and then the finished floor is shipped back to Europe. This doesn’t score well in a life cycle analysis. More premium, and sustainable options, are manufactured in Europe, as ideally, your raw materials should be sourced as close to your manufacturer as possible.
Looking at the end of life, while the majority of wood floors can be recycled, vinyl flooring is harder to dispose of. On our trips to the Islington skip, the wood goes in the recycling and the vinyl goes in “non-recycling”. More on that in [engineered oak vs LVT](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-big-debate-engineered-oak-vs-lvt-and-something-that-will-really-shock-you/).
We found this article useful on cheaper vinyl floors – [**The dirty truth about your fake wood floors.**](https://www.fastcompany.com/90855194/the-dirty-truth-about-your-fake-wood-floors)
## 2. If the product is wood, is it certified by the FSC or the PEFC?
It’s very common for flooring retailers to simply state *“we sell natural wood flooring, and it’s great for the environment”*, but it’s rare for consumers to challenge this statement.
A good place to start is to see if the flooring is accredited. The [**FSC**](https://fsc.org/en) or Forest Stewardship Council GmbH is an international non-profit, that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests via timber certification. If a wood floor is accredited by the FSC, it is the gold standard of sustainability. For a timber floor certification to be achieved, the product’s supply chain must be audited by an inspector.
The reality with manufacturers is products are assessed, but then supply chains change; whether it’s the timber, or the birch or ply that makes up the core of an engineered product. We also know it’s common to see statements like “70% FSC compliant,” which is a way for manufacturers to give themselves sourcing flexibility.
For an example of the standards that can be set, we always look outside the flooring industry, and a company we admire is Ikea. Ikea are currently at 98% of product being sourced from FSC accredited forest, and are working towards a *“Forest Positive Agenda”.* This includes a commitment that *“one third of the IKEA wood-based range will be made from recycled wood by 2030”.* [**Ikea’s commitment.**](https://about.ikea.com/en/sustainability/wood-forestry/forestry-beyond-our-business/ikea-forest-positive-agenda)
The FSC is not the only show in town, and another well known accreditation body to look out for is the [PEFC](https://www.pefc.org/) (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). However, we’ve read articles that claim there are over 50 timber accreditation bodies, so it’s easy to see how consumers can get confused.
Not being FSC-certified doesn’t mean a wood floor is from the back of a wagon, either. The timber we sell that isn’t FSC-registered still complies with the EUTR, the rules that require timber to be legally sourced.
## 3. How is the product made?
The less energy-intensive the production, the better. Flooring solutions, like cork, which is a natural harvested product, will always be sustainable. Solutions, that are more energy-intensive, such as vinyl or laminate, will be less sustainable. Wood products, generally sit somewhere in the middle. In this research paper, Solid wood flooring is shown to require significantly less energy to produce than vinyl based products. **[Life cycle analysis of different flooring options.](https://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/24276/local_24276.pdf)**
It’s also worth asking about the finish. Some floors, finishes and adhesives give off VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The strictest test is eco-INSTITUT’s, done over 28 days in a sealed chamber. Here’s [what VOCs are, and whether you should worry about them](https://www.kite-flooring.com/should-you-worry-about-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-and-wood-flooring/).
## 4. How much raw material is used?
This is something that, when you think about it, is obvious, but is rarely considered. With wood flooring, clearly, the fewer trees you cut down, the better, regardless of whether it’s sustainable or not. **The world needs more trees!**
So, floors with very thick oak top layers will be worse for the environment. This is one of the reasons why most of our engineered floors are 14/15mm with a 3.5 to 4mm oak top layer, which is all the oak you’ll ever need. Here’s [why a thicker top layer is money (and trees) in the wrong place](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/). We rarely sell 20mm thick floors.
## Our most sustainable floor: the Newington Plus range
If sustainability is high on your list, our [Newington Plus range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/) is where we’d start. It ticks off the checks above:
- **FSC-certified.** The floors are made from fully FSC-accredited timber.
- **Made in Germany**, so manufactured in Europe rather than shipped to Asia and back.
- **Tested for emissions by eco-INSTITUT** in Germany, one of the strictest VOC tests in the world.
- **A sensible amount of oak**, in long, wide planks (200mm wide and 2.2m long).
- **A hard-wearing matt lacquer**, so it needs very little maintenance and lasts.
All that testing does add about 10% compared with our Newington Range. Prices start at £102 per m², and as with all our floors, we recommend coming to see the large sample boards.
So, if you’re looking for a sustainable flooring option, our advice is to have an honest conversation with your retailer. If they simply say, *“We sell natural wood floors, and they’re great for the environment,”* then they probably don’t understand that sustainability and flooring are not black and white. But if they talk through the challenges the flooring sector faces, and what they are doing to evolve to a more sustainable position, it’s likely they’ll give good advice.
If you’d like to read more about Kite’s sustainability position, we spoke to Livingetc: [Eco-flooring advice.](https://www.livingetc.com/advice/eco-flooring)
## Sustainable flooring: FAQs
What is the most sustainable type of flooring?There’s no single answer, so look at the whole life cycle: where the floor is made, how energy-intensive that is, how much raw material it uses and what happens at the end of its life. Natural products like cork score well and vinyl scores worst. A well-made wood floor that lasts decades and goes in the recycling at the end sits in between.
Is engineered wood flooring eco-friendly?It can be. Look for FSC or PEFC certification, a floor made in Europe rather than shipped to Asia and back, a sensible 3.5 to 4mm oak top layer, and a low-VOC finish.
What does FSC certified mean?The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international non-profit that promotes responsible forest management through timber certification. For a floor to be FSC-certified, its supply chain has to be audited. Watch out for claims like “70% FSC compliant”, which give manufacturers flexibility.
Is vinyl or LVT flooring sustainable?Generally not. It’s a plastic product, often made from PVC, it takes more energy to make than wood, and in practice it’s rarely recycled.
Which Kite floors are the most sustainable?Our Newington Plus range: FSC-certified, made in Germany, and tested for emissions by eco-INSTITUT. Prices start at £102 per m².
Do wood floors give off VOCs?Some floors, finishes and adhesives do. For the strictest standard, look for eco-INSTITUT testing, which is carried out over 28 days in a sealed chamber. Our Newington Plus range is tested this way.
## Want to see the Newington Plus range?
Come and see the large sample boards in our showroom at 5 Hackney Road, or book a video call. We’ll talk you through certification, emissions and what suits your home.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[See Newington Plus](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Floor Choice
**Tags:** eco-friendly, engineered wood, sustainable wood floors
---
### [The thick floor myth: why a 6mm oak top layer puts your money in the wrong place](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/)
**Published:** October 1, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Thicker sounds better. But the German parquet industry expects a floor to be sanded twice in 50 years, so on a 6mm top layer you're paying for 4.6mm of oak you'll never touch. Here's where your money should go instead.
**Content:**
**Paying extra for a 6mm oak top layer puts your money in the wrong place.** Here’s why, with the numbers to back it up.
“I want the 6mm top layer, so it lasts.” We hear it a lot in the showroom, and we get it. Thicker *sounds* better. More wood, more sanding, more years. Surely?
But when you look at how floors are actually made, fitted and looked after, the extra millimetres rarely earn their keep. Most of the time they’re oak you pay for and never use.
## What you actually need: 14–15mm
Most of the floors we sell at Kite are engineered boards, 14 or 15mm thick. That’s typically a 3.5–4mm oak top layer bonded to a plywood base.
These floors sit on top of a structural subfloor. They’re cosmetic, not structural, and that changes everything about how thick they need to be.
Even the [British Standard](https://www.kite-flooring.com/british-standards-or-bs-why-they-matter-and-how-to-avoid-problems-in-the-future/) for fitting wood floors (BS 8201) treats 14–15mm as the norm for multi-layer boards laid over a base. Unless you genuinely need a structural floor, which is pretty niche these days, **this is all the floor you’ll ever need.**
## Myth #1: “I’ll need to sand it loads”
This is the argument that gets trotted out most. It doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
One of the most trustworthy sources we know, the German parquet industry, expects a floor to be sanded **twice in 50 years**, taking off **0.7mm** each time. Those figures come from the Verband der Deutschen Parkettindustrie’s environmental product declaration for multi-layer parquet, which models how a floor is used and looked after over its life.
The rest of the time? It assumes you re-oil the floor every five years. No sander required. (Here’s [how to clean and look after a wood floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-look-after-your-new-wood-floor-use-of-a-natural-soap-and-a-maintenance-oil-will-keep-your-floor-looking-great/).)
That matches what we see on real jobs. With a good-quality oil or lacquer, you’re unlikely to need a full sand more than a couple of times in your lifetime, unless you want to change the colour. Floors can be cleaned, re-oiled and even re-stained without going anywhere near a sander.
## Do the maths
Two sands at 0.7mm is **1.4mm of oak in 50 years**. Here’s what that leaves behind:
| Top layer | Sanded off in 50 years | Never touched |
|---|---|---|
| 4mm | 1.4mm | 2.6mm |
| 6mm | 1.4mm | 4.6mm |
A 4mm top layer already has plenty in reserve. Go to 6mm and you’re paying for 4.6mm of oak that will outlive you, untouched.
## Myth #2: “Thicker is more stable”
Remember, these aren’t structural floors. [Glue](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/) a 15mm floor to a sound subfloor and it isn’t going anywhere.
The British Standard only asks for boards of 18mm or more when they span joists or battens, where the board itself is doing a structural job. That’s a different situation from an engineered board bonded to a solid base.
On a sound subfloor, the extra 5mm just sits there.
## Got underfloor heating? More wood, slower heat
Wood is a natural insulator. The thicker the board, the more it slows heat getting from your pipes into your room.
BS 8201 says your heating engineer needs to know the floor’s thickness so they can allow for it in their calculations. Warmup, one of the biggest UK underfloor heating brands, recommends wood floors no thicker than 18mm, because anything thicker hinders the system’s performance.
A 15/4mm engineered board sits comfortably under that. A 20/6mm “premium” board goes over it. There’s more in our guide to [wood floors and underfloor heating](https://www.kite-flooring.com/we-need-to-talk-about-underfloor-heating-wood-flooring-heating-systems-and-how-to-get-it-right/).
## The character problem
If you’ve chosen a floor for its texture and its oil (a deep brush, a smoked tone, a bespoke finish), you’re never going to sand it. Sanding takes off everything that makes it special.
So on the floors people fall in love with, those extra millimetres are there for a job you’ll never want done.
## Where your money should go
Every floor has a price, and every price is made up of [inputs](https://www.kite-flooring.com/6-factors-that-determine-the-price-of-your-floor-how-to-know-if-youre-paying-a-fair-price/). To hit a budget, you can spend on the raw material or on the finish that protects it.
So you can decide to spend your budget on:
- **A.** A thick oak top layer you’ll never use, or
- **B.** Oils that stop the damage in the first place.
We’d pick the oil every time. Upgrading the finish is a far more efficient way to keep a floor looking good for decades.
## The Kite view on wood floors
1. A 3.5–4mm oak top layer
2. 14–15mm total thickness
3. The best oil you can afford
Floors last longer than most marriages, so it really pays to do your homework. Want to see (and feel) the difference? Pop into our showroom at 5 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, and we’ll talk you through it.
## Engineered wood flooring thickness: FAQs
What thickness of engineered wood flooring do I need?For most homes, 14 to 15mm in total, with a 3.5 to 4mm oak top layer, laid over a structural subfloor. That’s what most of our floors are, and BS 8201 treats 14 to 15mm as the norm for multi-layer boards laid over a base.
Is a 6mm top layer worth paying for?Rarely. The German parquet industry expects a floor to be sanded twice in 50 years, taking off 0.7mm each time. That’s 1.4mm of oak, so on a 6mm top layer you’re paying for 4.6mm you’ll never use. A 4mm top layer still leaves 2.6mm in reserve.
How many times can you sand an engineered wood floor?A 4mm top layer comfortably covers the couple of full sands most floors ever need. With a good oil or lacquer, you’re unlikely to need a full sand more than a couple of times in your lifetime, unless you want to change the colour.
Is thicker engineered wood more stable?Not on a sound subfloor. These floors are cosmetic, not structural. The British Standard only asks for boards of 18mm or more when they span joists or battens and the board is doing a structural job.
Is thick engineered wood OK with underfloor heating?The thicker the board, the more it slows the heat. Warmup, one of the biggest UK underfloor heating brands, recommends wood floors no thicker than 18mm. A 15/4mm board sits comfortably under that; a 20/6mm board goes over it.
When is a thicker floor worth it?When you genuinely need a structural floor, such as boards spanning joists or battens, which is pretty niche these days. Otherwise, spend the money on the best oil you can afford.
## Want to feel the difference?
Come and see full-size boards in our showroom at 5 Hackney Road, or book a video call. We’ll talk you through thickness, oils and what’s right for your subfloor.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[Get in touch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/)
## Sources
- [VDP EPD Mehrschichtparkett](https://www.parkett.de/magazin/parkett-fuer-profis/epd-mehrschichtparkett.html), Verband der Deutschen Parkettindustrie, EPD-VDP-20210112-IBG1-DE (IBU-verified, valid to February 2027)
- BS 8201, *Code of practice for installation of flooring of wood and wood-based panels*, clauses 4.7, 15.5.1 and 27.4.4 (BSI)
- [Underfloor Heating for Wooden Floors](https://www.warmup.co.uk/underfloor-heating/floor-coverings/wood), Warmup
**Categories:** About Your Floor, Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** engineered wood, engineered wood flooring thickness, parquet flooring
---
### [How to Clean and Look After a Wood Floor (Without Ruining It)](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-look-after-your-new-wood-floor-use-of-a-natural-soap-and-a-maintenance-oil-will-keep-your-floor-looking-great/)
**Published:** March 7, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** How to clean and look after a wood floor: what never to use, the right soap for oiled floors, the cleaner for lacquered ones, and how to deal with scratches.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
**So, you’ve just had a new wood floor fitted.** One of the next questions people always ask is, “How do I clean it, and how do I look after it?” Here’s how, for oiled and lacquered floors.
## How to clean a wood floor: the short answer
- **Never use** detergents, bleach or steam mops.
- **Sweep or vacuum regularly.** Grit is what scratches a floor.
- **Oiled floors:** a natural wood floor soap and a little water every couple of weeks, and a maintenance oil every 18 to 24 months.
- **Lacquered floors:** mop with a cleaner made for lacquered floors. Never use maintenance oil.
- **Spills:** wipe them up when they happen.
## What never to use on a wood floor
Here’s what not to do, and it’s probably the most important bit. **Don’t use detergents.** They’re really bad for your floor, and can leave marks. That includes washing-up liquid, bleach and all-purpose sprays. And keep the steam mop for the tiles: steam pushes heat and moisture into the wood.
## Is your floor oiled or lacquered?
Make sure you know, as there are different strategies for each. An oiled finish soaks into the wood and can be refreshed. A lacquer sits on top, like a thin coat of paint: it’s harder to mark, but it can’t be topped up with oil. If you’re not sure, ask whoever supplied the floor. If it’s one of ours, just ask us. Our [Newington Plus range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/), for example, is lacquered; most of our other floors are oiled.
## Everyday cleaning, for any wood floor
- **Sweep or vacuum regularly**, using a soft brush head. Grit and sand act like sandpaper underfoot.
- **Mop with a damp mop, not a wet one.** Wood and standing water don’t mix.
- **Use the right cleaner** for your finish (below), and never detergents.
## How to clean an oiled wood floor
### Cleaning
Oiled floors should be cleaned regularly (say every two weeks). This should be with a natural wood flooring soap, so no detergent, applied with a little water and then lightly mopped (don’t use too much water). It’s possible to buy wood flooring soaps in supermarkets, but our recommended product is from Ciranova, as this is from the same company who makes our oils. Regular cleaning like this is one of the most important things you can do to keep your floor looking healthy.
[Ciranova Flooring Soap](https://www.ciranova.eu/en/indoor/maintenance/oils/Flooring_soap/)### Maintenance oil
One of the benefits of an oiled floor is that it can be refreshed with oil. If you want to keep your floor its existing colour, rub in a maintenance oil every 18 to 24 months. Again, our recommended oil is from Ciranova, and for almost all of our floors the matt version applies, but always test it before you start rubbing too much in. We use Ciranova oils on our sample boards, as it keeps them looking fresh when they get bashed around on site visits.
[https://www.ciranova.eu/en/indoor/maintenance/oils/Maintenance\_oil/](https://www.ciranova.eu/en/indoor/maintenance/oils/Maintenance_oil/)Of course, there are also many people who don’t worry about oiling their floor. If that’s you, your floor will simply change colour over time… and for many people, that’s part of the charm of a wood floor!
## How to clean a lacquered wood floor
Lacquered floors require less maintenance. As they can’t be oiled, it’s just a question of regular mopping with a wood floor cleaner that is suitable for lacquered (sometimes called “varnished”) floors. Do not use maintenance oil on these floors, as the oil just stays on the surface of the wood (it isn’t absorbed).
We recommend the Bona products, and they have a very helpful spray mop that regulates the amount of product applied to the floor. Of course you can also try other lacquered floor cleaners (we always recommend testing the cleaner on a small area first). Here’s a product we would recommend: [Bona wood floor cleaning kit](https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/bona-floor-cleaning-kit?sid=2).
## Scratches, dents and marks
On an oiled floor, maintenance oil is great for light scratches. Deeper scratches may need a different strategy, such as a filler, or if very deep, the plank will need to be sanded. A lacquer is harder to mark in the first place, but if you do scrape it, it’s harder to repair.
Whilst an oiled finish is stain resistant, it doesn’t mean you can leave everything on the floor. Drinks, food and kids’ toys can all mark a floor, so clean up the mess when it happens. Our floors should resist most liquids for a few hours… but if you leave oil or wine on a floor for a weekend, it will mark (and this is the case for any wood floor!).
## Stop the damage before it happens
- **Felt pads** under chair and table legs.
- **Doormats** at every outside door, to catch the grit before it reaches the floor.
- **Rugs** in the busiest spots, like under a dining table.
- **Sunlight** changes the colour of any wood floor over time, so move rugs and furniture around now and then, so it changes evenly.
Got a dog? You don’t need a special “pet-friendly” floor. We explain why in [the truth about pet-friendly floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/pet-friendly-floors-more-myths-and-misconceptions/).
## Will my floor need sanding?
Far less often than you might think. With regular cleaning and the occasional maintenance oil, most floors only need a full sand a couple of times in their life, if at all. The German parquet industry expects twice in 50 years. Here’s [why that matters when you’re choosing a floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/).
## Cleaning wood floors: FAQs
What’s the best way to clean a wood floor?Sweep or vacuum first to get the grit up, then mop with a damp (not wet) mop. Use a natural wood floor soap on an oiled floor, or a cleaner made for lacquered floors on a lacquered one. Never use detergents.
Can I use a steam mop on a wood floor?No. Steam pushes heat and moisture into the wood and the joints, which can damage the finish and the boards. A damp mop does the job.
Can I clean a wood floor with washing-up liquid?No. Detergents, washing-up liquid included, are bad for wood floors and can leave marks. Use a natural wood floor soap on an oiled floor, or a lacquered floor cleaner on a lacquered one.
How often should I oil my wood floor?If your floor is oiled, rub in a maintenance oil every 18 to 24 months to keep the colour and protection. If you’d rather never oil it, that’s fine. The floor will simply change colour over time.
How do I get scratches out of a wood floor?On an oiled floor, light scratches often disappear with a little maintenance oil. Deeper scratches may need a filler, and very deep ones mean sanding that plank. Lacquer is harder to mark in the first place, but harder to repair when it does.
Can I use maintenance oil on a lacquered floor?No. Lacquer sits on top of the wood like a thin coat of paint, so the oil can’t soak in. It just sits on the surface. Mop with a lacquered floor cleaner instead.
Will spills stain my wood floor?Our floors resist most liquids for a few hours, so wipe spills up when they happen. Leave oil or wine on any wood floor for a weekend and it will mark.
## Got a question about your floor?
Not sure whether your floor is oiled or lacquered, or how to deal with a mark? Get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.
[Get in touch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/)[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Categories:** About Your Floor, Essential Reading
**Tags:** engineered wood, oakflooring, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [6 Factors That Determine the Price of Your Floor: How To Know If You're Paying A Fair price.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/6-factors-that-determine-the-price-of-your-floor-how-to-know-if-youre-paying-a-fair-price/)
**Published:** May 24, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
Shhhh, we’re going to let you into a secret in the flooring world.
Most floors sold online are always on sale. Literally, always. Whatever time of the year, Spring, Summer, Autumn (you get the idea..). Many of the larger online-only companies we track don’t have a single product listed on their website that is not on sale – “Spring Sale”, “Last Chance Offer”, “Special Offer”, “Jubilee Weekend Sale”, “Father’s Day Special”. The list goes on and on.
We have great sympathy for online marketing executives in this sector. At their Monday morning sales meeting, their boss will ask, “What’s the plan guys?”. “How about a new sale? Isn’t it World Book Day this week?” Or “Let’s try a countdown clock on our website”.
## The Flooring Secret…
This strategy is possible because wood flooring is an opaque product to price and you can’t always tell the difference between products by looking at samples. We can show you a 190mm wide, engineered oak floor that is £40 per m2. We can also show you one that is £100 per m2. These may look identical, but one will last a generation. The other an afternoon. The differences are in the oils and how the product has been made.
The flooring industry will say a product has an RRP (recommended retail price) of £100, as per our example above, and then sell it for £40, with a massive “Spring Savers Bonus” of 60%. But the reality is it’s a £40 floor, and will never, ever have been sold for £100. People buy this narrative because they, i) don’t buy floors every day, ii) don’t know anything about flooring and iii) everybody (..me included..), likes to think they’re getting a deal, even if they’re not.
Whilst this method of selling is effective, it’s dishonest. At Kite, our customers know exactly what they’re paying for, and we’re completely transparent about how each product is made, and how it’s priced. Here we explain 6 factors that affect the price of your floor…. And note, “end of season sale” is not one of them. It’s wood floors. Not dresses.
**Looking for actual budgets?** Our guide to [how much wood flooring costs](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-much-should-i-budget-for-my-new-flooring/) has real prices for the floor, the subfloor and the fitting.
There is one genuine way to pay less with us, though: plan ahead. Our [Forward Order Scheme](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/) takes 15% off selected best sellers when you confirm 6 weeks to 6 months before delivery, because ordering early really does cost us less.
## The grade of wood
By this, we mean how rustic the floor is, so whether it has knots, and how large the knots are. Rustic floors will always be cheaper because you can use the entire tree. Prime floors (those with no knots) will be expensive. You can also buy floor grades that are priced in the middle, between Rustic and Prime grades.
## Oils and the manufacturing process
This is a big one. Good quality oils mean a floor can withstand whatever family life throws at it. But note, it’s not just the oil type, it’s also the quantity used (how much per m2), how many coats, and how the oil is applied. A well-made floor will be textured with brushing machines between coats to ensure the oils sit deep within the wood structure. Cheaper floors will cut corners on the quantity of oil, the number of coats, and how the oils are applied.
A well-run manufacturing plant will also have regularly serviced machines that accurately “mill” the floors. There will be sufficient staff on the production line to spot defects, and the climate in the factory will be tightly controlled to ensure moisture does not get into the layers of flooring. These floors will perform well and fit together tightly (so no unsightly gaps).
## The number of processes
The more treatments on the wood, the more it will cost. Example treatments include smoking, band sawing (horizontal brushing), vertical brushing, staining, bevel distressing, and the list goes on and on. The more treatments you do, the more the floor costs. Note, UV oil floors are the quickest and cheapest to apply as the floors are placed under a UV light and the finish dries instantly. Some stains take days to dry, and this pushes up costs.
## How common the shape of flooring is
More common shapes (we call them platforms…) are cheaper because manufacturers mass-produce them. The most common width of flooring is 190mm width planks, so you will tend to see cheaper pricing here. Expect to pay more for very wide or very narrow planks. Herringbones and Chevrons also come in standard sizes; and deviate from this and things get expensive. Patterned floors will be more expensive as there are more cuts and packaging needed to deliver a smaller area.
## Where the wood comes from
All our wood floors use European Oak. What changes is where the floor itself is made. Some are made in China, and most of those are then oiled in Belgium; they keep the price down and tend to come in the more common widths. Others are made in Europe from start to finish. They cost more, but we can make them to order in widths from 140mm up to 300mm. With good quality oils, both will perform well.
In terms of environmental credentials, wood can be[ FSC certified ](https://fsc.org/en)(which will mean it will be more expensive). However, just because timber is not FSC certified, it does not mean it’s from the back of a wagon! Non-registered products we sell would still be certified by the[ EUTR](https://ttf.co.uk/sustainability/eutr/) (ttf.co.uk/sustainability/eutr). Sustainability and wood flooring, like pricing, has plenty of grey areas…. but that’s a blog topic for a later date!
## How much wood is in the product
Thickness is something people often use to ascribe value to wood floors, and it’s true; floors with thicker oak top layers i.e. more wood, will cost more. But remember, these floors are cosmetic, so sit on top of a structural floor. Thickness is therefore under your feet, so not worth paying for. Our most common thickness is 15mm, with a 4mm top layer. This thickness is structurally sound, and also gives you at least two sands on the floor ([here’s the maths on why that’s plenty](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/)). We would only recommend a thicker floor if you were looking to transition the floor into a very high tile line, or a thinner floor with a low tile line.
## Here’s an example…
A premium floorAn entry level floorSo, in summary, when choosing a wood floor, look at each of these factors, to evaluate whether you’re getting fair value. If you’re buying a 190mm width floor, in a natural oak oil, made in China, that is a rustic grade, with no reference to the type of oils, it will never, ever be £100 per m2. If you’re buying a 300mm width, European-made oak floor, with grey oils that’s been smoked and stained, it will be expensive.
We hope this helps. Happy Sampling!
For more information on our Curated Range of flooring [click here.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/)
This blog deals with buying a floor, but that is half the challenge. For guidance on fitting floors read our following blogs –
–[How to fit a Herringbone floor… or what you need to know if you’re having one fitted](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/).
[-Do you need a professional fitter?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)
**Categories:** About Your Floor, Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** Price of Your Floor
---
### [How Much Does Wood Flooring Cost? Real Prices for the Floor, Subfloor and Fitting](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-much-should-i-budget-for-my-new-flooring/)
**Published:** July 29, 2024
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** What a wood floor really costs per m², fitted: the floor, the subfloor and the fitter, with real London prices from £36 laminate to engineered parquet.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
## How much does wood flooring cost? The short answer
- **Premium laminate**, floated on a perfect subfloor: around **£94 per m²**, fitted.
- **Engineered oak plank**, glued, with basic levelling: around **£169 per m²**.
- **Engineered parquet** (herringbone or chevron), with ply and levelling: around **£238 per m²**.
- **Fitting alone:** £50 to £70 per m². Skirting is extra.
Based on a typical 40m² London project, including VAT. The full breakdown is below.
OK, so this is one of the most common questions we get asked.
So rather than being cagey about pricing (which seems to be the way in our industry), we thought we would try and answer it. Pricing up a flooring project is not straightforward, but broadly, there are three variables; your floor, the subfloor and the fitter.
## Firstly, your floor: what it costs per m²
### 1. The Platform
If we just focus on engineered wood flooring, there are two main factors – The Platform and The Finishing.
When we say The Platform, we mean the actual timber. If this is an engineered product, it will have a timber veneer (often oak), and then a core (layered or solid). The raw materials will come from a range of sources but “European Oak” is a pretty common reference. Obviously, Europe is a big place, but on most floors, there is very little transparency about where the timber actually comes from. The most common supply chain is European Oak, shipped to the Far East where the platforms are pressed and then back to the European Market. Plank flooring made in the Far East will often be 190mm wide and 1.9m in length. Why? Well these dimensions fit perfectly into a 20ft container.
Flooring platforms can also be made in Europe and these floors are more customisable, so can be made in different widths and lengths. Both supply chains will use different grades of timber. Cleaner grades with fewer knots are more expensive. Rustic floors are the cheapest because you can use the whole of the tree.
Our Lauren Medium Herringbone – Far Eastern Platform – UV Oiled in BelgiumFrom a cost perspective, Far Eastern platforms will always be the cheapest, despite shipping costs, as they are made in larger quantities.
**But is there a difference in quality?**
At Kite, our more cost-effective floors are Far Eastern platforms. And they can be great. But you don’t have as much control over the production process. This means colour variation within batches (so don’t rely too much on your samples!), different knot filling strategies, and subtle changes in the plank structures (such as bevels or the tongues and grooves).
And for many clients, that’s absolutely ok. At Kite, if we do use Far Eastern platforms, unlike many of our competitors, we do the oil finishing in Europe. This gives you more control over the final product than a pure containerised floor.
### 2. The Finishing
The second factor you should consider is the finishing. This is the treatment that is applied to the surface of the floor to 1) protect it from everyday family life and 2) change its appearance to achieve a design style. Finishing can either be lacquered, oiled, or even unfinished.
All methods can produce great floors. But each has its advantages and disadvantages. A lacquer is like a protective paint. This means it’s a very strong surface treatment. Scrape it, and it’s hard to repair, but the surface can be very strong so very little maintenance is required. Try to avoid cheap lacquered floors, as they almost always have a fake sheen.
At Kite, we generally sell oiled floors. These are either UV oiled, which is a surface treatment that runs under a UV light and dries instantly. Like a lacquer it’s super strong, but again it’s a surface treatment. The production process on these floors is very quick, so costs are low. On the other hand our premium oiled floors actually dry into the timber.
At the high-end of the market, you can have different treatments that are combined to give a floor a design aesthetic. These include brushing with wire brushes, smoking (in chambers of ammonia), bleaching, multiple coats of oil, hand scraping, the list goes on and on. The more processes a floor goes through, the more it costs (we have a floor range where there are 8 processes to achieve the final finish).
Other factors that vary the price of your floor include the grade (less knots is more expensive, than rustic), shape (herringbone and chevron have more wastage than plank), wood species (Elm, Ash Douglas Fir), and the origins of the timber (we do a genuine reclaimed range that’s spliced onto an engineered base).
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/iris/)Iris – Reclaimed oak train wagons on an engineered baseOur engineered wood flooring ranges start from £72 per m². These are typically Far Eastern platforms, finished in Europe with two coats of High-Quality UV protection (we use a brand called [Ciranova](https://www.ciranova.eu/en)). You can buy cheaper floors online, but you generally see variations in colour between batches, poor knot-filling strategies, and oils that can scratch easily. Don’t expect much customer support from these retailers as well.
For cleaner grades on Far Eastern platforms expect to add around £20 per m2, for each grade up. Our clean grades cost £102 to £108 per m².
European platforms start at around £95 per m2, for straightforward UV oils, in a Rustic grade, and this can double for perfect grades, with several treatments. Less common wood species such as Elm or Ash, are only available in bespoke options.
Two floors that look identical can be £40 and £100 per m². If you want the detail on why, we explain the [6 factors that set the price of a wood floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/6-factors-that-determine-the-price-of-your-floor-how-to-know-if-youre-paying-a-fair-price/), and why [a thicker top layer usually isn’t worth paying for](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/).
## Next, your subfloor: what preparation costs
Remember, almost all our floors are cosmetic, so they sit on top of a structural base. There are many different types of subfloor, but the most common are floorboards, ply, OSB (the boards like Weetabix), concrete or tiles.
To fit any form of solid flooring, the subfloor must be –
- Level – As flat as possible, with no dips or raises.
- Sound – No movement. You don’t want a squeaking subfloor, as once you fit your new floor, that noise won’t go away
- Dry – Wood floors and moisture are not a good combination. This is especially relevant if you are laying a new screed. Or if you are fitting a floor in a basement flat with a history of moisture issues.
There are some quite strict guidelines on each of these factors, that are set-out in the British Standards (which are effectively the rules that govern floor fitting). There’s more in our blog on [British Standards](https://www.kite-flooring.com/british-standards-or-bs-why-they-matter-and-how-to-avoid-problems-in-the-future/).
These standards are super conservative, but if you follow them, you won’t have any problems with your floor.
Subfloor preparation involves the cost of materials and labour. This could be as simple as stapling a layer of ply, if your subfloor is chipboard, or a 3mm skim of quick drying levelling compound if you have a new screed. It could also involve using quick drying mortars such as Ardex to fill deeper holes. Smoothing compounds can also be used, and DPMs (Damp Proof Membranes) that suppress moisture. And sometimes a combination of several strategies. Occasionally, the subfloor will be so uneven that surface strategies cannot be used. In these cases, you either have to remove the subfloor and level the joists, or create an entirely new subfloor on top of your existing uneven one.
Certain floors are more forgiving on uneven subfloors than others. Plank flooring can be glued and nailed to ply. It will then take the shape of the subfloor, but you can have a successful installation, on a slightly uneven surface. For Herringbone or Chevron, which we recommend is fully glued, the subfloor must be level.
It can all get very technical. And expensive. But it’s really important to factor in these costs, to ensure you have a successful installation.
## Your fitter: what fitting costs
Once you have prepared your subfloor. The floor has to be fitted.
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-fitting-teams/)Robbie, our Head Fitter. Kite is a CHAS accredited fitting business.Generally, it’s better for whoever is fitting the flooring to prepare the subfloor. This avoids awkward situations where a contractor has prepared a subfloor, and then the person fitting the floor isn’t happy. It’s quite common for a client to have paid money for subfloor preparation in this situation, so things can get awkward. Floors are mainly fitted Glued or Floated [(we have a blog here about this).](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/)
So how much should you pay for floor fitting? The truth is, just like not all floors are equal, not all fitters are equal.
Fitting a laminate in a new build, with a perfect subfloor, is straight-forward. Fitting a Herringbone, with a two-block border that runs around a kitchen island, is not.
The way we price our fitting works is we work out what a fitter needs to support their families and then balance this against buying the proper tools, insurance, van and a labourer (for when things get heavy). We also then factor in delays (when they can’t work because windows don’t turn up etc), the occasional holiday (everybody needs one), and for when a nightmare happens (when vans get broken into!). In London, this means certain rates need to be paid. But this can be different outside. There can also be some flexibility on larger projects. Smaller projects can be expensive.
At Kite, we make a margin on our fitting teams, because we 1) carry out all the pre-site surveys to ensure the projects are ready to go when the teams turn up (this includes screed tests, and laser level tests), 2) arrange for all the materials to be onsite exactly when they’re needed, 3) coordinate schedules to manage delays and 4) work with specialist parquet floor fitters, who often have qualifications, such as NVQs.
This means we are normally more expensive than if a contractor or a local tradesperson fits the floor. On larger building or renovation projects, it can therefore make things more straightforward if we just supply the floor. And, if you are fitting a straightforward plank floor, outside London, you will almost always find a local contractor who will be cheaper (they will also be under the VAT threshold, so you will immediately save 20%).
On more very technical installations, it can be better to use a professional fitter.
So, to help you budget for your project, we’ve prepared the table below with the main costs you will more than likely need in your flooring project. Note, these are just the main costs, and are based on a typical residential project of 40m2, in London. If you’re planning ahead, our [Forward Order Scheme](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/) takes 15% off the floor itself on selected best sellers.
| | Premium laminate | Engineered plank | Engineered parquet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor | £36 | From £72 | £108 (e.g. our Lewis Chevron) |
| Subfloor | £0 (perfect subfloor) | £27 (basic levelling) | £50 (ply and levelling) |
| Fitting | £50 (floated) | £60 (glued) | £70 (parquet, glued) |
| Underlay or adhesive | £8 (underlay) | £10 (adhesive) | £10 (adhesive) |
| Typical total | **£94** | **£169** | **£238** |
> **Costs per m², including VAT. Skirting is extra: allow around £30 per metre to remove and refit skirting, or £15 per metre for scotia beading. These costs are the main costs for budget purposes only. Other costs could include, the removal of existing flooring, moisture suppressing (DPM), block borders with parquet, stair cladding, and heavy item charges.**
So, for a premium laminate on a perfect subfloor, you may end up paying around £94 per m², plus skirting. An engineered plank with basic levelling comes to around £169 per m².
For a premium engineered parquet floor, with ply and levelling, costs could be around £238 per m².
As we explained before, you may find more cost-effective solutions by simply purchasing the product through Kite.
But you also have to balance this against how technical the installation will be, and if your contractor can deliver this.
## Wood flooring cost: FAQs
How much does wood flooring cost per m²?Our premium laminate is £36 per m², engineered oak planks start at £72 per m², our clean grades are £102 to £108 per m², and herringbone and chevron run from £72 to £108 per m². Bespoke floors cost more. Fitted, with subfloor prep, a typical London project comes to roughly £94 per m² for laminate and £169 to £238 per m² for engineered wood.
How much does it cost to fit a wood floor?Our fitting runs from about £50 per m² for a floated floor to £70 per m² for parquet, including VAT. Subfloor preparation is extra, and smaller projects can cost more per m².
Why is herringbone more expensive than plank?There are more cuts, more wastage and more packaging for a smaller area. It also has to be glued down onto a level subfloor, which usually means more preparation, and it takes longer to fit. See [how a herringbone floor is laid](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/).
How much does subfloor preparation cost?It depends entirely on what’s under your old floor. A perfect subfloor costs nothing, basic levelling is around £27 per m², and ply plus levelling is around £50 per m². Uneven joists or damp can cost more, so get the old floor up early if you can.
Is it cheaper to buy the floor and use my own fitter?Often, yes. A local contractor, especially outside London, will usually be cheaper than our fitting teams, and if they’re under the VAT threshold you save 20% straight away. For technical jobs, like herringbone with a border, a specialist parquet fitter is worth paying for.
Is laminate cheaper than wood flooring?Yes. Our premium laminate is £36 per m², half the price of our cheapest wood floors, and it’s always floated, so fitting is cheaper too. On a tight budget, it’s a better choice than a cheap wood floor. More on [why a premium laminate beats a cheap wood floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/beautiful-and-hard-wearing-premium-laminate-is-awesome-dont-buy-a-cheap-wood-floor/).
Is there any way to pay less?We don’t do fake sales. But if you can confirm your order 6 weeks to 6 months before delivery, our Forward Order Scheme takes 15% off selected best sellers. See the [Forward Order Scheme](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/).
## Want a fitted price for your project?
Come and see full-size boards in our showroom, or book a video call. We’ll look at your subfloor and give you a clear fitted quote, with no surprises on fitting day.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[Get in touch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/)
**Categories:** Designer Tips, Essential Reading, Floor Choice
---
### [Floated or Glued? How to Choose the Right Way to Fit Your Wood Floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/)
**Published:** January 19, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Floated or glued down? How engineered wood flooring is laid, and how to choose the right method for your subfloor, herringbone or underfloor heating.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
Many people don’t know you can fit a floor floated, glued down or nailed. Here’s how engineered wood flooring is laid, and how to choose the right method for your project.
## Floated or glued: the short answer
- **Herringbone or chevron?** Glue it. Always.
- **Plank on a flat subfloor** (no more than a 3mm gap under a 2m straightedge)? Floating is fine.
- **Uneven subfloor, and creaks would drive you mad?** Glue it, with ply or levelling first.
- **Underfloor heating in a screed?** Either works. **Foil electric mats?** Floated only.
- **Laminate?** Always floated. No decision there.
As a family, we occasionally try to have a conversation over dinner. So, the other evening, I posed some questions to my 7 and 4 year old.
*“Is there more than one way to bake a cake?”* – *“Yes, most definitely,”* came the reply.
*“How about eggs, is there more than one way to cook them?”* – *“Yes, poached, scrambled and fried.”*
*“Is there more than one way to fit a floor?”* – *“Daadd, we really don’t care how a floor is fitted…”*
And it’s true. Nobody cares how a floor is fitted… if it’s fitted well.
But, trust me, they do care if it’s fitted badly.
So, before your wood floor is fitted, agree your fitting strategy with your contractor, as this can have a big impact on the outcome of your flooring project.
## Floated vs glued: the two main ways to fit a wood floor
Floated or glued. There’s a third, *“nailed”*, but it’s pretty rare for us to do this, so we won’t go into too much detail here. Note, also, laminates are always floated, so no decision there!
| | Floated | Glued |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Boards are joined to each other and sit on an underlay | Every board is bonded to the subfloor |
| Subfloor | Goes over most subfloors, but creaks if they’re uneven | Needs a flat surface the glue can bond to: 6mm ply over floorboards, never chipboard or OSB |
| Feel underfoot | Fine for most people | More solid |
| Herringbone and chevron | We don’t advise it | A must |
| Cost | Marginally cheaper: underlay instead of adhesive | Adhesive, plus ply or levelling where needed |
A floated floor involves joining the edges of each board together and then simply *“floating”* the floor on top of an [underlay](https://www.kite-flooring.com/whats-underneath-matters-the-right-underlay-for-your-perfect-floor/), which in turn sits on top of your base floor. Your base or subfloor is the structural floor that sits beneath our floors (which are normally cosmetic). In many houses and flats this is 18mm plus thick wood, and sits on joists. In kitchen extensions, it is often concrete.
For floated, there is no glue that sticks underneath the floor to the base floor, but the weight of the floor holds it in place. Most of our engineered wood floors are tongue and groove floors, which means to join them together, the tongue has to be glued into the groove with PVA glue. Some of our laminates are “click systems”, so no PVA glue required, and you can also get engineered wood products in “click systems”. PVA is pretty damn strong, so whether it’s “click” or “T&G”, from a fitting outcome it will make no difference to you as a consumer… although click systems can be quicker to fit.
For a glued down floor you bond the bottom of your boards directly to your base floor. The tongues slot into the grooves but you do not glue these in. You cannot glue a floor to everything; you have to have a flat surface the glues will bond to. At Kite, we work in a lot of Victorian houses. Typically, they will have floorboards, so to glue a floor here, you have to fit 6mm ply on top of the floorboards, and then bond to this. Technically, you also shouldn’t glue to particle board (or OSB board), which is a cheap form of base floor sometimes used by builders. Again, the strategy is 6mm ply.
## So, which should you do?
At Kite, we don’t just want to sell you a floor. We want to help you have a perfectly fitted floor, and this means advising on the fitting side, even if we don’t fit. We know there are other blogs on the internet on this topic, but they generally list the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods… but don’t actually help a consumer (or somebody with no flooring expertise) to make a decision. In other words, they don’t explain why it actually matters how you fit your floor!
We think it comes down to four questions.
## Is your floor a patterned floor, such as chevron or herringbone, or straight board?
There are some contractors that will float a patterned floor. We don’t advise it, and our fitters will always glue it down. There is far less tolerance for unevenness with a patterned floor, so if it’s not glued down, and the subfloor isn’t perfect, you will get a poor outcome from your fitting. It is also far easier to fit a patterned floor glued down; you can set up the flooring lines, without them moving during fitting. We explain the whole process in [how to lay a herringbone floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/). Examples of patterned floors can be found in our [Kent Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/).
## Is your subfloor uneven?
The majority of floors in the UK are fitted on a floated basis. The advantage is it’s easier to do, and marginally cheaper (you don’t buy glues but an underlay instead). The disadvantage is if there is any unevenness in your base floor, the floor can creak. The bible for floor fitting in the UK is the [British Standard](https://www.kite-flooring.com/british-standards-or-bs-why-they-matter-and-how-to-avoid-problems-in-the-future/) BS 8201:2011. It specifies a flat floor as having a flatness tolerance of “a maximum of 3mm gap showing under a 2m long straight edge”. So, you’re pretty unlikely to get creaks if the floor can meet this condition. This is a pretty conservative viewpoint, along with most of the other standards, but it’s a helpful starting point.
If you are levelling the floor (such as in a building project) or you are in a new-build property where your base floor is super flat, floating will be ok. If you’re working with a more uneven base floor, then you can still float, but it’s pretty likely you will get some creaks.
## Will you be annoyed by creaking in your floor?
If you have unevenness in your subfloor, there’s the chance you may get creaking. But will this actually bother you? Many people don’t even notice, and think it’s part of the character of a wood floor; those creaks will not damage the floor.
As flooring geeks, we can tell when a floor is glued; it has a more solid feel to it when you walk on it… but really only people in the trade notice this. If you’re the type of person that will notice creaks, and there is unevenness in the subfloor, then glue the floor down.
Many contractors (our fitters included) prefer gluing floors, as it is deemed a superior way of fitting a floor. **The floor in a floor fitter’s house will always be glued down, as guess what, they are annoyed by creaking floors!**
## What is your contractor comfortable doing?
Speak with your contractor. Generally, they have a preferred way of doing things, and ultimately, it is they who are responsible for completing the project, so they should be comfortable with the strategy. But, if you have an uneven floor, and the contractor wants to float the floor, be aware, they may install a floor that creaks! Whichever method you choose, it also affects the cost of subfloor prep, so factor it into [your flooring budget](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-much-should-i-budget-for-my-new-flooring/).
## Do you have an underfloor heating system?
If you’re having underfloor heating, check if it is water based or electric. With water based systems, you generally enclose the system in a screed. When you fit the flooring, to glue the floor down, you have to apply a thin layer of levelling compound, so there is a base floor that is super smooth to glue to. If you float the floor, you can simply use an underlay that is compatible with underfloor heating. With electric systems, the strategy can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so make sure you check their installation guidelines (if you float on an electric system, you often don’t need underlay). Foil-based electric mats can only take a floated floor. Glueing on an electric system can get complicated, so speak to us about this. There’s much more in our guide to [wood floors and underfloor heating](https://www.kite-flooring.com/we-need-to-talk-about-underfloor-heating-wood-flooring-heating-systems-and-how-to-get-it-right/).
Of course, fitting is just one aspect of the flooring journey. You also need to decide on the product. Here are two helpful blogs that look into this side of things:
[You want a wood floor and don’t know what to choose.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/you-want-a-wood-floor-but-dont-know-which-to-choose/)
[Is a wooden floor right for your home?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/is-a-wooden-floor-right-for-your-home/)
Happy project planning.
## Floated or glued: FAQs
Is it better to float or glue engineered wood flooring?Neither is better for every job. Gluing gives a more solid feel and avoids creaks, and it’s a must for herringbone and chevron. Floating is easier, marginally cheaper and fine for a plank floor on a flat subfloor. If your subfloor is uneven and creaks would bother you, glue it.
Can you float a herringbone floor?Some contractors do, but we don’t advise it, and our fitters always glue patterned floors down. There’s far less tolerance for unevenness with herringbone and chevron, and gluing stops the lines moving while the floor is being fitted.
Why does my floated floor creak?Usually because the subfloor isn’t flat enough. BS 8201 describes a flat floor as having no more than a 3mm gap under a 2m straightedge. Float over anything worse and you’re likely to get some creaks. They won’t damage the floor, but if they’d annoy you, glue it down instead.
Can you glue engineered wood straight onto floorboards?No. You need a flat surface the adhesive can bond to. Over Victorian floorboards that means fitting 6mm ply first and gluing to that. You also shouldn’t glue to chipboard or OSB, so again, 6mm ply goes down first.
Should a wood floor over underfloor heating be floated or glued?With water pipes set in a screed, either works. To glue, a thin layer of levelling compound goes down first so there’s a smooth surface to bond to. To float, use an underlay that’s compatible with underfloor heating. Foil electric mats can only take a floated floor, so no herringbone or chevron. Always check the heating manufacturer’s installation guidelines.
Is a floating floor cheaper than a glued one?Marginally. You buy an underlay instead of adhesive, and it’s easier to fit. But a glued floor over floorboards, chipboard or OSB also needs 6mm ply first, so how big the gap is depends on your subfloor.
Do click floors need glue?Not between the boards. Click systems lock together, so no PVA is needed. Tongue-and-groove boards that are floated have PVA glued into the groove. Either way the result is the same, though click floors can be quicker to fit. Click floors can also be glued down to the subfloor.
## Not sure which suits your subfloor?
Come and see full-size boards in our showroom, or book a video call. We’ll talk through your subfloor, heating and fitting method, and give you a clear fitted quote.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[Get in touch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/)
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Project Management
**Tags:** engineered wood, flooring, herringbone floor, interiordesign, oakflooring, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [Laminate vs Engineered Wood: Why a Premium Laminate Beats a Cheap Wood Floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/beautiful-and-hard-wearing-premium-laminate-is-awesome-dont-buy-a-cheap-wood-floor/)
**Published:** July 31, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Laminate or engineered wood? How they compare on price, wear, water and maintenance, and why a premium laminate beats a cheap wood floor.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
At Kite our mission is to find you the perfect floor and whilst we mainly sell wood floors, the reality is they aren’t right for every project. For a start, wood flooring done properly is expensive, especially over large areas and with uneven subfloors. Also, regardless of finish, wood flooring will always require some maintenance. If you want to fit a floor and never think about it again, wood floors aren’t always the answer.
Mention “Laminate” to most people and they think of shiny floors with chips and scrapes, or swollen joints from excess mopping. They also think of creaks and bounce where the floor hasn’t been fitted properly. Like everything in life, there’s the average, the good, and the awesome. At Kite we work with the awesome.
## Laminate vs engineered wood: the quick comparison
| | Premium laminate | Engineered wood |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A printed image of wood under a very hard wear layer | A real oak top layer, every plank different |
| Price at Kite | [£36 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/natural-oak-premium-laminate-flooring/) | From around £72 per m² (e.g. [Natural Rustic](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/natural-rustic/)) |
| Maintenance | Fit it and forget it | A little love: the occasional mop and some maintenance oil if it’s oiled |
| Wear | AC6 rated, generally with a lifetime residential warranty | Can be sanded and refinished several times, lasting 40 years or more |
| Water | Protected joints give some water resistance | Works in kitchens with good quality oils or lacquer |
| Fitting | Simple click system: a good handyman, or DIY | We recommend a professional fitter |
| Feel underfoot | Realistic look with a matt, brushed finish | Real timber, warmer and more natural |
**Our rule of thumb: a premium laminate beats a cheap wood floor, but a well-made engineered wood floor beats both.** If the numbers work for a good wood floor, and you want real timber you can sand and refinish for decades, go for wood. If they don’t, don’t compromise on a cheap wood floor. Go for a premium laminate.
## What makes an awesome laminate floor?
### 1. A matt, textured finish
It has to look good and that is a non-negotiable. At Kite we look at a lot of floors and have visited a lot of manufacturers across Europe. When we saw our Laminates for the first time we couldn’t believe how realistic they looked; the key was their matt finish, which was slightly brushed.
Light Oak Laminate
### 2. Hard-wearing, with a long warranty (look for AC6)
On your flooring journey you’ll soon discover that floors have specifications and it can get very confusing. The specification for Laminates is called the AC or [Abrasion Class](https://www.floortrendsmag.com/articles/110378-making-sense-of-wear-resistance-and-ac-ratings-for-laminate-flooring) classification. Floors are rated from 1 to 6, with 1 being a low standard and 6 being incredibly hard-wearing. At Kite, we almost always sell AC6 laminates, as it means once it’s fitted, you never have to worry about it again. These floors generally have a lifetime warranty in residential properties.
Light Oak laminate in a family home
### 3. Don’t go too thin: ours are 10mm
Typical Laminates are 8mm thick. When we’ve fitted thin Laminates, especially in old houses, we’ve had movement and instability, so we recommend a thicker product. Ours are 10mm. Combining this with a good quality underlay will minimise your chances of having movement or bounce in your floor (note, the subfloor still needs to be relatively flat). Here’s some information on [**fitting strategy.**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/)
### 4. Easy to fit
At Kite, our fitting teams do fit Laminate floors and we are happy to quote or give any advice you need. However, if you’re looking for a Laminate floor it’s often cheaper to buy the flooring through us and find a local handyman to fit ([**Checkatrade**](https://www.checkatrade.com/) is great). Wood flooring professionals have decades of training, combined with expensive tools and insurance, so have to charge a premium rate to make their business work. This makes sense for wood flooring but doesn’t always work with Laminate. DIY is also possible as the flooring uses a very simple click system.
### 5. Wide planks
Narrow plank flooring tends to look cheaper so avoid it. The most versatile width of flooring we find is around 190/200mm, which looks good, whatever your room size. We also do a wide plank version of our laminates that is 270mm wide, for very open spaces.
### 6. Some water resistance
Good quality Laminates will have protection in the joints which means they have a level of water resistance. This is very different from cheaper laminates which will swell as soon as they’re exposed to any leaks.
### 7. Environmental credentials
The best quality laminates often have gold-standard environmental credentials, as generally they are made in high-quality European factories in Germany or Spain. This is in contrast to the online wood floor market. One of the main manufacturers we work with is called Finsa, who have an awesome Sustainability strategy – [**Finsa Sustainability.**](https://finfloor.com/en/article/sustainability-2d225344-b6d1-4a38-ae34-cd9e6b223462)
Premium Laminates are very rare in the UK. Why? Because most retailers sell cheap wood floors at a similar price point, none of which get close to the performance of a good laminate.
## And what about vinyl (LVT)?
Most people have heard of major vinyl flooring brands like Karndean or Amtico. At Kite, we struggle with this type of flooring, because a premium Laminate is just as hard-wearing and it’s cheaper. Laminates now even have some water resistance properties, which is an advantage often quoted with vinyl products. Adding this to some challenging environmental factors, especially with the disposal of glue-down **[vinyl flooring](https://www.ehn.org/vinyl-plastic-2655486127.html),** we struggle to see why you would go with a vinyl product over a strong laminate. We go into more detail in [engineered oak vs LVT](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-big-debate-engineered-oak-vs-lvt-and-something-that-will-really-shock-you/).
## Laminate vs engineered wood: FAQs
Is laminate better than engineered wood?It depends on budget. A premium laminate beats a cheap wood floor: it is harder-wearing, has some water resistance and needs no maintenance. But a well-made engineered wood floor has the feel of real timber and can be sanded and refinished for 40 years or more, which laminate can’t.
Is laminate cheaper than engineered wood?Yes. Our premium laminate is £36 per m², about half the price of our wood floors, which start from around £72 per m². Fitting is usually cheaper too, as a good handyman can fit a click laminate.
Is laminate flooring waterproof?Not fully. Good quality laminates have protected joints, which gives them some water resistance. Cheaper laminates can swell as soon as they’re exposed to a leak.
What thickness of laminate should I buy?Go thicker than the standard 8mm, especially in older houses, as we’ve seen movement and instability with thin laminates. Ours are 10mm. Use a good quality underlay, and make sure the subfloor is relatively flat.
What does the AC rating on laminate mean?AC stands for Abrasion Class. Laminates are rated from 1 to 6, with 6 the most hard-wearing. We almost always sell AC6 laminates, which generally come with a lifetime warranty in homes.
So there you have it. If you’re looking for a cost-effective, forever floor, then a premium Laminate could be for you. But, the reality is, seeing is believing; until you hold and test a sample, this just reads like a sales pitch…. which it is. But we do genuinely think they’re awesome.
So, order your samples here…
[Order Samples](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)
Or for any technical advice, book a consultation with our team here…
[Book consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Categories:** Floor Choice
**Tags:** hardwearing, laminate, premium laminate
---
### [Underlay for Engineered Wood Flooring: How to Choose the Right One](https://www.kite-flooring.com/whats-underneath-matters-the-right-underlay-for-your-perfect-floor/)
**Published:** August 17, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Which underlay for engineered wood flooring? Uneven subfloors, soundproofing (dB), insulation (tog), damp, underfloor heating and glued floors, explained by floor fitters.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
We’ve talked about [subfloors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/) previously, and we’ve also talked about fitting strategies [(glued or floated..).](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/) But what we haven’t flagged is, more often than not, there is a layer between your wood floor and subfloor. **It’s the filling in your flooring sandwich, and as with sandwiches, what you choose makes a difference.**
Remember, you only get one shot at this – you can’t change your filling once the floor is down!
## The short version: which underlay for engineered wood?
- **Floated floor on an uneven subfloor:** a thicker underlay. We use a 5mm product, which helps the floor mould to the subfloor with far fewer creaks.
- **A flat with a strict lease:** an acoustic underlay with a spec sheet showing its dB reduction. Higher is quieter.
- **Cold floors, such as basement flats:** check the tog rating. For wood floors it ranges from about 0.3 to just over 1.
- **Damp concerns:** a damp-proof underlay or membrane (DPM). It protects the floor, but doesn’t fix the damp.
- **Underfloor heating:** usually a very thin underlay. Always check with the heating manufacturer.
- **Glued floors, like herringbone:** you can’t glue to most underlays. Use a special rubber and cork underlay glued to ply.
## Do you need underlay for engineered wood flooring?
If your floor is floated (not bonded to the subfloor), yes. The underlay sits between the floor and the subfloor and does several jobs: it smooths out small unevenness, reduces footstep noise, can insulate and can block moisture. If your floor is glued down, you usually don’t use a standard underlay at all, because you can’t glue to most of them (more on that [below](#glue-down)).
## Underlay for floated floors
Here we’re talking about underlays, and, believe it or not, there are many different types.
I had no clue about underlay before we started the business, and it’s the same with most of our clients. Yet, the quality of underlay can make a real difference, and the costs, when set against your flooring budget, often make it a no brainer to upgrade.
**Underlay can be used to smooth a subfloor, improve sound proofing, increase heat insulation and create a moisture barrier.** Our typical use case for premium underlay is when a client wants less heat loss (think basement flats..) and the subfloor is uneven. Uneven subfloors and floated floors are not a good combination; there’s always a risk of creaks or bounces. To fix this, clients can opt to level the floor with a levelling compound, but that’s expensive. Alternatively, they can use a thicker underlay, which is the next best thing.
## Levelling out an uneven subfloor: why 5mm beats 3mm
At Kite, we use a 5mm underlay product made from recycled tyres and cork. We’ve used this product over some pretty uneven subfloors, and the floors have moulded to a perfect fit, with very little creaking or movement. By contrast, we see far more creaks and bounces with thinner products. To upgrade, on a standard flooring project, you’d end up paying around £200 extra, so it’s definitely worth the extra spend.
## Soundproofing: what dB rating do you need?
In many flats, leases will stipulate “a premium underlay” must be used for timber floors. Good underlays will have a specification sheet that lists performance, and what you’re looking for is the dB reduction. This relates to footstep sounds on your floor, and a higher dB rating will mean you’ll hear less footsteps beneath your floor. Our entry level underlays have a rating of 17dB, premium underlays can be as high as 28dB. If the underlay doesn’t have a spec sheet steer clear; when you come to sell the flat, a specification sheet is evidence you’ve complied with the lease.
*A typical spec sheet. Phoooooaaaarr look at that dB rating 🙂*
## Heat insulation: tog ratings
On the specification sheet, you’ll also see a Tog rating. This is a measurement on how effective your underlay is at insulating heat; the higher the tog rating, the less heat will transfer through your floor. For wood floors, underlays can have tog ratings of anywhere from 0.3 to just over 1.
*This product has a high tog and dB rating…. OMG. It’s also called Serenity. Although don’t choose your underlay based on the name.*
## Blocking moisture: damp-proof underlay
Damp is the nemesis of the wood flooring, and we discover it pretty regularly on our travels across East London, especially in basement flats. A Damp Proof underlay is a low cost tool to protect your new floor against moisture, but note this doesn’t fix a damp problem, it merely stops damp getting to your floor.
*Yes. It’s a plastic sheet. But a very thick one. In flooring TPE (Thick Plastic Sheet), doesn’t sell well, so it’s often called a DPM (Damp Proof Membrane)…. or a Vapour Transmission Barrier or Moisture Reduction Enhancer (*..we made that one up..\_)
## Underlay for underfloor heating
Of course there are situations where you need an underlay that transfers heat instead of insulating against it. Normally, this means a very thin underlay, but on some electric underfloor heating systems, you float the floors directly onto them. Our advice is to always check with the heating manufacturer. They are almost always very helpful, and will advise on the best build up strategy. Our [guide to wood flooring and underfloor heating](https://www.kite-flooring.com/we-need-to-talk-about-underfloor-heating-wood-flooring-heating-systems-and-how-to-get-it-right/) goes into more detail.
***You often float wood floors directly onto foil, electric underfloor heating systems.***
## Underlay for glue-down floors (herringbone and chevron)
You cannot glue a floor to most underlays. So, what happens if you want a Herringbone floor (that has to be glued down), but you need sound proofing? This is a common scenario for us in new build developments or leasehold flats with strict leases. Here, if the subfloor is floor boards, typically, 6mm ply will be stapled, and then a special underlay made of rubber and cork is glued to the ply, with the flooring glued to this. There’s a lot of glue, and a lot of material involved, but it gets you the floor you want, and complies with the lease.
Wood, glues, and an insulating underlay.
Our own underlays are designed for floating our wood and laminate floors: the [Wood and Laminate underlay (21dB)](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/wood-and-laminate-underlay-21db-sound-reduction/) and the [High performance 5mm underlay (26dB)](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/high-performance-underlay-5mm/).
## Underlay for engineered wood: FAQs
Do you need underlay for engineered wood flooring?Yes, if the floor is floated. Underlay smooths small unevenness, reduces footstep noise, and can add insulation and a moisture barrier. Glued-down floors usually don’t use a standard underlay, because you can’t glue to most of them.
What is the best underlay for engineered wood flooring?It depends on the job. For a floated floor on an uneven subfloor, we use a 5mm underlay. For flats, choose an acoustic underlay with a spec sheet showing its dB reduction. For damp, use a damp-proof underlay. For underfloor heating, usually a very thin one, as advised by the heating manufacturer.
Is 3mm or 5mm underlay better for engineered wood?On uneven subfloors, 5mm. We see far more creaks and bounce with thinner products. On a standard project, upgrading costs around £200 extra, which is usually well worth it.
Can you glue engineered wood to underlay?Not to most underlays. For glued floors such as herringbone that also need soundproofing, a special rubber and cork underlay is glued to plywood, and the floor is glued to that.
What underlay should I use with underfloor heating?Usually a very thin underlay that lets heat through. On some electric systems, the floor is floated directly onto the heating. Always check with the heating manufacturer.
What dB rating does my underlay need for a flat?Check your lease. Entry-level underlays are around 17dB, and premium underlays can reach 28dB, which means you hear fewer footsteps below. Always get a specification sheet: when you sell, it’s your evidence that you complied with the lease.
So, there you have it. A lesson in what you can use between floors. It’s probably not something you thought you would ever have to think about. But it’s really important when choosing a floor. Get it wrong, and you’ll be thinking about it a lot. And you won’t be able to change your flooring sandwich.
Happy project planning.
**Categories:** About Your Floor, General Knowledge
**Tags:** Floor underlay
---
### [A Beautiful Floor, That’s Low-Maintenance, Pet-Friendly, and Within Budget](https://www.kite-flooring.com/a-beautiful-floor-thats-low-maintenance-pet-friendly-and-within-budget/)
**Published:** November 6, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
Recently, during a team meeting, we sat down and debated what people actually wanted from their floors? Surprisingly, after some debate, we realised it wasn’t actually that complicated.
Yet somehow our industry has made it super complex? Could it be that working in the marketing department of a flooring business is really boring, so you have to keep coming up with new products? Could it be that, as most people don’t buy floors every day, they are susceptible to sneaky marketing? There are so many flooring products and categories, but as we’ve got to know them, we’ve realised most of them shouldn’t really exist.
But they do. And they’re stacked high and wide in flooring shops across the UK. And they exist, because people can sell them. Not because they solve any real human problems.
So, what do people really want from their floors?
## Well, firstly, they need to be beautiful!!
Now, we’re going to try and stay humble on this one, but we think we’re pretty good at this. Everybody wants a beautiful home, and your floor is a big part of that. We recently compiled a list of our Top Ten Floors, and we think there are some crackers here – [Kite’s Top Ten Floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/kite-floorings-top-10-most-loved-floors-of-the-year/ "Kite Flooring’s Top 10 Most-Loved Floors of the Year")
But, beauty is, of course, in the eye of the beholder.
So, if you want a beautiful floor, the things to avoid are cheap lacquered floors from online companies (they can glisten in your lights like snow…just wait and see) or planks with ugly knot fills and too much colour variation (watch out for those “character” grades!!).
If you’re choosing a more premium floor, try and see a few samples before buying, so you get to appreciate the colour variation . **Buying an expensive floor without seeing a large sample board is a bit like agreeing to marry someone on a dating app. In fact, floors last longer than most marriages, so it really pays to do your homework!**
We also think vinyl floors are ugly (and we know that’s controversial). Even the best ones still have an unnatural sheen on them. Unless you like plastic. Practical maybe. But not beautiful.
Also, don’t forget a beautiful floor needs to be beautifully fitted. Get the direction of the floor running correctly. And don’t forget to stagger the planks. If you’re fitting a parquet, you might need a professional, whatever the DIY videos show. Fitting floors can get technical, but we are there if you need advice.
## And floors need to be practical!!
So, some of you will be “shoes off at the door” people. Others will be more relaxed. But most people don’t want to have to worry about their floors after they’re fitted. Will it mark easily? Will it dent if I drop a pan?
If you’re looking at engineered wood floors, and they will always have the most natural feel of all the flooring products we sell, the key is how the oak is protected, either through lacquers or oils. Both strategies make great floors, and aesthetically, there really is no difference (lacquers have a bad reputation, because people have only experienced the cheap, shiny ones). But the key is not all protection is equal. Cheap floors use small amounts of low quality oil or lacquer, so tend to mark easily. It’s why contractors will often say *“does the floor need an extra coat of oil on it?*”, because the original oil that’s been applied is rubbish.
It’s true that some floors do require a little more love. Some of our oiled floors are more like owning a grass lawn, whereas the laminates are like owning astro-turf. If you give your oiled floor a little love, it will repay you (a bit like a grass lawn). The maintenance is not huge, but they do need a light mop with a natural soap every couple of weeks, and some maintenance oil. But sometimes it’s easier to go with astro-turf. Our lacquered floors are resistant to the toughest liquids you can find in a household, making them among the most practical floors you can buy.
But what about other types of flooring, like vinyl? Well there is no doubt that vinyl can be practical. But premium laminates now perform exactly the same job. If you step back and think about it, why would you glue 5mm of plastic to your floor? Surely, if the plastic is strong enough, a thinner layer is fine. And that is essentially what premium laminate flooring does, and the good ones are waterproof as well. And looks wise, we think they’re prettier than vinyl (just make sure you go with the wide and long plank versions). Oh. and they’re cheaper.
## And what about our pets?
A cute dog. And some Chevron. High quality oils. Obviously.Well, this picks up the discussion on practicality. We know that companies exist who specialise in selling *“pet friendly floors”.* But, here’s the truth. All good quality flooring is pet friendly, whether it is wood, vinyl or laminate. It’s also not possible to make the case that any flooring is a specialist pet floor.
We read a statement from one company claiming their flooring would save on your vet bills! This is a bit like us saying our flooring will help you live longer. Actually. Maybe we should say that.
So, when we say pet friendly, what do we actually mean? Well we mean if your pet is sick, or has an accident, as long as you clear it up, you’re fine. Some floors are stronger than others, and our premium lacquered and our laminate flooring are almost worry free. This means you could leave your pet wee for days, and there wouldn’t be a mark. But please don’t. That would be disgusting.
So, for pets, what we’re really saying is whatever floor choice you make, whether it’s wood, vinyl or laminate, just don’t go cheap. (More on this, and on Bella our whippet, in [the best flooring for dogs](https://www.kite-flooring.com/pet-friendly-floors-more-myths-and-misconceptions/).)
## Finally, it should be within budget
So, we know we have plenty of clients who land on our website, and think *“nice floors, but they’re super expensive”*. They also think, *“I can buy wood floors for £50 per m2 from [directlywoodluxury.com](http://directlywoodluxury.com) and they have a 60% half-term holiday sale running”.*
But what most people don’t know is that not all floors are equal. Floors are no different from any other product category. There’s the good, the bad and the ugly. The most cost-effective floors that are sold in the UK are almost always made in China, with low quality oils, or shiny lacquers.
Most of the time, we find our clients asking the wrong questions; they ask “will engineered wood floors work in my home?”, but what they should really ask “will that brand of wood floors work in my home?”. So, whilst our wood floors might be more expensive than some of our competitors, they will always work in your home.
But wood floors aren’t right for every project, especially if you have a large area, or on a tight budget.
This is why we worked hard to source the best laminates available on the market. They’re not sold in the UK, because most businesses are too busy focusing on vinyl, but they’re wider and longer than regular laminates, have a matte and textured surface, are water proof, and are AC6 rated (so pretty much indestructible). You can order samples of these online.
So, hopefully we’ve covered most bases. And answered the fundamental flooring quest.
A Beautiful Floor, That’s Low-Maintenance, Pet-Friendly, and Within Budget
Some helpful blog links are here –
[OUR PREMIUM LAMINATES](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/ "Light Oak Premium Laminate Flooring – £36 per m²")
[OUR NEWINGTON PLUS FLOORS (WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE LACQUERS)](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)
[How to budget for a flooring project](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-much-should-i-budget-for-my-new-flooring/ "How much should I budget for my new flooring?")
**Categories:** Designer Tips
---
### [The Best Flooring for Dogs? The Truth About Pet-Friendly Floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/pet-friendly-floors-more-myths-and-misconceptions/)
**Published:** November 10, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** What is the best flooring for dogs? Vets don’t recommend a type. Bella the whippet, wood vs laminate vs vinyl, and why quality matters more than floor type.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
This is Bella (turns out a very common dog name btw). She is a beautiful, 3 year old whippet. Her claws are a little long, and need to be cut, but she hates it. She used to have accidents regularly. Now just occasionally. This is normally when we (I) forget to put her out in the evening. We love her very much.
**Bella – The Dog – She don’t need no vinyl.**
Now, when choosing a floor, we would always think about Bella. So what is the best flooring for dogs?
## The short answer
**The best flooring for dogs is any good-quality floor: wood, laminate or vinyl.** Vets don’t recommend a specific type. Choose on quality, not floor type. Look for a durable finish (good oils or lacquers, or an AC6 laminate), a textured surface so paws don’t slip, and a floor that’s easy to clean. For the most worry-free option, go for a premium laminate or a high-performance lacquered wood floor.
## The “pet-friendly flooring” myth
If you type “pet-friendly flooring” into ChatGPT or Google, you would probably end up with a vinyl floor. It’s a plastic floor, so it will be resistant to marks, scrapes and unfortunate accidents. There are, in fact, entire flooring businesses and categories that have been created to service the “Pet Floor Fear”.
They normally run an argument that your floor needs to be plastic (vinyl) and non-slip. It also needs to have low VOC emissions (so it doesn’t off-gas chemicals…). For good measure, if you were really pushing the pet-floor angle, you would get the floor endorsed by vets, and call it “Animal Safe” or “Pet Smart”. We even read a statement from one company claiming their flooring would save on your vet bills! That’s a bit like us saying our flooring will help you live longer. Actually. Maybe we should say that.
## What the vets actually say
At Kite, we try to dig a bit deeper than company marketing material, so we always look for independent sources (obviously a vinyl flooring company is going to say their floors are pet friendly, just like we say our wood floors can make you look younger…). Interestingly, the [British Veterinary Association](https://www.bva.co.uk/) does not recommend a specific type of flooring. Neither does the [Kennel Club](https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/). What there is, is a general understanding that the floor should be durable, waterproof and easy to clean. But those qualities can apply to all types of flooring.
**All floors, whether they are wood, laminate or vinyl, can be pet friendly. The choice shouldn’t be based on floor type, but on floor quality.**
## Wood floors and dogs
Bella has spent her entire life on a wood floor. There have been no marks or scrapes. Accidents have been cleaned up, with no marks. Our vet bills have not skyrocketed due to VOC emissions. And she doesn’t seem to have a problem slipping.
A good quality wood floor, with good quality oils or lacquers, will be resistant to marks, scrapes and unfortunate accidents. The key is how the oak is protected. Cheap floors use small amounts of low-quality oil or lacquer, so they tend to mark easily. It also won’t harm your pet by off-gassing chemicals (no good quality floor will, even the ones that aren’t sold by us!). And all the floors we sell are textured, so you won’t be turning your kitchen into a doggy ice-rink, however fun that may sound.
A cute dog. And some chevron. High quality oils. Obviously.
## Laminate and dogs
Premium laminates will do exactly the same job. They won’t have the depth of colour and texture of a wood floor, but they are half the price of a good quality wood floor. Ours are AC6 rated (so pretty much indestructible), textured, and have protected joints for some water resistance. See how they compare in [laminate vs engineered wood](https://www.kite-flooring.com/beautiful-and-hard-wearing-premium-laminate-is-awesome-dont-buy-a-cheap-wood-floor/).
## And vinyl?
Vinyl does the same job as laminate, but for more cost. And slightly more shine. If you have read any of our blogs before, you will know that we struggle to understand the purpose of vinyl, other than to keep vinyl flooring companies busy. More on that in [engineered oak vs LVT](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-big-debate-engineered-oak-vs-lvt-and-something-that-will-really-shock-you/).
## Our most worry-free floors for pets
Some floors are stronger than others. Our [Newington Plus](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/) floors, with high-performance lacquers, and our [premium laminates](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/) are almost worry-free. You could leave your pet’s wee for days and there wouldn’t be a mark. But please don’t. That would be disgusting.
So, if you have a furry friend, our top tip is to choose your floor based on quality, not on floor type. And guess what? It also means you can have that beautiful wooden floor you’ve always wanted.
## Pets and flooring: FAQs
What is the best flooring for dogs?Any good-quality floor. Neither the British Veterinary Association nor the Kennel Club recommends a specific type of flooring. What matters is that the floor is durable, easy to clean and copes with spills, and good wood, laminate and vinyl floors can all do that. Choose on quality, not floor type.
Is a wood floor OK with dogs?Yes, as long as it is well made, with good quality oils or lacquers. Our whippet Bella has spent her whole life on a wood floor with no marks or scrapes, and accidents have cleaned up without a mark. Cheap floors with thin, low-quality finishes are the ones that mark easily.
Is laminate good for dogs?A premium laminate is one of the most worry-free floors you can have with pets. It is AC6 rated, so extremely hard-wearing, has a textured surface and some water resistance, and costs about half the price of a good quality wood floor.
Do dogs slip on wood floors?Not on a textured floor. All the floors we sell, wood and laminate, are textured, so your kitchen won’t turn into a doggy ice-rink. Very shiny, cheap lacquered floors are the slippery ones.
Is vinyl the best flooring for pets?Not necessarily. Vinyl is practical, but a premium laminate does the same job for less money, with less shine. There is no independent evidence that vinyl is better for pets than a good wood or laminate floor.
Do pet accidents damage wood floors?Not if you clear them up. On a good quality oiled or lacquered floor, an accident cleaned up promptly won’t leave a mark. Our premium lacquered floors and laminates are almost worry-free.
Want to learn more about floors and VOC emissions? This is a great place to start: [floors and VOCs](https://www.kite-flooring.com/should-you-worry-about-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-and-wood-flooring/). Or read [what people really want from a floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/a-beautiful-floor-thats-low-maintenance-pet-friendly-and-within-budget/).
## Bring the dog (or just a photo)
Samples of all our floors are available online, or come and see full-size boards at our Hackney Road showroom.
[Order samples](https://www.kite-flooring.com/sampling-service/)[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Categories:** Designer Tips
---
### [You want a wood floor. But don't know which to choose.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/you-want-a-wood-floor-but-dont-know-which-to-choose/)
**Published:** May 4, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** There are almost limitless options with wood flooring, which is confusing; we generally don’t buy flooring every day! Our advice is to think along two lines; Design and Quality.
**Content:**
There are almost limitless options with wood flooring, but as we generally don’t buy flooring every day, it can be confusing. Our advice is to think along two lines; Design and Quality.
**Design**
Broadly, there are three design aspects to your wood floor; **Shape, Colour and Texture.**
Firstly shape, parking the more niche options, wood flooring generally comes in a Plank, Herringbone, or Chevron. Planks come in almost any width, from 90mm up to 300mm, Chevron and Herringbone in small, medium or large sizes. Normally, customers start by looking to social media, magazines or Pinterest for inspiration. If you’re not sure about which shape to go for, we can almost guarantee you will end up with a straight plank floor. Patterned floors are c70% more expensive, from a subfloor, supply and fit perspective, so you have to really want one!
ChevronHerringbonePlankIn terms of colour, dark floors make a space feel cosier, and light floors more spacious and airy. Mid-tone floors, such as yellows or raw colours, are more versatile and work in any space. These floors tend to work best if you don’t have a specific design style in mind. Our top tip is to always look for a general colour, not a specific one; wood flooring is a natural product so you get colour variations across the planks. Also think about the “grade” of wood; with knots, with no knots, or something in the middle. Cleaner grades look more modern, character grades more rustic.
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/)Our Lewis Rustic from our Newington Range – Versatile, and modern.
Finally, think about texture. Floors can be heavily brushed or distressed to give them a reclaimed feel. They can also be light brushed or smooth. Like the shape, this comes down to design style. Good quality distressed floors will transform a room, but because there are more treatments on the wood, they will always be more expensive. Pay particular attention to how the knots have been filled. We regularly come across clients who have bought a rustic floor online, only to discover the knots have been poorly filled.
Light TexturedDark TexturedDark TexturedLight TexturedThickness is something that people often ask about as people often ascribe more value to thicker floors. Remember, the majority of wood floors are cosmetic floors (..they sit on top of a subfloor). Thickness, therefore, doesn’t matter, provided you have a [sufficient oak top layer](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/) to sand the floor (say 2/3mm plus..). (NB – We do think about thickness where people want flush transitions, from wood into tile, and the thickness of the floor has to be adjusted accordingly).
**Quality**
When we first started our journey, we assumed all oiled floors were the same, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. A well-made wood floor, with high-quality oils, will last generations and perform well in a busy family environment. A poorly made floor won’t.
Our advice is always to check which oils have been used on the floor. If the manufacturer doesn’t know, they’re probably using cheap oils. Also, check how the oils are applied; the floors must be roughed up between coats, to ensure the oils sit deep within the wood structure. At Kite, we use oils from a manufacturer called [Ciranova](https://www.ciranova.eu/ "Ciranova") (basically, the BMW of wood oils..).
The quality of milling is also important. Good quality floors will slot together well, with no gaps. This is especially relevant with patterned floors (we would advise against buying a patterned floor, like Chevron online).
To make an accurately milled floor, you need well-maintained machinery that is serviced regularly. In the quest for ever-cheaper pricing, this maintenance is something that is often overlooked, leading to problems with flooring onsite. It’s also possible to cut corners in other aspects of floor production, such as the glues that hold the oak top layers down, and not controlling the atmospheric conditions in the factory – (if moisture gets into the oak top layers during production, you can often have problems with the floor).
At the beginning of Kite, we worked with cheaper floors that are typically sold online, and had problems, especially with oil quality, delamination (when the oak top layers came away from the ply core), split grains and also lippage (when there were noticeable differences in heights between the planks). Our top tip would be to look for brands that professional floor fitters work with; fitters fit up to 60 floors per year, so they know what works best (contractors only 3 or 4…). Wood floors are not for everyone, especially those on a budget. If you’re struggling to make the numbers work, opt for a laminate rather than a cheap wood floor. There are some great, matt finished laminates on the market, which whilst they don’t have the depth or texture of a wood floor, they’re significantly cheaper, and very hard wearing.
Poor milling and lippageSplit GrainSplit GrainFinally on cost, which is always the elephant in the room. Of course, wood flooring can be expensive. When you factor in accurate milling (so how the boards are cut), good quality timber (so the boards aren’t ugly..) and multiple coats of high quality oils, a good quality wood floor will never be cheap. If your project cannot afford a good quality wood floor, our advice is, never buy a cheap wood floor. That’s when we see the most problems (and is when we’re often contacted by customers who need help). Our advice is go with a **[Premium Laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/material/laminate/)** over a cheap wood floor; you get a lot more floor for your money.
Hope this helps. Remember, product is just one part of your flooring journey. It also needs to be fitted.
Here are two more helpful blogs for the fitting side –
[There’s more than one way to fit a floor – Here’s why it matters](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/)
[And Do you need a professional floor fitter?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)
Happy Sampling!
**Categories:** About Your Floor, Essential Reading
**Tags:** engineered wood, herringbone floor, interiordesign, oakflooring, parquet flooring
---
### [How to Lay a Herringbone Floor: A Fitter's Step-by-Step Guide](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/)
**Published:** May 18, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** How a herringbone floor is laid, step by step: subfloor prep, levelling, which direction to run it, setting out, borders and brass inlays.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
This isn’t a DIY guide. Unless you’re very handy, a herringbone floor is a job for a professional fitter. But if you’re having one fitted, it really helps to know how it should be done. You’ll ask your contractor better questions, and you’ll spot the shortcuts before they end up under your feet.
Here’s how our teams lay herringbone in London homes, step by step. It’s the same method whether it’s a narrow Victorian hallway or a big open-plan kitchen.
## How to lay a herringbone floor: the short version
1. Check the subfloor is flat, dry and something you can glue to.
2. Level it with 6mm ply and levelling compound.
3. Decide which way the pattern will run.
4. Set out a centre line so the cuts are even on both sides.
5. Glue the blocks down from that line, working outwards.
6. Add a border or brass inlay if you want one, then finish the edges.
## Is herringbone flooring hard to lay?
Yes. Much harder than plank. With plank you roll out long boards in straight rows. With herringbone you’re fitting hundreds of short blocks, in left- and right-handed pairs, and every wall needs angled cuts. **A mistake of a couple of millimetres in the first row becomes a very visible wobble by the far wall.**
That’s why most of the work happens before any herringbone goes down at all.
## Step 1: Check the subfloor
The subfloor is the structural layer under your new floor: floorboards, concrete or screed. For herringbone it needs to be three things:
- **Flat.** Any dips or humps will show up as gaps and movement in the pattern.
- **Dry.** We glue herringbone down, so residual moisture in a concrete screed or old boards causes problems. It should be tested with a professional moisture meter before fitting.
- **Something you can glue to.** That means flooring-grade plywood or a levelling compound. We don’t glue directly to OSB or chipboard (cheaper composite boards that contractors often use for subfloors). They’re a bit like Weetabix when they get damp.
We’re based in East London, so we see a lot of Victorian houses (lucky us). The floorboards in many of them look like a rollercoaster. In Hackney, a subfloor that needs no work at all is very rare.
## Step 2: Level it up
There are two ways to deal with an uneven subfloor. You can lift the boards, repair the joists and fit new boards. That makes sense if you’re doing a bigger building project. Or, if the existing floor is structurally sound, you can level over the top. That’s what we do on most jobs:
1. Staple 6mm flooring-grade plywood to the floorboards.
2. Seal the gaps between the sheets with silicone or expanding foam. Levelling compound behaves like water, and it will find any gap.
3. Prime the ply so the compound grips.
4. Pour a fast-drying levelling compound across the top.
Within about 24 hours you have a flat, solid subfloor that’s ready for herringbone. On concrete, we go straight to the levelling compound.
6mm ply stapled to the floorboardsPrimer, so the levelling compound gripsSilicone in the gaps, so the compound doesn’t escapePouring the levelling compoundPlenty of levelling compound!## Step 3: Decide which direction to lay it
This is the question we get asked most. There are two ways to decide: **run it with the light, or with the direction of the room**.
- **With the light:** run the pattern towards the main window or garden doors, so the light travels along it rather than across it.
- **With the direction of the room:** run it along the length of the room. In a hallway, that means down the length of the hall.
- **When the two disagree:** lay a few loose blocks both ways and stand in the doorway. We’ll talk it through with you on site.
- **Through several rooms:** keep one direction throughout, so the pattern flows from room to room without a break at each doorway.
It’s usually obvious which one looks right once you see it on the floor.
## Step 4: Set out the centre line
Setting out is where a herringbone floor is won or lost. The fitter marks a line, usually down the middle of the hallway or room, and the whole floor is built off it. In a hall, that means the cuts at each wall are the same size, so the pattern looks balanced.
Old London houses are rarely square, so a good fitter checks the line against all the walls before committing to it. They’ll often dry-lay a few rows first. **Set the line out well and everything else follows. Get it wrong, and the floor will never look balanced, however good the rest of the fitting is.**
## Step 5: Glue the blocks down
Our herringbone blocks are tongue and groove, and they come in left- and right-handed versions. The fitter glues them down along the centre line, slotting each block into the next to form the zig-zag, then works outwards towards the walls.
At the edges, every block has to be cut down to fit, and around doorways, curves and fireplaces too. You make a lot more cuts with herringbone than with plank. That’s a big part of why it takes longer to fit.
Fitting a glue-down herringbone in Clapton## Step 6: Add a border or brass inlay (optional)
A border is one or two rows of plank fitted around the edge of the room, framing the pattern like a picture. We fit borders and brass inlays regularly, and they’re one of our favourite details. They also do a useful job. Because the border runs along the walls, it hides the angled cuts and takes up any walls that aren’t quite square.
A brass inlay is a thin strip of solid brass set between the border and the pattern. It catches the light and sharpens the line between the two. It needs careful setting out, because the brass shows up any line that isn’t dead straight.
Chevron with a plank border and brass inlayThe brass strip sits between the border and the patternClose up of the brass inlayThese photos are a chevron floor, but borders and inlays work the same way with herringbone.
## Step 7: Finish the edges
Finally, the fitter leaves an expansion gap at the walls, hidden under skirting or a neat bead, and fits thresholds at the doorways. Then it’s furniture back in, and you’re done.
## So where do things go wrong?
Almost always it’s one of these:
- **Fitting onto an uneven subfloor.** You’ll get movement and gaps. Have a perfect subfloor and everything else gets easier.
- **A badly set-out first line.** The pattern drifts, and the cuts at the walls end up uneven.
- **Tongues not fully seated in the grooves.** This leaves small lips and gaps that catch the light.
- **Moisture.** Glue-down floors and damp screeds don’t mix, so test before fitting.
Unlike laminate, herringbone is a job for a professional fitter ([here’s when you need one](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)). If your contractor doesn’t mention the subfloor, moisture and setting out, be wary. You can also read more about [the different ways of fitting a floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/), and [meet our fitting teams](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-fitting-teams/).
## Our herringbone floors
All of these are engineered oak, glued down by our own fitters, with no fake sales and the real price per m².
[**Lewis Herringbone Lacquered Medium Prime**£72 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-lacquered-medium-prime/)[**Lewis Herringbone Medium with knots**£90 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-ab-grade/)[**Smoked Herringbone Medium**£102 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/smoked-herringbone-medium/)[**Maurice Herringbone Large**£102 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/maurice-herringbone-large/)
[See all herringbone floors →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/shape/herringbone/) · [See chevron floors →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/shape/chevron/)
## Herringbone fitting FAQs
Is herringbone flooring hard to lay?Yes, much harder than plank. There are far more cuts, the blocks come in left- and right-handed versions, and a small error in the first row grows across the whole room. Most of the skill is in the subfloor prep and the setting out, before a single block is glued down.
Which way should herringbone run?Either with the light or with the direction of the room. With the light means running it towards the main window, so the light travels along the pattern. With the direction of the room means running it along the room’s length, or down the length of a hallway.
Should herringbone be glued or floated?We glue herringbone down. It holds the pattern tight, stops individual blocks moving, and makes it far easier to keep an accurate line. That means the subfloor has to be something you can bond to, like flooring-grade ply or levelling compound.
Can you lay herringbone on floorboards?Not directly. Old floorboards move and are rarely flat. We staple 6mm flooring-grade ply over them, and level on top where needed, so the herringbone has a flat surface to bond to.
How much extra herringbone should I order?Order 15% extra, compared with 10% for plank. The pattern creates more offcuts at every wall, and you’ll want a few spare blocks for future repairs.
Can herringbone go over underfloor heating?Yes, a glued-down herringbone can work over underfloor heating, provided you create a surface you can glue to, and it’s fully dry before the herringbone goes down.
What’s the difference between herringbone and chevron?Herringbone blocks are cut square, so the ends overlap in a stepped zig-zag. Chevron blocks are cut at an angle, so they meet in a clean point, a bit like an arrow. Both are fitted in a similar way, with the same attention needed on setting out.
## Planning a herringbone floor?
Come and see full-size boards in our showroom, or book a video call. We’ll look at your subfloor, talk through direction and borders, and give you a clear fitted quote.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[Get in touch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/)
**Categories:** Floor Choice, General Knowledge
**Tags:** engineered wood, interiordesign, oakflooring, wooden floor
---
### [Wood Flooring and Underfloor Heating: What You Need to Know](https://www.kite-flooring.com/we-need-to-talk-about-underfloor-heating-wood-flooring-heating-systems-and-how-to-get-it-right/)
**Published:** June 23, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Can you have a wood floor with underfloor heating? Almost always. Water vs electric, float vs glue, commissioning, and what actually causes failures, from over a thousand installs.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
“Can I have a wood floor with underfloor heating?” is one of the questions we get asked more than almost anything else. The short answer is yes, almost always. We’ve fitted over a thousand wood floors on underfloor heating systems, and in that time we’ve had two failures. In both cases the heating malfunctioned and effectively cooked the floor.
The tricky thing is that not every floor works with every system. So the better question is:
## “Is the floor I want compatible with the system I want?”
And the answer to that is not always “yes”. Our nightmare scenario is a customer ordering a non-refundable, bespoke floor, and then discovering it isn’t compatible with the underfloor heating they’ve already had fitted. Oh dear. Here’s how to avoid that.
## The short version
- Water-based systems set in a screed work with almost any engineered wood floor.
- Foil-based electric mats can only take a floated floor, so no herringbone or chevron.
- Overfloor systems need a sound, flat subfloor. Plank floated is the safest choice on these.
- Heat the whole floor, not part of it.
- Commission the system before fitting, and bring it back up gradually afterwards.
- Keep the floor at or below 27°C. Runaway systems cause failures, not a couple of millimetres of latex.
## 1. Done properly, it will be fine
Engineered wood, fitted correctly, is a stable product. It handles the gentle warmth of a well-run underfloor heating system without any issue, so don’t lose sleep over it. **The thing that causes wood floor failures over underfloor heating is a runaway system.** Most manufacturers recommend the floor surface stays at or below 27°C. The worst case we’ve seen had a floor reaching over 50°C.
## 2. Is the system water-based or electric?
Broadly, there are two types of underfloor heating: pipes (water-based) and wires (electric). We won’t go into which is better, but whichever you choose, you must check your fitting strategy works with it.
- **Water-based systems set in a screed** are almost always compatible with wood floors.
- **Electric systems that sit on top of the structure** are often designed for floating floors (planks that aren’t bonded to the subfloor). That’s fine for plank flooring, but parquet such as herringbone or chevron has to be glued down.
- **Foil-based electric mats**, like Warmup’s [heating mat range](https://www.warmup.co.uk/underfloor-heating/electric/mats), can’t be glued to. So they aren’t compatible with parquet.
- **Some electric systems can take a glued floor.** These are often the ones designed for tiles, such as Warmup’s [StickyMat](https://www.warmup.co.uk/underfloor-heating/electric/mats/stickymat).
Always check with your underfloor heating company’s technical team that your floor can safely be fitted, *before* you order the system.
A foil-based system. These aren’t compatible with glue-down parquet.## 3. Is the system in the subfloor or on top of it?
A system set within a screed is more structurally sound than one that sits on top. To fit a floor safely, the subfloor needs to be level (less than 3mm deviation across a 2m rule) and sound, with no movement.
We regularly come across water-based overfloor systems, such as [Wunda](https://www.wundagroup.com/water-underfloor-heating/overfloor/), that sit on top of the subfloor. They’re cheaper and easier to install than structural systems, but they’re often fitted loosely onto chipboard, so there’s movement and creaking.
- **Plank, floated:** normally it can be made to work, although you may get some bounce if the system isn’t flat.
- **Parquet, glued:** much harder. The manufacturer’s recommendation is a levelling compound across the system, then glue to that. But if the subfloor moves, cracks appear. Even if they don’t, it’s expensive, because the compound has to be a premium flexible product and laid deep to avoid cracking. You may think you’re saving money, but when the levelling bill arrives, you’ll think again.
**If the subfloor isn’t structurally sound, you shouldn’t be fitting a glued-down floor.** We now steer clients away from parquet on these systems and recommend plank, fitted floated. We also know some clients have their heart set on parquet and the system is already in. If that’s you, talk to us early.
An overfloor system, with pipes in foam panels sitting on top of the subfloor.## 4. Float or glue? Don’t over-engineer it
On a recent large project outside London, a very thorough contractor asked us the best way to fit the floor over his underfloor heating. Floated? Glued? Latex screed? How much latex? Which underlay? We went back to the manufacturers and suppliers involved, and found they don’t all agree. There’s no single industry consensus.
In the end, we recommended floating the floor on a good quality Duralay underlay, and we’re confident it’ll perform well.
One manufacturer recommended 8mm of latex screed before gluing. Would 5mm cause a failure? Or 3mm? In our view, almost certainly not. It’s worth thinking about the actual risk rather than following every specification to the letter. Otherwise costs rise very, very quickly, and you can end up where a wood floor is no longer viable. You can read more about [floated, glued and nailed floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/theres-more-than-one-way-to-fit-a-floor-and-this-is-why-it-matters/) and [choosing the right underlay](https://www.kite-flooring.com/whats-underneath-matters-the-right-underlay-for-your-perfect-floor/).
## 5. Use a single heat source
Wood is a natural product. When it dries out it shrinks, and when it picks up moisture it expands. So underfloor heating needs to run under the entire wood floor, not just part of it, or one area will move more than the other.
The fix is a break in the floor covered with a door bar, but that doesn’t look great. Think it through when you design the system.
## 6. Commission the system before, and after, fitting
Before the floor goes down, most water-based systems need commissioning: the heating is gradually turned up, then back down. This almost always takes our customers by surprise (it’s odd that the companies fitting these systems rarely mention it, but hey, we’re just flooring guys).
You can’t fit a wood floor and then crank the heating up to maximum, because the timber reacts to the shock. Commissioning also helps dry the screed, which is another common fitting delay ([more on that here](https://www.kite-flooring.com/want-your-project-to-be-on-time-and-on-budget/)). A couple of days before fitting, the system should be turned off, then brought back up gradually once the floor is down. Every system is slightly different, so follow your manufacturer’s guidance.
## 7. If you’re worried, fit a Fidbox
A [Fidbox](https://fidbox.co.uk/) is a small device that sits under your floor and records temperature and humidity, essentially a black box recorder for your flooring. It’ll alert you if the floor goes over 27°C. In the worst case we’ve seen, the floor reached over 50°C. A Fidbox would have caught that early.
[](https://fidbox.co.uk/)## 8. Speak to the technical teams
Almost every underfloor heating manufacturer has a helpful technical team. Before ordering your system, call them and check everything: the materials, the fitting strategy and how to commission it. The worst that can happen is you find out you’re on the right track. At best, they spot something your contractor, architect or project manager missed.
We’ve arrived to fit a floor and found something wrong with the heating more than once. That sets off a rubbish chain of blame and, ultimately, cost. We try our best to give great advice, but we’re not the project manager for your build, so make sure whoever is checks your final strategy. It’s also worth reading [the six flooring terms and conditions you can’t ignore](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-reach-flooring-nirvana-six-essential-terms-and-conditions-you-cannot-ignore/).
## Underfloor heating and wood floors: FAQs
Can you have a wood floor with underfloor heating?Almost always, yes. We’ve fitted over a thousand wood floors on underfloor heating and had two failures, both caused by the heating system malfunctioning and overheating the floor. The real question is whether the floor you want is compatible with the system you want.
What temperature should a wood floor reach with underfloor heating?Most manufacturers recommend the floor surface stays at or below 27°C. Problems come from runaway systems: the worst case we’ve seen had a floor reaching over 50°C.
Can herringbone or parquet go over underfloor heating?Yes, provided you create a surface you can glue to, because parquet has to be glued down. That rules out foil-based electric mats, which you can’t glue to, and we avoid gluing parquet to overfloor systems laid loosely on chipboard. Systems set in a screed are the safest choice.
Should a wood floor over underfloor heating be floated or glued?Plank floors can be floated or glued. On a recent large project we floated the floor on a good quality Duralay underlay. Parquet such as herringbone and chevron must be glued, so check your heating system can take a glued floor before you order it.
Do I need to commission underfloor heating before fitting a wood floor?Yes, for most water-based systems. The system is gradually turned up and then down before fitting, turned off a couple of days before the floor goes down, then turned up gradually afterwards. It also helps dry the screed.
Does underfloor heating need to cover the whole floor?Ideally, yes. Wood shrinks as it dries and expands as it takes on moisture, so if only part of the floor is heated, that part moves more than the rest. The fix is a break in the floor with a door bar, which doesn’t look great, so plan the heated area carefully.
Planning a herringbone floor over underfloor heating? Our [guide to laying a herringbone floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-fit-a-herringbone-floor/) covers the subfloor prep.
## Got a heating system in mind?
Bring the spec to our Hackney Road showroom, or book a video call. We’ll check it against the floor you want before anything is ordered.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[Get in touch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/)
**Categories:** About Your Floor, Essential Reading
**Tags:** technical flooring tips, underfloor heating, waterbased underfloor heating, wood floors and underfloor heating
---
### [Engineered Oak vs LVT: Which Floor Is Right for Your Home?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-big-debate-engineered-oak-vs-lvt-and-something-that-will-really-shock-you/)
**Published:** October 16, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** LVT or engineered oak? A straight comparison of look, lifespan, kitchens, cost and sustainability, from London floor fitters.
**Content:**
*Updated October 2026*
When it comes to choosing a floor, the options can feel endless and overwhelming. One of the biggest decisions homeowners face today is whether to go for **engineered oak flooring** or **Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)**.
At first glance, LVT might seem like a practical option. It’s durable and claims to mimic the look of wood. The larger LVT companies, Karndean and Amtico, are one of the very few flooring companies to actually have brand recognition, and they certainly spend a lot of money on marketing, and also have extensive retailer networks who push the product.
## LVT vs engineered wood: the quick comparison
| | Engineered oak | LVT |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | A real oak top layer, every plank different | A printed image on a plastic (PVC) layer |
| Lifespan | 40 years or more, as it can be sanded and refinished several times | Typically 10–20 years, then a full replacement |
| Scratches and dents | Wear can be sanded out and refinished | Soft plastic that marks easily under furniture or grit |
| Kitchens | Works well with good quality oils or lacquers | Waterproof and easy to clean |
| Subfloor | Can be floated or glued | Glued LVT needs subfloor prep; click LVT needs a near-perfect subfloor |
| Upfront cost | Higher. Our Natural Rustic is £72 per m² | Often lower upfront, plus subfloor costs |
| End of life | Wood goes in the recycling | Rarely recycled in practice |
On a tight budget? Neither. Our [premium laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/natural-oak-premium-laminate-flooring/) is £36 per m², half the price of our wood floors.
## But is LVT right for your home?
Now, we’re going to suggest something really shocking. Brace yourself. A wood floor company is going to explain to you why you should buy a wood floor. Yes, we know, we are a little biased, but this was actually one of the reasons we set-up Kite all those years ago. Because we think LVT is a bit of a racket. We know plenty of fitters and shops have built their businesses off it (so the sales will continue). But good quality wood floors can be just as hard wearing. And if budget is an issue, Premium Laminate is a better option, at half the price.
So here’s why **engineered oak flooring** remains the smart choice –
## 1. Real wood texture you can see and feel
LVT may copy the *look* of wood, but it can’t replicate the *feel*. **Engineered oak flooring** has a genuine wood top layer, giving it warmth, grain, and character.
Every plank is unique, something no printed vinyl pattern can achieve. Step on it, and you’ll instantly notice real timber underfoot.
Reclaimed Real Wood Flooring---
## 2. The most common problems with LVT flooring
LVT is often marketed as “fit-and-forget,” but it needs to be fitted properly, and that’s not always the case. If you do go down this route, make sure your fitter knows what they’re doing. The most common problems include:
- **Lifting edges:** Caused by uneven subfloors or wear.
- **Scratches and dents:** LVT is a soft plastic that marks easily under furniture or grit.
- **Discolouration:** Sunlight or heat can cause fading or yellowing.
- **Artificial sound and feel:** Even premium LVT can sound hollow and feel synthetic.
---
## 3. Kitchens and high-traffic floors
Many people choose **LVT for kitchens and busy areas** because it’s waterproof and easy to clean. But a well-made **engineered oak floor**, finished with **good quality oils or durable lacquers**, delivers the same practicality, but with far better feel.
The perception that wood floors don’t work in kitchens, is normally down to an experience with a poor quality floor that has been badly oiled. These tend to be sold in fake sales, online. Remember, not all floors are equal.
Oiled wood floors do require a little love (so the occasional mop, and some maintenance oil), but as with anything in life, a little bit of love, gives a big return; your beautiful, natural floor.
## 4. Price: upfront cost vs long-term value
At first glance, **LVT often costs less upfront**, but if it’s a glued down product, such as Karndean or Amtico, you will need to budget for subfloor costs. The click-system options, which are floated, are more expensive, but need a perfect subfloor for a successful installation (we’ve seen plenty of creaking floors here).
A **good-quality engineered oak floor** costs more upfront, rising with the **width**, grade and finish. Our [Natural Rustic](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/natural-rustic/), for example, is **£72 per m²**.
However, the difference lies in *lifespan and value*:
- LVT typically lasts **10–20 years** before needing full replacement, as they fade.
- Engineered oak can last **40 years or more**, as it can be sanded and refinished several times.
- Real wood floors also add **resale value** and a sense of craftsmanship that vinyl simply can’t match.
In other words, while LVT may seem cheaper per square metre, **engineered oak delivers better value per decade**.
---
## 5. Sustainability and end of life
LVT is a plastic product often made from PVC and synthetic compounds and I think most of us can agree that there should be less plastic in the world!
**Whilst some LVT producers have invested in environmental credentials, ultimately, they are competing with a natural product.**
You also need to think about end of life use. Whilst some vinyl manufacturers claim their product can be recycled, our trips to Islington skip would suggest that it rarely is. Whilst the wood floors are placed in the Recycling section, Vinyl floors, are firmly placed in the “Non-Recycling” section of the skip, and that will keep filling up, whilst plastic floors are continued to be sold. Vinyl floors are not even listed as a category on the [North London Waste Authority.](https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/reducereuserecycle/recycle/whatcanwerecycle)
**Is this where vinyl floors end up?**
Our wood floors are also low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) so contribute to a healthier indoor environment. So, choosing real wood is better for your home and for the planet. If you want to dive deeper into VOCs and flooring, you can read this blog here – [VOC and Wood Flooring](https://www.kite-flooring.com/should-you-worry-about-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs-and-wood-flooring/)
---
## 6. It suits any style, and ages well
Trends change, but oak never does. Engineered oak floors complement every design, from Scandi minimalism to traditional luxury, and develop richer tones with time. Vinyl just fades.
---
## The verdict: LVT or engineered oak?
If you want the look, feel, and longevity of a real wood floor, without the movement issues of solid timber, **engineered oak** delivers on every level. It’s authentic, durable, repairable, and designed to age gracefully. Just make sure it has been oiled with good quality oils or lacquers.
**LVT imitates wood. Engineered oak *is* wood.** And that’s a difference you’ll see, and feel, every single day.
If budget is a challenge, don’t buy a cheap wood flooring. Go with one of our Premium Laminate floors instead. They’re half the price of our wood floors, have a realistic matt finish, and are almost indestructible – [PREMIUM LAMINATE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/tag/premium-laminate/ "premium laminate")
---
## LVT vs engineered wood: FAQs
Is LVT better than engineered wood?For most homes, no. LVT is waterproof and easy to clean, but it is a printed plastic that marks easily and typically needs replacing after 10–20 years. A well-made engineered oak floor with good oils or lacquer is just as practical, feels like real wood, and can last 40 years or more.
Which lasts longer, LVT or engineered wood?Engineered oak. It can be sanded and refinished several times, so it can last 40 years or more. LVT typically lasts 10–20 years before it needs replacing, because it fades and wears.
Can you put engineered wood in a kitchen?Yes. A well-made engineered oak floor finished with good quality oils or lacquer works well in kitchens. Bad experiences usually come from poor quality floors that have been badly oiled.
Is LVT cheaper than engineered wood?Often, upfront. But glued LVT such as Karndean or Amtico needs subfloor preparation, and click LVT needs a near-perfect subfloor, so the gap can be smaller than it looks. Over its lifespan, engineered oak usually works out better value per decade.
What if I can’t afford engineered oak?Don’t buy a cheap wood floor. Choose premium laminate instead: ours is £36 per m², half the price of our wood floors, with a realistic matt finish, and it’s almost indestructible.
### *[See our engineered oak floors, with real prices per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/ "Our Curated Range")*
And here’s some reviews of Karndean – [Karndean Reviews](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/karndean.com)
**Categories:** Designer Tips
---
### [Seamless oak stair cladding in a London Bridge Mews House](https://www.kite-flooring.com/seamless-oak-stair-cladding-in-a-london-bridge-mews-house/)
**Published:** March 24, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Seamless oak stair cladding in a London Bridge Mews House
**Content:**
When a London Bridge client asked us to improve their tired staircase, they wanted something cleaner and more permanent than carpet or a runner. We fitted mitred oak stair cladding with a seamless veneer that flowed from tread to riser without a visible join.
The brief was straightforward: turn a functional staircase into something worth looking at every day. We specified Prime Grade oak in a mitred construction, where the grain wraps continuously from the horizontal surface down the vertical face. No nosing strips, no transition pieces just one smooth plane of wood.
Bjor our fitter, removed the old bullnoses first, then used a skill saw to cut each tread down. The challenge with any staircase is that nothing is truly straight or square. He worked millimetre by millimetre, test-fitting each piece until it sat flush. Every tread was bonded with sausage glue for a permanent fix, then he filled any hairline gaps with Bona light oak gap master so the joins disappeared completely.
The result is a staircase that feels purpose-built rather than retrofitted. The seamless veneer gives you an uninterrupted grain pattern, and the mitred edges mean no visible joints where tread meets riser. It’s the kind of detail you notice when you’re carrying a coffee upstairs in the morning, quiet, solid, and exactly right.
If you’re thinking about stair cladding in a London townhouse, we have many examples of these projects across SE1, N1, N16, E17 and SW postcodes. Drop us a line and we’ll talk you through the options for your layout.
Want stairs that run seamlessly into your floor? StairFlow, our continuous stair cladding system, uses oak from the same batch as your floor, from £180 per step. See how it works on our [oak stair cladding page](https://www.kite-flooring.com/stair-cladding/).
Or if you want to talk about this stair case or any of our other projects, book online here – [Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Book a Flooring Consultation")
**Categories:** Designer Tips
**Tags:** oak staircase, stair cladding, stair design, stair nosing, stairs that match your floor, timber stair cladding
---
### [Why we built StairFlow: the problem with traditional stair nosings](https://www.kite-flooring.com/oak-stair-cladding-system/)
**Published:** March 21, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Tired of mismatched or worn stairs? Discover Kite's StairFlow system; the seamless wooden stair cladding solution that outperforms traditional nosings.
**Content:**
If you’re renovating your home and looking for a way to transform tired or mismatched stairs, **stair cladding with wood** is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make. At Kite, it’s been a core part of what we do for years and we’ve spent that time perfecting it.
### Why Homeowners Choose Wooden Stair Cladding
During a renovation, it’s common to have a staircase that looks worn, dated, or finished in a different wood to the rest of your flooring.
The options most people consider are:
- **Painting**: cheap, but rarely looks great long-term
- **Carpet**: practical, but breaks the visual flow of your home
- **A stair runner**: a reasonable middle ground, but still interrupts the continuity of your flooring
- **Stair cladding with timber nosings**: the best way to match your staircase to your flooring
At Kite, we’ve clad hundreds of staircases using timber nosings: either **bullnose** (rounded, for a more traditional look) or **square** (for a contemporary, modern finish). The results are good. But, we’ve always felt there was a better way.
Bull Nose or Square Nosing
### The Problem with Traditional Stair Nosings
After completing hundreds of stair cladding projects, we identified five consistent issues with conventional nosing systems:
- **Colour inconsistency**: Nosings and planks often come from different oak sources, making a perfect colour match difficult. This is especially noticeable on mid-range floors where staining isn’t always an option. It’s something our clients (who can be slightly OCD…in a good way) notice.
- **Visible bevels**: Many nosings have a 1 or 2m bevel between the nosing and plank. It’s a small detail, but it prevents a truly seamless finish.
Example Bevel Variation
- **Height variation between batches**: Subtle differences in nosing height can cause the nosing to sit slightly proud of the plank.
Close up of height difference
- **Limited coverage**: Standard nosings typically only extend 70mm into the tread. In our view, this doesn’t create enough of a flow with the timber.
- **Solid steps aren’t the answer**: We explored solid timber steps, but found they move with changes in humidity, are extremely difficult to work with around stair winders, and require greater build-up thickness. They also often came unfinished, in a different oak to the flooring, which created oiling challenges.
- **Design style:** Almost all the current stair cladding products on the market are only suitable for a traditional staircase, and are large and clunky. If they are oiled or lacquered, it’s shiny and yellow.
### Introducing StairFlow: Our Continuous Stair Cladding System
Because we’re never satisfied with “ok”, we developed our own solution: the **StairFlow system**: a continuous wooden stair cladding system that eliminates the problems above and creates a truly seamless finish from floor to staircase.
StairFlow is available in three configurations:
- **The Closed System**: Ideal for enclosed staircases with a stringer (side edging). Corner steps sitting outside the stringer can be neatly mitred for a clean finish.
- **The Open Waterfall System**: Designed for open staircases, where the tread and riser flow seamlessly up the full height of the staircase.
- **The Open Tread System**: For open staircases where the design features a single solid tread.
We’re continuously refining and improving the StairFlow system. You can see images of a recent closed system installation below.
The above staircase was fitted in Kensington, for our client, [Atto Quarto. ](https://www.attoquarto.com/about)
This staircase was installed in Balham, and flowed over the treads and risers with continuous timber.
Stair cladding projects can get quite technical, so if you’re looking for something more than “ok”, get in touch and we can talk you through the options. We can do video calls, or better still, visit our Hackney showroom at 5 Hackney Road. You can also see [how StairFlow works and what it costs](https://www.kite-flooring.com/stair-cladding/).
[Explore StairFlow](https://www.kite-flooring.com/stair-cladding/)
[Book A Flooring Consultation ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Categories:** Designer Tips
**Tags:** oak stair cladding, stairs that match your floor, timber stair cladding, wooden stair cladding
---
### [The Epping Natural; the ultimate wood floor for families](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-epping-natural-the-ultimate-wood-floor-for-families/)
**Published:** June 18, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
At Kite, we get asked a lot for family friendly floors. These need to be practical for busy family life (think dogs, kids, a busy kitchen etc). But also design-led, so they look and feel awesome.
At Kite, we’re a little different from other retailers, in that we don’t offer 1000s of similar flooring options. We work hard to curate the best of the best floors for each use case. So, to create the ultimate family floor, we know you need it to be –
1. **Hard wearing** – So only use the best quality oils (our oils are from [Ciranova](https://www.ciranova.eu/en)). Ideally these should be oils that have dried into the veneer of the oak flooring (we call these stained or hard wax oiled floors). We do have some more cost effective floors that will work just fine. But if you’re talking about the ultimate floor… then it should use the best of the best oils.
2. **Have some texture, but not too much** – a little texture in a floor can make it more forgiving for bumps and scrapes. From a design perspective, texture also helps accentuate a Herringbone pattern, giving the impression that darker planks are running down one side of the line.
3. **Mid-toned. But not boring** – Mid-toned floors, so invisible oiled floors, or slightly warmer floors, are the most versatile floors as they work with any design style. To make things interesting, you can layer oils on a floor, to accentuate the grain.
4. **Patterned. But Clean Grade** – If we’re talking about an ultimate floor, we would go for a Herringbone, but in a clean grade (so very few knots. Rustic herringbones, in a mid-tone colour can look too busy). The size of the Herringbone should be designed so it flows perfectly between the kitchen island and the units.
So, with these factors in mind, we developed the **[EPPING NATURAL ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/epping-natural/)**floor. It’s finished with several coats of Hard Wax oil, so is super hard wearing. The oils are also layered, to accentuate the grains, and the surface is textured a little more than normal, which gives both design and practical benefits. It’s not the only floor we sell that can work in a family setting. But we think it’s the ultimate.
- Epping Natural 1
- Epping Natural 2
- Epping Natural 3
- Epping Natural 4
- Epping Natural 5
Pause Slideshow
If you think this floor could work in your project, then the next step is to book an appointment at our showroom. Note, we don’t post samples of our high-end floors. It’s not us being difficult. It’s just that we strongly believe you can’t judge floors with small samples. You need to see the whole floor; with its colour variations and imperfections. And you can only do that with large sample boards.
We’re open 6 days a week in our Shoreditch showroom, from Monday to Saturday, and you can[ BOOK ONLINE.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Categories:** Designer Tips
**Tags:** bespoke flooring, engineered wood, interiordesign, parquet flooring
---
### [When Does Your Builder Actually Need Your Wood Floor? (We Checked 933 Deliveries)](https://www.kite-flooring.com/when-does-your-builder-actually-need-your-wood-floor-we-checked-933-deliveries/)
**Published:** September 23, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Builders often add a buffer to flooring dates. We compared 933 Kite deliveries against their requested dates. Here's what we found, and what to ask your builder.
**Content:**
### Ask your builder when they need the flooring and you’ll get a date. We looked at our last 933 deliveries, and in most cases that date wasn’t the real one.
This isn’t a dig at builders. It’s useful to know, because it changes which floor you can choose.
### Why do builders give an early date?
Construction is hard, and material delays are expensive. If the floor doesn’t turn up on time, the fitters are idle, the kitchen can’t go in, and the whole programme slides and the builder takes the heat for it.
So it’s no surprise that when you ask for a date, they’ll build in a buffer of a week or two and we would probably do the same.
### So what’s the problem?
The problem is what happens next. With a tight date in hand, you start ruling floors out. The herringbone you loved has a six-week lead time, so it’s off the list. The wider boards need ordering in, so they’re off too.
**You end up choosing the floor that’s available, not the one that’s right.** That usually means whatever the local warehouse has on the shelf that week. A floor should last decades, so choosing it by stock levels is a strange way to decide.
### What did the data actually say?
For years this was a hunch at Kite, with no proof behind it. So we checked.
We took our last 933 deliveries and compared two dates: the delivery date requested when the floor was ordered, and the date it actually went to site.
- **80%** weren’t needed on the original date
- **20%** were delivered on the date first asked for
- The most common delay was **2 to 4 weeks**
- **20%** were delayed by 4 to 8 weeks
- **10%** were delayed by more than 8 weeks
Our biggest example was a commercial client who nearly cancelled their order because we couldn’t deliver in October 2025. In the end their floor sat in our warehouse until May 2026, seven months after the “deadline”.
To be fair, these are our numbers from our deliveries. Your project might be the one in five that genuinely needs the floor on the day. But the odds are you’ve got more time than you’ve been told.
### What should you ask your builder?
Don’t just ask when they need the floor. Ask what has to happen before it can go down, and when each of those things will actually be finished. A wood floor is usually one of the last jobs, and it depends on:
- **The screed being dry.** The standard rule of thumb for a traditional sand and cement screed is roughly a day per millimetre for the first 40mm, and longer after that. A 75mm screed can take months, not weeks. Your fitter should moisture-test before a single board goes down.
- **Wet trades being finished.** Plastering, skimming and tiling all put moisture into the building. Wood doesn’t like it.
- **The building being watertight.** That means windows in, doors in and the roof on.
- **Heating being commissioned.** This applies especially to underfloor heating, which needs to be run up and down before most wood floors go on top.
- **Kitchen and joinery plans.** Some kitchens go in before the floor and some after, so check which order your builder is planning.
If any of those are still weeks away, so is your floor.
### What if you’ve already been given a tight date?
Talk to us before you compromise. We can tell you the real lead time on the floor you actually want, and whether there’s a similar option in stock if the timing really is tight. If your floor arrives before the site is ready, we can usually hold it until it is. Our warehouse has form on that.
### A thank you
None of this data exists without our delivery drivers, who turn up to 933 different sites, in all weathers, and get floors where they need to be. A special thank you to them.
**Planning a project and not sure your timeline’s real?** [BOOK ONLINE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/) or give us a [CALL](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/). We’ll give you an honest answer on lead times, even if it isn’t the one you were hoping for.
**Categories:** General Knowledge, Project Management
**Tags:** engineered wood, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [Help! I need a wood floor…](https://www.kite-flooring.com/help-i-need-a-wood-floor/)
**Published:** February 6, 2020
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** They’ve decided they want to fit an engineered wood floor in their home. A great decision!
**Content:**
Picture a family, call them the Grant family (not their real name). They’ve decided they want to fit an engineered wood floor in their home. A great decision! Their fairly conservative; they want a natural wood finish which is low maintenance but, as with any wood floor, it will be a big investment. They want to get it right (this scenario is playing out in hundreds of homes right now).
The Grant’s know what they want; an engineered wood floor in a natural finish. They go to the local flooring shop. Pretty quickly they’ll see something they like, perhaps our Whitstable range, in Natural Oak. Decision made!
But then they’ll be confronted by 1,000s of more options. Do they want Lacquered or Oiled? Easy enough, but how about Matt Lacquered, Brushed, Hand-Scraped, Charred, Sawn, Smoked, Aged, Plained or Burned. And the colour? There are 100s of versions of natural oak. And what about the grade of the wood? Do they want knots or not? Or something in between?
They will then discover that not all engineered wood is equal. The middle or “core” can be made of different materials. Sometimes it’s plywood, sometimes birch and ply and sometimes HDF (High-Density Fibreboard). And what about the top layer? Should it be 2.5, 3, or 6mm? And what size should the boards be? Long or short, thick or thin? Ahhhhhhhh
This process will send the Grants into a spin. Samples will be ordered from multiple sources. They’ll spend hours trawling websites to find that elusive product that they’re sure exists, but they’re not sure what it looks like. 100s of samples will be laid on the floor to compare with furniture. Many photos will be taken. Friends opinions will be asked, who will squint at photos, struggling to tell the difference between products. This process will go on for weeks, maybe months.
Finally, they will pull out the Whitstable, Natural Oak sample, the one from the very beginning. This is probably sitting beneath their junk mail in the corner of the kitchen that nobody clears out. They’ll decide that that this was probably the best after all and will order the floor. And never think of it again.
To help make this process as easy as possible, Kite offer a curated range. We have a high-quality floor for almost every taste and budget. And, if you’re looking for a natural oak floor, we suggest you simply order our Whitstable Natural Oak and save yourself the hassle.
We’re taking orders on <info@kite-flooring.com> 🙂
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Floor Choice
---
### [Flooring strategy for property professionals – Case Study](https://www.kite-flooring.com/flooring-strategy-for-property-professionals-case-study/)
**Published:** January 17, 2021
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** When we launched our business in 2018, we were surprised by the number of flooring strategies, even from professional floor buyers.
**Content:**
When we launched our business in 2018, we were surprised by the number of flooring strategies, even from professional floor buyers. Often these were not thought through; they were either price-led, *“what’s your cheapest engineered wood floor?”* or they were born out of a relationship or product a client had previously used.
Key questions which buyers struggled with included –
1. When to use laminate and when to use engineered wood? Should they use Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)?
2. What colours should they use? Darker finishes, light or natural oak tones?
3. Should they use straight-boards or patterned floors like Chevron or Herringbone?
4. Who should do the fitting? A specialist flooring contractor? Or a building contractor?
Often they would forget the service aspects of supply; so, how and when it should be quoted and delivered and how they would specify additional extras such as underlay or transition bars.
One of our clients is a business called ***flyp*** [(https://flyp.co/).](https://flyp.co/) *flyp* works with property vendors to renovate their homes. It’s a revolutionary business model that involves no upfront commitment from the vendor. *flyp* funds the renovation of the property, which is typically done over 10 days and then relaunches it to the market. Whilst the property is being marketed, they monetise it through short-lets which funds a good part of the renovation. When it comes to selling, they typically achieve a 10% uplift in the sales price, with 95% of homes being under offer in two weeks. It’s an attractive business model; the vendor gets a sold property, for a price they are happy with, *flyp* makes revenue from the short-let income and the uplift in the sales price. Key to *flyp’s* success is the speed, cost, and ultimately finished product of a property; they need to make buyers fall in love with the homes they work on and they claim this happens within *“the first seven seconds”* of a viewing!.
Flooring is a key part of *flyp’s* strategy, as inevitably, many properties need a flooring upgrade. To help answer some of the questions our clients have struggled with, we thought we’d look at their strategy;
### What flooring do they use?
*flyp* uses a blend of laminate and engineered wood. The laminate is hard-wearing, often coming with a lifetime residential guarantee and *flyp* opt for light coloured, straight board finishes. This allows them to contrast feature walls and bold coloured furniture.
**The Kilburn Retreat**
Peach walls contrasting with the grey sofa. Bloom Light Natural Laminate Flooring.
**The heart of Fulham**
Laminate flooring, contrasted with bold feature walls.
In prime areas, *flyp* opts for straight board, engineered wood. Whilst Laminate is great, engineered wood has a deeper colour and the texture of real wood feels more grainy. Moreover, buyers of these properties expect a prime specification to sit with the price tag. Again lighter colours are chosen to contrast with *flyp’s* bold colour choices. The boards are either rustic, so with knots, or have a slight texture to them.
*flyp* doesn’t go for the “cheapest engineered wood”. This is a common strategy from some property professionals. There are cheaper engineered wood products in the market, such as lacquered, “three-strip” boards, but in the *flyp*designers’ view, they don’t have the depth of colour that a slightly more premium engineered board has. For them, you either opt for the light oiled, engineered wood boards, or the cheaper laminate.
**Bermondsey Square Escape**
190mm, 15mm wide engineered wood board. Rustic grade. Our Lewis finish from the Newington Range.
**Queensway Escape**
Lewis Textured – Here a slightly textured finish was used to provide a contrast with the wood paneling. This is perhaps our favourite floor.
### What about Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)?
LVT tiles are a great product. They’re quick to fit, realistic, and virtually indestructible. But so is a good quality laminate floor. There are benefits to LVT; such as it’s water-resistant, it gives off less sound when walked on, and can be fitted without underlay. But in *flyp’s* use case, these advantages don’t outweigh the more premium price point. For *flyp,* it makes sense to either simply install a floor that just works, the laminate, or a floor that will wow the buyer; the engineered wood.
### What about the supply chain?
For *flyp*, time is of the essence. Every day spent renovating a property, is a day of missed rental income. For this reason, they need to choose reliable floors that are quick to fit and can be delivered quickly, at specific times. They also need to make sure that when the floors are delivered, there is a sufficient quantity, and that all the accessories needed, such as underlay, beading, door bars, and trims are delivered at the same time.
It doesn’t work for them to have products delivered through larger online providers; not only can they not fulfil the delivery commitments, but they also rely on the client or contractor to provide measurements and an inventory of extras. Getting this information can take time, and slow down the process.
In terms of fitting, the floors have to be easy to fit as the building contractors do the fitting; so no chevron or herringbone. Also, as fitting the floor is normally one of the last tasks to carry out, it is more efficient for the building contractor to arrange this, rather than *flyp* having to coordinate with further trades. Of course, with any building project, plans change, so the supplier needs to be constantly in touch with the contractor, making sure the floor is only delivered when they are ready.
### In Summary
So with *flyp* the strategy started with range, *“We worked with Kite to choose floors to help buyers fall in love with our renovations, at a price point that worked for our business model”.* Jess Knight, Head of Design for *flyp.*
But after that, the strategy was about minimising renovation time. This meant fast lead times, site surveys, and flexible, timed delivery slots.
Combining these factors meant *flyp* had a flooring strategy they could scale.
All images courtesy of *flyp* – [*www.flyp.co*](https://www.flyp.co) – and their sister business, Stay Beyond – <https://staybeyond.com>.
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Project Management
**Tags:** engineered wood, herringbone floor, laminate, oakflooring, parquet flooring
---
### [East London showroom and partnership launch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/east-london-showroom-and-partnership-launch/)
**Published:** January 20, 2020
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** We’re delighted to announce that from today Kite’s engineered wood ranges will be on display and available for purchase at Kent and London, a premium Interior Design showroom, in Shoreditch, East London.
**Content:**
We’re delighted to announce that from today Kite’s engineered wood ranges will be on display and available for purchase at Kent and London, a premium Interior Design showroom, in Shoreditch, East London.
When we launched Kite we knew that for high-end product, customers needed to view it in person. But our curated ranges didn’t sit alongside a traditional flooring shop – with their rows and rows of look-alike samples. We also knew that floors are more exciting and easier to choose when accessorised with high quality products.
Founded by Luke Ellis, Kent and London specialise in bespoke furniture and kitchens made in Whitstable, Kent. In 2016, they launched their showroom in London and now host some of East London’s most exciting brands, plus other talented European exporters.
Brands that Kite will sit alongside include; **Floor Story**– East London’s friendliest rug dealer, **Marrakech Design**, a Swedish company specialising in encaustic cement tiles, **Corston Architectural Detail**, **MATCHIMATCHI** lampshades, **Studio Ore**, who make handcrafted and hand finished brass taps, showers and bathroom fittings, **Kast Concrete basins**, and **Vitamin Living**.
Kite will be showcasing three ranges at the showroom, **Kent** – a geometric range (think Chevron and Herringbone); **London** – a premium, hand-scraped, rustic option; and **Whitstable** – a lacquered, flat board, each with a range of colour options. These have been handpicked by Luke and his team to be both flexible and complement the other products in the showroom.
Kent and London will also be offering the Kite fitting service, giving customers access to high-quality fitters from Wales. One of our teams recently completed their showroom installation, a highly-technical fitting with three different floors, a new sub-floor, and numerous intricate woodcuts.
Speaking of the recent partnership, Luke Ellis, founder of Kent and London, said, *“We want our customers to be inspired when they visit our showroom and flooring is a key part of that. We couldn’t be happier with our new floors and the chosen ranges”.*
Ed Grant, co-founder of Kite, said *“Our partnership with Kent and London not only gives our customers access to our products, it also allows us to be part of an exciting ecosystem that introduces property and design professionals to independent, creative brands. This ultimately helps them differentiate their projects, maximising returns.”*
Visit us at 5 Hackney Road, London, E2 7NX, we’re open 7 days a week, from 10am.
**Kent and London** – <https://kentandlondon.co.uk>
**Floor Story** – <https://www.floorstory.co.uk/>
**Marrakech Design** – <https://www.marrakechdesign.se/en/>
**Corston Architectural Detail** – <https://www.corston.com/>
**Studio Ore** – <https://studio-ore.com/>
**Kast Concrete basins** – <https://kastconcretebasins.com/>
**Vitamin Living** – <https://store.vitaminliving.com/>
**Categories:** Essential Reading
---
### [Is a wooden floor right for your home?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/is-a-wooden-floor-right-for-your-home/)
**Published:** April 18, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** At Kite, our mission is to find you the perfect floor. And whilst we mainly specialise in wooden flooring we also know it isn’t the only option out there.
**Content:**
*“It’s really common to meet people who’ve had a bad experience with a wooden floor, and they have written them all off, much like someone saying they don’t like coffee… when they’ve only had instant….*” **Ed Grant, Kite Flooring**
At Kite, our mission is to find you the perfect floor. And whilst we mainly specialise in wooden flooring we also know it isn’t the only option out there.
**So, what are the options?**
Broadly, excluding more alternative products like Cork, there are three main flooring groups – Laminate, Vinyl and Wood. We know there are some subcategories… flooring manufacturers love to launch a new type of floor in the same way Apple launches an iPhone… but we struggle to tell the difference, and we look at floors all day!
Laminates are the cheapest; these are still wooden products (their core is compressed wood…), but they have a plastic sheet on top. These sheets can be made to be realistic to wood, or any other material you choose, such as stone or concrete. Laminates are hard-wearing, scratch-resistant, and the better quality ones have some water resistance. The more premium ones can be very realistic to natural materials, and importantly, they are the cheapest form of flooring. The floors are fitted floated (not stuck to the subfloor..), so to perform well, the subfloor needs to be flat.
Vinyl flooring price-wise sits in the middle of wood and laminate. Vinyl products can be fitted floated or glued down (the most well-known names in the UK being Karndean or Amtico..). Vinyl flooring is really hard-wearing – the main pitch is you can put it down and never worry about it again. We find the glue down options especially feel really solid. Make sure you go for one of the matt coloured versions though, as in our opinion… there is nothing worse than a shiny vinyl floor. We prefer vinyl flooring that is a simple shape, and light coloured – this then hides the fact it isn’t a natural product.
Engineered oak wood flooring, is a layered product, typically with an oak top layer, and then a birch or birch ply core. Almost all wooden flooring that’s sold in the UK is engineered now; from a consumer perspective, as these floors just sit on top of a subfloor, you cannot tell the difference between a solid and engineered floor once it’s fitted. The added advantage of an engineered floor is that it’s more stable – solid floors expand and contract as the humidity in your home changes; central heating dries out floors in the winter.
Wood floors come in plank, so straight boards or patterned, such as Chevron or Herringbone and can be fitted, floated or glued down, which gives the most secure fit. They have a protective layer on their surface, which is either Lacquers, which are basically like protective paints, or Oils, which are absorbed into the surface.
**So, which is right for you?**
Firstly, if you’re on a budget, laminate is a good option. There are some great looking laminates out there for affordable pricing. Our tip is to go with Mid to Light tones; they look more natural and stay away from gloss options. We love the laminates from[ Berry Alloc](https://www.berryalloc.com/); and when we do fit laminates, we always work with their product. You will also save on fitting costs with laminates (they’re suitable for DIY…), and even professional fitters will charge you less, given they use a simple click system. You may also consider laminate if the property is not for your home; either a holiday let or rental property. You can have it fitted, and then generally not worry about it again.
And so to vinyl. We know taste is a personal thing, but from an aesthetic point of view, we feel matt laminates look better, and they’re cheaper! Most laminates also come with long residential warranties and the premium ones even come with water protection, which was previously the main use case of a vinyl product over laminate. Some of the more ugly floors we’ve seen on our travels have been shiny, vinyl floors, and people almost always want to take them up. Having said this, we know there is strong loyalty to some of the vinyl brands in the market; there is no doubt they are hard-wearing, especially the glue down options. Note, this is just for residential properties… if you’re building an airport then maybe it’s something to consider!
So what about wooden floors? Well, just like any product, not all floors are equal. A good quality wood floor will be accurately milled (so it slots together well), and has multiple coats of good quality oils, in sufficient quantity. These oils should sit deep within the wood structure, so not just on the surface. If a floor has this type of treatment it will work fine in any busy family life; think toddlers, dogs, cats, wet boots etc…if it doesn’t and is a cheaper product, it won’t.
It’s really common to meet people who’ve had a bad experience with a wooden floor, and they have written them all off, much like someone saying they don’t like coffee… when they’ve only had instant….
Wood floors have a depth of colour to them that man-made products cannot compete with. The texture also has a natural feel. We’ve walked into a room and the floor has taken our breath away…. as a wood floor can make a room. Of course, the downside is a wood floor is a luxury product, both from a supply and fit perspective. To keep costs down, our[ Newington Range ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/ "Our Curated Range")uses off-the-shelf oils, on common oak platforms, and this gets you to an affordable wooden option.
It’s even more premium if you go for a patterned floor, such as a herringbone or chevron. A wood floor does require some maintenance to keep it looking in good condition; mop with natural soap every 18 months and then a maintenance oil every 18/24 months… but we still think it’s a no brainer…but we would, wouldn’t we!
**So, in summary, a wood floor works when i) you want the floor to stand out, and be an integral part of your home’s design and ii) you’re not on a budget. But, don’t go for a cheap wood floor; it won’t stand up to the stresses of busy family life. Think about laminates if you’re on a budget, or you’re looking for an investment property or holiday lets and if you decide to go with vinyl, stick with mid to lighter tones, and no gloss!**
Happy Sampling! Ed Grant
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Floor Choice
**Tags:** bespoke flooring, engineered wood, herringbone floor, oakflooring
---
### [Andre Kong Studio named winner of the Surface Design Award in the "Housing Exterior" category.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/andre-kong-studio-named-winner-of-the-surface-design-award-in-the-housing-exterior-category/)
**Published:** April 11, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Since their first order they have specified several different floors from us, including the Lewis Rustic floor, and the Lewis Herringbone.
**Content:**
[Andre Kong](https://www.andrekong.com/) studio is a relatively new business, and was one of our first clients. Launched in 2021, Andre had 9 years experience in developing and leading ambitious projects across all scales and sectors for international practices including [Heatherwick Studio](https://www.heatherwick.com/), where he is a part-time Senior Associate.
Since their first order they have specified several different floors from us, including the[Lewis Rustic floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/), and the [Lewis Herringbone](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-medium-rustic/).
On this award winning project in South East London, *“Stepped Loft”*, he extended the loft area of the house, by *“extruding a series of stepped brick volumes”*. This created enough space to host a new bedroom, study and bathroom. Whilst we only played a small part in this project, we’re so proud to see our bold clients winning awards.
The project, was also featured in the Grand Designs magazine – [Stepped Loft.](https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/renovate/loft/stepped-loft-extension/)
**Categories:** Essential Reading
**Tags:** Andre Kong Studio, Surface Design Awards
---
### [We don't do sales. But sometimes you can pick up a Kite Floor bargain.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/we-dont-do-sales-but-sometimes-you-can-pick-up-a-kite-floor-bargain/)
**Published:** February 25, 2024
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** At Kite, we believe one of the challenges with buying a floor is you never know if you’re getting a good deal and one of the main reason for this is that most retailers only sell floors through sales.
**Content:**
At Kite, we believe one of the challenges with buying a floor is you never know if you’re getting a good deal and one of the main reason for this is that most retailers only sell floors through sales. They’ll be a Mothers Day Sale, Valentines Sale, Easter Bonanza, and any other name their marketing department can come up with. They’ll use countdown clocks that never end, and plenty of other sneaky tactics to engineer a sale.
At Kite, we don’t sell floors through constant sales. Because otherwise, we can’t be transparent about pricing. Having said all this, there can be times as a retailer, when you have products to clear.
So, as we approach the end of our 5th year in business, we thought we’d discount some of our best selling floors, all of which have high quality oils, and good quality grades (so less knots). Discounts range from 25% to 35% (so quite a saving). These floors are only available while we have stock (discounts are not available on made to order floors), and they can be delivered quickly. However, once they’re gone, they’re gone. We can also store your floor for up to 6 months, for free, if you want to buy now, and have it delivered later.
Act now. Or wait another 5 years. As I am sure we will do something similar for our 10th Anniversary 🙂
Here’s a selection of our discounted floors –
1. **Newington Range – Lewis Rustic Plank – Discounted 20%**
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/)
2\. **Kent Range – Lewis Large Prime Herringbone – Discounted 25 %**
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-large-prime/)
**3. Kent Range – Lewis Medium Prime Herringbone – Discounted 20 %**
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-medium-prime/)
**4. Kent Range – Daniel Medium Prime Herringbone – Discounted 35%**
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-herringbone-medium/)
[5. Kent Range – Daniel Large Prime Herringbone – Discounted 35 %](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-herringbone-large-prime/ "Daniel Herringbone Large Clean")
[6. **Kent Range – Lewis Medium AB Herringbone – Discounted 25 %**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-ab-grade/ "Lewis Herringbone Medium – AB Grade")
You can order samples of these floors online, just follow the link, or book a call with our consultants here [– BOOK ONLINE.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Book online")
**Categories:** Designer Tips, Floor Choice
**Tags:** engineered wood, interiordesign, oakflooring, parquet flooring, wooden floor
---
### [The Truth About Floor Samples; Embrace the variation.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-truth-about-floor-samples-embrace-the-variation/)
**Published:** June 20, 2024
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** The truth about flooring samples; why you should embrace the variation.
**Content:**
*“Natural Variation”. “Flooring is a Natural Product”. “Due to the natural variation of wood products, images should only be used as a guide” etc. etc.*
You’ll find something like this in every flooring retailer’s terms and conditions. For somebody buying their first floor, they probably won’t think about this too much. Until the floor turns up. And it’s not like their small sample. And it doesn’t match their Pinterest board..…
Like every flooring business, this has happened to us. And it’s a pretty rubbish situation, as somebody has paid for a product, and they’re not happy. Unfortunately, as a flooring business, you cannot remove the variation clause from your terms, as there are some very good reasons why it exists.
To explain why this is the case, to help smooth your flooring journey and to set expectations, we’ve written the following blog.
### Within floors, the colour can vary. Massively.
If you look at the image below, these two planks are from the same rustic floor. The same floor! If you choose your floor based on small samples, you could choose a dark sample, and think you’re buying a dark floor. You could also choose a light sample. But the reality is both colours are present. Scroll to the right and put the colours together and the whole floor blends in. We always tell people to always look for general colours rather than specific ones, and this is the reason. Images can also help. But look closely. You will almost always see variation – [Esther Rustic (Newington Range).](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/esther-rustic/)
- Two planks. Different floor?
- Nope. The colours blend.
Pause Slideshow
Colour variation can be minimised by going with less rustic floors, stronger oils and stains, and specifying certain wood platforms. At the very high end of the market, you can also use control samples. But colour can still vary. And all of these variables increase the cost.
This is one of our mega floors, in a clean grade, stained and bleached, with very little variation – [A Mega Floor.](https://www.instagram.com/p/C4rhGQUtx9l/?hl=en)
### Where does the wood come from and where is the wood platform produced?
Like every other product in life, those produced in large quantities cost less than bespoke orders. In every wood floor, there are broadly two main parts of production, the manufacturing of the wood platform, and then the finishing (the application of the oils or lacquers to protect it).
In the flooring industry, many of the mass-produced platforms are made in China or Eastern Europe. Even if it’s accredited timber, with [organisations like the FSC](https://fsc.org/en), to run an efficient production line, the batches used of the raw materials have to be changed. There are other variables as well, such as how long the floor is stored before and after finishing etc. and none of these are controlled by the retailer and all these factors cause variation (if a retailer tells you they can completely control the production process across mass-produced floor, they are lying).
At Kite, our more premium platforms are manufactured in Europe. With these, there is more oversight and quality control. It’s even possible to use control samples, at the very high end. But the challenge is, that because of these extra processes, they cost more. And not everyone can pay that premium.
### What is the finishing strategy?
At Kite, we generally sell oiled floors (oiled vs. lacquered is a separate discussion). Our UV-oiled floors have an oil applied that dries under a UV light. It dries instantly and is a very quick and cheap process. This straightforward treatment is a great way of protecting the floors. It, however, doesn’t stain out variations in wood. We do sell more premium floors that are bleached, stained, oiled and here, colour variation can be reduced [(you can learn more about these floors here – Bespoke Floors).](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/belgiqa/) But, if you buy a UV-oiled floor (and they are always the most cost effective), expect some colour variation.
### Embrace the variation!
So what should your plan be? Well, our advice is to try and embrace the variation! This lack of control may be hard for clients who are micromanaging every aspect of their build project. But the truth is, unless you have deep pockets, you cannot control the exact colour of your floor, only the general colour. And all the time you spend comparing tiny samples and shades is pointless, because the final floor could be a different colour.
Also, remember, floors change colour, either through sunlight (UV light will always change the colour of wood floors), or through the lighting in your home. So, try not to be too precious about it. At Kite, we’ve had clients question the colour of our floors on delivery, but without exception, after they have been fitted, they grow to love them. And a few months after fitting, they can’t understand what the fuss is about!
### What can you control?
Rather than focusing on a specific colour, focus on the quality of oils (do they use a premium brand of oil?), the quantity of oil applied and the number of coats, the knot filling strategy (bad filling can make floors super ugly), and are the floors good to fit (trust companies that fit floors more than businesses that simply buy containers, [Kite is a CHAS accredited fitting business)](https://www.chas.co.uk/).
### But what if you just can’t let it go….
OK. So this is not specific to Kite. Every flooring retailer has these challenges (hence why the variation clause is in every T&Cs). But there are some folks out there who just can’t get their head around not controlling the exact colour of their floor. And whilst we try to explain it will be ok after the floor is fitted, they still struggle. That’s ok. For most people, our advice is to buy a more premium European made platform, with deeper finishes, but these floors can still vary from sample to the final floor. If you want to have complete control over colour, the only thing to do is to fit an unfinished product, and then professionally apply the oils on site. But guess what? This is a lot more expensive, as you end up paying double labour (to fit and then to finish). You’re also limited on the type of finishing you can do.
Or buy a tile.
So, there you have it. The truth about samples. Embrace the variations and don’t obsess about small samples. Worry about the things you can control (like oils and filling strategy). Or buy a more expensive floor. Almost all our clients love our floors, regardless of variation. And we are sure that you will too.
**Categories:** About Your Floor, Essential Reading, General Knowledge
**Tags:** bespoke flooring, engineered wood, flooringsamples, herringbone floor, oakfloorsamples, parquet flooring, sustainable wood floors, wooden floor
---
### [Need a wood floor in a hurry? Here are our top tips to get the perfect floor last minute.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/need-a-wood-floor-in-a-hurry-here-are-our-top-tips-to-get-the-perfect-floor-last-minute/)
**Published:** November 8, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** We have different types of clients at Kite. Some choose a floor before they have bought a house.
**Content:**
We have different types of clients at Kite. Some choose a floor before they have bought a house. Others choose a floor, then choose another, then ask for more samples, then finally decide to go with the original floor. This blog is for those who leave it to the last minute (we also have unlucky clients who get let down suppliers, but the same lastminute.com rules apply).
Generally, it’s always best to choose your floor well in advance, say 12 weeks, to be safe. It’s also best to have it made once you decide because 1) in the current market, prices can change and, 2) floors go out of stock. Once a floor is in our warehouse it can be stored and then delivered when you need it.
However, we also recognise renovations don’t always go to plan. Flooring is just one of hundreds of decisions you have to make, and whilst we obviously think it’s pretty important, sometimes, it slips down your priority list. Then, when you’re feeling like you’re on the home straight, and you’re hoping to only have one (or maybe two…) trips left to the bank, your contractor will say *“please can you deliver the flooring?”*
### *“**Arrrrr. Flooring. Yes. Definitely going to need that. Cra\***.”*
So. What’s the plan? So firstly, here’s what not to do…
**Don’t order 100s of samples from online retailers, you’ll just end up with a series of yellow coffee matts.** It’s so hard to judge a floor by a tiny sample, as it doesn’t show 1) the filling strategy (so how the knots are filled) and 2) the balance of the grading (so the colour variations, and knot patterns). And don’t get tricked by those countdown clocks…the sales never end. Also, don’t go with the floor your builder can get quickly. Flooring is a big decision; there is nothing worse than a cheap wood floor, both from a look and a performance perspective.
### Our advise is to start off by deciding what you are actually looking for.
This might seem obvious. But you wouldn’t believe how many people have no idea. Trust us, it will be a frustrating process if you can’t cut down the 1,000s of options pretty quickly. It is way better to do this at home, online, rather than trudging around flooring shops. Whilst flooring shops have samples of floors, they are rubbish at showing what a finished scheme will look like.
We’ve already written blogs on Wood vs. Laminate and floor choice that are a good place to start –
***[“You want a wood floor, but don’t know what to choose”](https://www.kite-flooring.com/you-want-a-wood-floor-but-dont-know-which-to-choose/)***
Also, look at our Instagram for inspiration – [Kite Flooring Instagram,](https://www.instagram.com/kiteflooring/?hl=en) or any other wood flooring company. Think along the lines of Colour (but general, rather than specific), Shape (so plank or parquet), Grade (with knots, no knots or something in the middle) or Texture (reclaimed, smooth).
**Next, find a flooring retailer who knows their stuff and sells a range of products (obviously we’re one of those…).**
We literally look at floors all day. Even weekends. We dream of floors. Pretty much every distributor or manufacturer in the UK has pitched us products over the past 12 months.
### ***So, if you’re on a tight timeline, don’t scour the market yourself, speak to someone who has already done it.***
Send us an image of the look you’re trying to achieve, and then work with us to source it. Think of us as a buying agent. But for floors.
### So, what are our favourite quick lead time floors?
Well, from a Kite perspective, our invisible oiled floors are a great option (and we try and stock them..).
The planks come in various grades, from rustic to clean, and the Herringbones and Chevrons come in a prime grade (so no knots). Invisible oiled floors are great because they look good in any design scheme; not too modern, not too traditional. **All of these floors we normally have in stock!**
- Lewis Clean Grade
- Lewis Rustic Herringbone
- Lewis Chevron
- Lewis Rustic
- Lewis Large Herringbone
Pause Slideshow
Kite also stocks Natural Oak floors in Rustic grades, either in plank or Herringbone.
- Natural Oak Herringbone
- Natural Oak Plank
If you’re looking for a more specific finish, Kite works with a range of wholesalers, many of whom stock floors in the UK. These include [V4 wood flooring](https://www.v4woodflooring.co.uk/), [Woodpecker](https://woodpeckerflooring.co.uk/), [Atkinson Kirby](https://akirby.co.uk/), [Lamett](https://lamett.co.uk/en), to name just a few. Just with those names, you have nearly 500 different floors stocked in the UK, that you can get access to within weeks.
### **All of these floors we fit regularly, so we know they’re good quality (never trust a flooring business that doesn’t actually fit floors!!)**
We don’t do vinyls, but if you’re looking for a more cost-effective option, our range of [Premium Laminates](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/material/laminate/) are also UK-stocked. Again samples can be arranged, and floors delivered, within a week.
So, if you’ve left your new flooring to the last minute, or been left high and dry by another supplier, give our team a call. We’ll source you the perfect floor, and save you from sampling hell.
You can book a call with one of our team here –
[Book A Call](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Floor Choice, General Knowledge
**Tags:** engineered wood, flooring, herringbone floor, interiordesign, oakflooring, parquet flooring
---
### [Our Hackney Showroom; Large Sample Boards and Design and Technical Advice. The best way to start your flooring journey.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-hackney-showroom-large-sample-boards-and-design-and-technical-advice-the-best-way-to-start-your-flooring-journey/)
**Published:** April 3, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
We launched Kite off the back of a frustrating experience trying to find a floor, since then, we’ve helped 100s of families get the perfect floor. Like any new business, in a competitive sector, we’ve had our ups and downs, but we’re pretty damn good at it now, as our reviews back up. We love what we do, and hopefully that comes across in our content, blogs, Instagram and when you meet us at the showroom.
As we’ve started to grow our team, we’ve come across a very important realisation. Our best projects almost always start with a showroom visit. And we thought it would be helpful to explain why this is.
## 1. Floor Samples
Tiny samples. Lots of them.
At Kite, we post out samples of our mid-range floors and also our laminates. We don’t post samples of our high-end floors. The reason for this is that samples can be misleading. Any wood floor, especially if it’s rustic (so with knots), will have up to 10% colour variation. We have had people order samples from us, and it just so happens to be the darker part of the floor. They then choose their entire kitchen based on this colour. It’s a rubbish situation. Samples also don’t show the knot filling strategy, grading differences (density of knots), the milling (how the planks slot together). It’s very common that people spend multiple four figures sums on floors, so to not see larger versions of these floors is crazy. **You wouldn’t choose a car on this basis?** The Online flooring market has evolved to sell through floors through samples, in an effort to hit ever lower price points with fake sales. But it doesn’t work. Trust us. We explore this more fully in our Blog here – [Tiny Samples Don’t Work](https://www.kite-flooring.com/the-truth-about-floor-samples-embrace-the-variation/)
## 2. Design Advice
Many of our clients haven’t bought a floor before, and are not working with an Interior Designer. We can advise on plank vs. herringbone, light vs. dark, the dimension of the floors, and the amount of texture. Most of our floors are made to order, so it’s really a question of finding out what will work in your property, and then tailoring the solution. For example, we know a certain size Herringbone works in a 4m wide space. A different one is suitable for a 3m space. We can also advise on the oils that should be used, either surface UV treatments or deeper Hard Wax oils. It can get pretty technical. But with a 30 minute explanation, we can help you navigate what you need to worry about. And what to forget about.
*Light. Medium or Dark?*
## 3. Technical Advice
Many of our clients have a contractor. But they are project managing themselves. Sometimes they take advantage of our fitting service. But here’s the truth though. At Kite, last year, we fitted over 100 floors. Each of those will be in different residential scenarios, with different subfloors, different underfloor heating systems, different climatic conditions (….it makes a difference guys…). On all of them we found a solution to make it work. And we can take those lessons to you guys. These lessons will save you £1,000s and a lot of stress. Like the time we stopped a client ordering the wrong underfloor heating system? Or a contractor floating a floor on an uneven subfloor? Or managing the dry times in your concrete screed? The list goes on and on.
This is very different from businesses who don’t fit floors. You will find their marketing teams write blogs (or worse still Chat GPT), and they won’t know anything about flooring (we regularly see some real clangers in these blogs…). Whether you buy a floor through us, or somebody else, our advice is always buy floors through people who actually fit them. If you need to do some research, our flooring guide is a great place to start – [Download Floor Guide.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/guide-to-buying-a-wood-floor/)
Moisture in screed. The biggest cause of floor failure.
## 4. Your time is precious
Finally, most of our clients are super busy. I was there once. You have a job, family, and a contractor breathing down your neck, saying you need to make decisions, and you need a product on site. Flooring is another thing to tick off on the to do list. You can order a load of samples, and then hope for the best (don’t do it). You could also trudge round different flooring shops, and view their glossy display stands, with identical yellow floors and grey carpets. Or you could visit us, and we will curate our floors to find you the perfect floor. And as we make our floors to order, anything is possible. And will this be expensive? Well, unlike our competitors, we are completely transparent about every aspect of the production process. Cheaper floors with straightforward oils will be slightly more expensive than our online friends (it’s like comparing a BMW to a banger…). We also have serious floors, but these are seriously beautiful. For those on a budget, we sell premium laminates. We’re mega excited about these, as nobody sells [Premium Laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/) floors in the UK (for various reasons…), but we think they’re awesome.
Our Laminate floors are over 6ft tall. The same height as Eddie our ops manager 🙂
In a one hour site meeting at our showroom, you can solve your flooring problem. Tick it off the to do list. Tell your partner you’ve achieved something. And move onto choosing bathrooms.
We’re just off Shoreditch High Street, so you can also grab a pretty decent flat white.
So, what are you waiting for? Join us at our showroom. And solve your flooring problem. You can book an appointment online here
[**Book online – Kite Flooring**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Categories:** Floor Choice, General Knowledge
---
### [Falling in love in Paris; the wood parquet flooring of the Louvre](https://www.kite-flooring.com/falling-in-love-in-paris-the-wood-parquet-flooring-of-the-louvre/)
**Published:** July 9, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
At Kite, we often get asked “What our favourite floor is?” . The floor that keeps you looking down, when you should be looking up.
But, here’s the thing. It wouldn’t be a Kite floor. And actually, given the history of wood flooring, and the epic floors that have been created and installed around the world we would be pretty arrogant and naive to think our floors were even in the conversation (I often check out [Universal Floors DC](https://www.universalfloors.com/), to make sure we stay humble 🙂 ).
But recently, on a family trip to Paris, we fell in love. Falling in love in Paris is not unusual, but the surprise was to fall head over heels for the parquet flooring in the Louvre.
The French do many things well, especially around Design and Architecture, so you would not expect them to cut corners with the flooring in the most famous museum in the world.
Interestingly, there is very little data on the amount of wood flooring in the Louvre, but the total space is 210,000m2, with the exhibition space listed as 73,000m2 (wood floors never get the attention they deserve). We were there for an afternoon and almost all the exhibition rooms we visited were fitted with the most beautiful parquet flooring you can ever imagine. This included the famous Mollien room, and of course, the room with the Mona Lisa or La Joconde. Thousands and thousands of m2 of parquet flooring.
We were able to find out that the timber was supplied by a French mill called [Ducerf](https://en.ducerf.com/references/the-louvres-parquet-floor). Apparently, 4cm thick (yes, 4cm…which is unbelievably thick), solid oak flooring was used. If you work in flooring, you will know 1) how difficult it is to manage solid products (they expand and contract more with changes in humidity), and 2) how challenging the alignment on patterned floors can be, especially Chevrons with borders. These floors will have been finished (so oiled..) on site, rather than factory-finished, and given the floor traffic, the oils must have been unbelievably strong.
There are thousands, if not millions, of articles, blog posts, and other web pages dedicated to the famous paintings on show. Yet only four references to the floors. But we thought they were the best art on display. So, if we’re asked what our favourite floor is, this is it.
If you’re a floor geek like us, and have an ultimate floor, we would love to know about it. We could even try and recreate recreate it, as we do on many of our Bespoke projects – [Bespoke. ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/belgiqa/)
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**Categories:** Designer Tips
---
### [Soho House Flooring Design; How to get the members club flooring look into your home.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/soho-house-flooring-design-how-to-get-the-members-club-flooring-look-into-your-home/)
**Published:** August 25, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
At Kite, our Shoreditch showroom is less than 100m from the Shoreditch branch of this famous members club, so it’s a question we often get asked. We’re also not the first people to be inspired; last month, *“How to get the Soho House look”* was covered by the [Times.](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/soho-house-design-director-linda-boronkay-you-should-embrace-layering-and-mix-colours-and-patterns-bn3r00gb5)
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Since its launch, Soho house has effectively created its own unique interior style, so if you do want to use their style as an inspiration for your home, how should you choose your flooring?
At Kite, we see four broad strategies being used in Soho House timber flooring –
1. **Darker colours** – Soho House typically uses darker colours for their flooring, either smoked finishes (so the red colours), or blacker or browner hues. Dark coloured flooring tends to make rooms feel smaller and cosier, so this is no surprise if you want to create a more intimate atmosphere.
2. **Premium oils, not surface treatments** – These floors are almost always finished with stains that dry into the veneers, rather than cheaper surface UV treatment oils, that you will see on online floors. This means you get 1) a deeper colour and 2) better performing oils to protect against spilled margaritas.
3. **Reclaimed effect** – The floors will have plenty of texture, often created by wire brushing, they will have open cracks, and the knots will be roughly filled. Again, this will make the space feel lived in. You will also see plenty of colour variation in the floors. This style of floor can be very practical, because dents or scrapes become part of the design of the floor, rather than standing out.
4. **Patterned or plank** – We’ve seen both styles; plank floors which are a more straight forward style, but also statement floors like Chevron or Herringbone. These are often fitted with borders to frame the spaces of the club
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At Kite, we have supplied 100s of floors that would work in the spaces of the Soho House spaces. Generally, these floors would sit within our [Clissold](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-clissold-range/) or [Reclaimed Range.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-reclaimed-range/)
We’re strong believers that you cannot choose these floors based on small samples, as you get some much colour variation across sample boards, so if these spaces are one of your sources of inspiration, our advice is to book an appointment at our Shoreditch showroom to view our large sample boards.
**[BOOK ONLINE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Book online")**
**Categories:** Designer Tips
---
### [Kite Flooring Partners with Belgiqa to bring Architectural Wood Flooring to London](https://www.kite-flooring.com/kite-flooring-partners-with-belgiqa-to-bring-premium-belgian-architectural-wood-flooring-to-london/)
**Published:** September 19, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
*Shoreditch showroom now stocks the full range of Belgiqa engineered wood flooring, stair cladding and veneer samples*
Kite Flooring, the Shoreditch-based premium wood flooring specialist, is proud to announce its partnership with Belgiqa, a Belgian manufacturer of high-end architectural wood products including engineered wood flooring, stair cladding and wood veneers.
The partnership makes Kite Flooring a Belgiqa brand partner in London, giving architects, interior designers and homeowners direct access to Belgiqa’s acclaimed engineered wood flooring, floors sought after by architects and designers worldwide.
Based at 5 Hackney Road in Shoreditch, Kite Flooring now holds the **full range of Belgiqa samples**, along with **large sample boards** that let clients see how a floor genuinely reads at scale. It’s a chance to view Belgiqa’s engineered oak, Douglas fir, walnut, elm and ash, across a wide choice of gradings, patterns and finishes, in person.
*“Getting the Belgiqa range into the showroom is something we’re genuinely excited about,” said Ed Grant, founder of Kite Flooring. “They’re one of the most respected manufacturers in the world, with over a hundred years of wood heritage behind them, and their floor finishing is exceptional. But the real win for our clients is being able to come in and see full-size sample boards, in the flesh, before they commit to a floor that’ll outlast most things in the house.”*
Belgiqa takes a “360° wood” approach, offering coordinated wood flooring, wall and ceiling cladding, stair solutions and veneer panels finished in matching colours so a single material can flow seamlessly through floors, stairs and walls in one project. Every Belgiqa floor is custom-made, with boards available extra-wide and extra-long for a cleaner, minimal-joint look.
The Belgiqa partnership sits alongside Kite Flooring’s consultative showroom model, where clients work through species, grading, finish and fitting with the team who actually install the floors not just sell them.
**Belgiqa engineered wood flooring, stair cladding and veneer samples are available to view now at the Kite Flooring showroom, 5 Hackney Road, Shoreditch, London. To book a showroom appointment or request samples,** book and appointment with[ Kite Flooring.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**About Kite Flooring**
Kite Flooring is a premium wood flooring supply-and-fit business based in Shoreditch, London, serving residential and trade clients through a consultative showroom. Kite Flooring specialises in engineered wood flooring, stair cladding and fitting, with a reputation for honest, straightforward advice in an industry that too often relies on smoke and mirrors.
**About [Belgiqa](https://www.belgiqa.com/en-gb/)**
Belgiqa is a Belgian manufacturer of high-end architectural wood products, including engineered wood flooring, wall and ceiling cladding, stair solutions and wood veneers. Built on more than 100 years of wood-finishing expertise, Belgiqa is known for its craftsmanship in colour and finish, and its floors are specified by architects and designers internationally.
**Media contact**
Ed Grant, Founder, Kite Flooring
**Categories:** Designer Tips
---
### [Elm Flooring; A Beautiful Alternative to Oak](https://www.kite-flooring.com/elm-flooring-a-beautiful-alternative-to-oak/)
**Published:** June 14, 2024
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Elm Flooring; A Beautiful Alternative to Oak.
**Content:**
If you’re at the beginning of your journey, you’ll know there are a lot of floors to choose from, and it can get very confusing. At Kite, whilst we only work with natural products (so no LVT), we still cover a wide range of products. At an affordable price point, we have European Oak floors that are made in China, and then (in most cases) oiled in Belgium, where you can control the quality. At the next level, we have floors made in Europe from start to finish, with simple, good quality oils. After that the floors start getting more complex, with staining, bleaching, reactive stains and texturing so the price goes up.
Normally, our engineered floors use Oak veneers, but we’ve recently started working with European Elm.
### **Is Elm flooring hard-wearing?**
Elm flooring is not as common as Oak (UK Elm was decimated by Dutch Elm disease over the last 100 years), but when combined with good quality oils, it’s easily strong enough for almost all residential projects (in days gone by it was used to build ships!!).
### **Is Elm flooring expensive?**
The good news is European Elm is available, and from a price point it’s only marginally more expensive than Oak. It’s definitely a special floor, so more suited to high-end residential, and forever homes, rather than investment properties. Prices start from around £110 + VAT per m2.
### **So why do we love Elm flooring?**
The grain, the grain, the GRAIN!!
Think swirls, cathedrals and knots you could stare at for days. Elm is available in a clean grade (so very few knots), and then a more rustic option. We try and keep the finishes simple (as it’s the material that’s the star..), so normally go with either light or dark oils. As with most of our Kite floors, we make them to order, so they are available in almost any width or length.
To make an Elm floor your forever floor, or advice on any other wood species, get in touch – [Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
Images are courtesy of our manufacturer – [Belgiqa.](https://www.belgiqa.com/en/)
White oiled ElmClean GradeIt’s all about the Grade
**Categories:** Designer Tips, Floor Choice, Inspiration
**Tags:** elm flooring, parquet flooring, sustainable wood floors, wood species
---
### [Dark or Light Flooring – Which one to choose?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/dark-or-light-flooring-which-one-to-choose/)
**Published:** November 25, 2020
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** If you’re trying to choose between light, dark, or any other colour of wood flooring, there are two main factors we consider; the style of the room, and the light in the room.
**Content:**
Selecting the right wood colour is a big decision.
If you’re trying to choose between light, dark, or any other colour of wood flooring, there are two main factors we consider; the style of the room, and the light in the room.
## Style of the Room
Starting from scratch and redecorating the whole room gives you the widest range of choice on flooring.
If you’re keeping your existing furniture and the floors are new, it is very important to think of the whole scope of the room with both options of dark and light flooring. We recommend not choosing a floor that matches your existing furniture; it will make the floor and furniture compete for attention, instead of complementing each other.
We find that light wood floors work best in a room with dark and heavy furniture – the contrast helps create a light and modern look.
On the other hand, dark wood floors work best with neutral, light-toned furniture and walls – they create a warmer look.
Other colours, such as Greys, or Natural Oak finishes, sit somewhere in the middle (which perhaps explains why they are so popular).
Finally, colour can be used in your design scheme, with both light or dark flooring, as long as you follow the same rules as above; lighter colours with darker floors and vice versa.
[  ](https://i0.wp.com/www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Screenshot-2021-06-27-at-20.28.07.png?ssl=1)
[  ](https://i0.wp.com/www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Screenshot-2021-06-27-at-20.25.02.png?ssl=1)
## Size of the Room
Light wood floors often work best if you are trying to make a smaller room look bigger. They create a more spacious feel as they refract the natural light around your space
Dark wood floors, on the other hand, make a room feel smaller. They work best in large, bright rooms, where the natural light washes across the floorboards. This also allows you to see the details of the floor, such as the grains and knots, giving your space character.
## Be bold with colour
If you need more information or have any further questions on floor colour, please let us know on <info@kite-flooring.com>. We know how important it is to make the right choice, as choosing the right floor finish, can make or break your design scheme.
[  ](https://i0.wp.com/www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Screenshot-2020-11-10-at-17.22.27.png?ssl=1)
**Categories:** Essential Reading, Floor Choice
**Tags:** engineered wood, herringbone floor, laminate, oakflooring, parquet flooring
---
## Pages
### [Home](https://www.kite-flooring.com/)
**Published:** October 25, 2021
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
[START YOUR JOURNEY](http://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/) CHOOSING A FLOOR, MADE PAINLESS
[OUR PROJECTS](http://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/) [DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GUIDE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/guide-to-buying-a-wood-floor/)   
CHOOSING A FLOOR, MADE PAINLESS
  
OUR PROJECTS # EXPERT FLOORING SOLUTIONS IN LONDON BY KITE FLOORING
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/wandsworth-wide-plank-premium-laminate/) 04 Jan
### [Wandsworth – Wide Plank Premium Laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/wandsworth-wide-plank-premium-laminate/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/the-vicarage-kingswood/) 15 Apr
### [The Vicarage Kingswood](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/the-vicarage-kingswood/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/stoke-newington-invisible-oiled/) 03 Apr
### [Stoke Newington – Invisible Oiled](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/stoke-newington-invisible-oiled/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/shoreditch-plates-restaurant/) 07 Oct
### [Shoreditch – plates Restaurant](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/shoreditch-plates-restaurant/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/rostrevor-road-fulham/) 01 Apr
### [Rostrevor Road – Fulham](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/rostrevor-road-fulham/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/richmond-staircase/) 17 Apr
### [Richmond Staircase](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/richmond-staircase/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/queens-park-the-ultimate-family-friendly-floor/) 06 Jan
### [Queens Park – The Ultimate Family Friendly Floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/queens-park-the-ultimate-family-friendly-floor/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/norburn-street-notting-hill/) 15 Apr
### [Norburn Street Notting Hill](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/norburn-street-notting-hill/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/maida-vale/) 15 Apr
### [Maida Vale](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/maida-vale/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/kidbrooke-renovating-a-new-build/) 06 Jan
### [Kidbrooke – Renovating a New Build](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/kidbrooke-renovating-a-new-build/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/hampstead-white-ash-flooring/) 03 Apr
### [Hampstead – White Ash Flooring](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/hampstead-white-ash-flooring/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/forest-hill/) 15 Apr
### [Forest Hill](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/forest-hill/)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/courteney-gardens-hornchurch/) 23 Jan
### [Courteney Gardens Hornchurch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/courteney-gardens-hornchurch/)
KITE FLOORING ### OUR FAVOURITE FLOORS
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/esther-newington-plus/) [  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/esther-newington-plus/)
[Add to basket](/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=as_async_request_queue_runner&nonce=dc60ed5a6a&add-to-cart=35705)
[Quick View](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/esther-newington-plus/)
### [Newington Plus – Esther – £102 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/esther-newington-plus/)
£341.29 per pack (£102 per m²)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-clean-grade/) [  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-clean-grade/)
[Add to basket](/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=as_async_request_queue_runner&nonce=dc60ed5a6a&add-to-cart=32531)
[Quick View](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-clean-grade/)
### [Daniel Clean Grade (knots up to 10mm) – £108 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-clean-grade/)
£311.04 per pack (2.88 m²)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-herringbone-large-prime/) [  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-herringbone-large-prime/)
[Add to basket](/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=as_async_request_queue_runner&nonce=dc60ed5a6a&add-to-cart=33177)
[Quick View](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-herringbone-large-prime/)
### [Daniel Herringbone Large Clean – £102 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-herringbone-large-prime/)
£146.88 Original price was: £146.88.£146.88Current price is: £146.88. per pack (1.44 m²)
[  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/) [  ](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/)
[Add to basket](/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=as_async_request_queue_runner&nonce=dc60ed5a6a&add-to-cart=57)
[Quick View](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/)
### [Lewis Rustic – £74 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/)
£221.76 Original price was: £221.76.£221.76Current price is: £221.76. per pack (2.88 m²)
**15%**off
Forward Order SchemePlanning ahead? Save 15% on our best-selling floors.
Confirm 6 weeks to 6 months before you need your floor, and we’ll take 15% off our retail price. No fake sales, just a genuine saving for ordering early.
[How the scheme works](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/)
TRANSFORM YOUR HOME ## CHOOSE FROM OUR FLOOR RANGES
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/)### The Newington Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)### The Newington Plus Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-clissold-range/)### The Clissold Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-clissold-range/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)### The Kent Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-epping-range/)### The Epping Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-epping-range/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-highbury-range/)### The Highbury Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-highbury-range/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)### Laminate
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)
StairFlow · Oak stair cladding### Make your stairs *match your floor.*
StairFlow is our continuous oak stair cladding system, matched to your floor, and cut from the same batch of oak when your floor comes from us. No mismatched nosings, no visible bevels, just one seamless run from hallway to landing.
From £180 per step inc. VAT
[Discover StairFlow →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/stair-cladding/)
## [Visit our Hackney showroom or order samples online to find your perfect floor.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/sampling-service/ "Sampling Service")
*“Most people don’t buy one every day. In fact, most people only buy two or three floors in their life! For this reason, it’s no surprise we’re not experts….”*
At Kite Flooring we specialise in making the complex, time consuming process of choosing a floor painless. To help you we have put together a comprehensive [**guide to buying a wood floor**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/guide-to-buying-a-wood-floor/).
We supply a curated range of beautiful, natural floors, from affordable **[Premium Laminates](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)**, up to some of the most beautiful floors in the world.
You can order [**Samples**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/sampling-service/) for our best selling ranges (Newington, Newington Plus, Kent, and Premium Laminate). We make a small charge for these. Why? We really want people to research us before ordering samples and we found if we make a small charge this is more likely to happen. If you’re someone who wants to order 100s of free samples, to fill up their coffee table.. and you think that will find you the best floor, we’re probably not the right fit anyway.
You can **[browse some of our Floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/shop/)**, our **[Projects](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/)** and also our **[Technical advice](https://www.kite-flooring.com/category/essential-reading/)**, on our website. You should also read our reviews.
But if you’re serious about ticking flooring off your to do list, the next step is to book an appointment at our [**Hackney Showroom**.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
---
### [Kite Flooring Terms and Conditions](https://www.kite-flooring.com/terms-and-conditions/)
**Published:** January 8, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
## **Part A: General terms (apply to every order)**
### **A1. About us and these terms**
1. **Who we are.** “Kite”, “we” and “us” means Kite Designs Ltd, trading as Kite Flooring. Our registered office is C/O Wilson Partners Limited, Tor, Saint-Cloud Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 8BN. Company number 12138377 and VAT number 353071227. Our showroom is at 5 Hackney Road, London E2 7NX.
2. **Who you are.** “You” means the customer named on the quotation. A **residential customer** buys for their own home, not for business. A **trade customer** buys in the course of business (for example a developer, contractor, architect or designer).
3. **Which parts apply.** Part A applies to every order. Part B applies to supply-only orders and Part C to supply-and-fit, renovation and restoration work. Part D sets out cancellation rights for residential customers. Part E applies to trade customers and overrides Parts A–C where they conflict.
4. **Your statutory rights.** If you’re a residential customer, nothing in these terms affects your legal rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
5. **Advice.** Any verbal advice we give isn’t a guarantee unless we confirm it in writing.
6. **Design services.** We supply and fit cosmetic flooring that sits above a subfloor. **We do not provide design services.** This includes structural, acoustic, damp-proofing and underfloor heating design. For advice on these, please consult your architect or a structural or acoustic engineer.
### **A2. Quotations and orders**
1. Quotations, including supply-and-fit quotations, are valid for 28 days from the date on the quotation. We may withdraw a quotation before it is accepted.
2. Our price list isn’t an offer. Descriptions and prices on it are current only on the day it’s produced, and details of changes are available on request.
3. We may decline any order. A contract is formed only when we send a written order acknowledgement or dispatch document.
4. Where an order is delivered in instalments, each delivery is treated as a separate contract.
### **A3. Prices and payment**
1. **Fixed prices.** Once we’ve acknowledged your order, the price is fixed. The only exceptions are:
1. changes you ask for (quantities, products, dates or specification);
2. additional work you approve under C5 (variations); or
3. for orders delivered more than 3 months after acknowledgement, increases in our costs beyond our control, such as supplier price rises, exchange rates or duties.
2. Before charging a cost increase under the third exception in A3.1, we’ll tell you in writing at least 5 working days before delivery. If you’re a residential customer, you can then cancel the affected goods for a full refund.
3. Prices include VAT for residential customers and exclude VAT for trade customers unless stated otherwise. Delivery is charged separately unless included in the quotation.
4. **How and when you pay:**
| Order type | When payment is due |
|---|---|
| Supply only, stocked items | In full before dispatch |
| Supply only, bespoke or special order | 50% deposit when you order. The balance within 5 weeks of ordering or before delivery, whichever is sooner. |
| Supply and fit | Three invoices, set out in C3 |
| Forward Order Scheme | 15% deposit, 35% at the halfway point, 50% balance (see A3A) |
5. **Late payment.** If a residential customer pays late, we may charge interest on the overdue amount at 4% a year above the Bank of England base rate, accruing daily until paid. Trade customers pay statutory interest (see E3). We may also recover our reasonable costs of collecting the debt, including legal fees.
6. We won’t dispatch goods or start fitting while any invoice due under the same order is unpaid.
### **A3A. Forward Order Scheme**
If your project is 6 weeks to 6 months away, you can save by ordering early. We group forward orders with our European manufacturers and pass the saving back to you.
1. **Discount.** 15% off our retail price for flooring materials. Underlay, trims, accessories and delivery aren’t discounted.
2. **Who it’s for.** Projects needing their floor between 6 weeks and 6 months from order. The minimum order value is £1,500.
3. **Eligible floors.**
1. Newington Range: Lewis Rustic, Lewis Warm, Daniel Rustic and Lewis Prime.
2. All Newington Plus Range floors.
3. Kent Range: Lewis Large Herringbone.
Clissold bespoke floors aren’t included. We may update the eligible floors from time to time, and your quotation will confirm eligibility.
4. **Locking in the price.** Confirm your order within 14 days of our final quotation.
5. **Payment.**
| Payment | Amount | When it’s due |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | 15% | When you confirm your order |
| Second payment | 35% | Halfway between the deposit date and your target delivery date |
| Balance | 50% | 6 weeks after the second payment, or before delivery if that’s sooner |
6. **Deposit.** The 15% deposit secures stock bought for you in advance, so it’s non-refundable. We may be able to transfer it to other floors in the scheme. This doesn’t affect a residential customer’s legal cancellation rights under Part D.
7. **Storage and delivery.** Free storage for up to 6 months if your project is delayed (A4.1). After that, storage is £10 a week per pallet. Once your floor is ready, please give us at least 3 working days’ notice to book delivery.
8. **Other terms.** All other terms in these T&Cs apply to Forward Order Scheme orders.
### **A4. Delivery, free storage, risk and ownership**
1. **Free storage for up to 6 months.** Building projects slip, and we know it. Once your order is ready, we’ll store it for you free of charge for up to 6 months, so it isn’t sitting in a damp garage waiting for the plasterers to finish. Payment is still due on the dates in A3. After 6 months we’ll contact you to arrange delivery. If you still need us to keep it, storage is £10 a week per pallet.
2. **Delivery dates.** Dispatch and delivery dates are estimates. We’ll keep you updated, but we aren’t liable for losses caused by delays in dispatch or delivery.
3. **Kerbside delivery.** Unless agreed otherwise, deliveries are kerbside. Please have enough people on hand to unload. Delivery to the ground floor is available at an extra charge and must be booked in advance. We aren’t responsible for unloading goods on site, or for their storage and security after delivery.
4. **Safe access.** Our driver may refuse to deliver if unloading would be dangerous.
5. **Signing for delivery.** Every delivery must be signed for by you or someone you’ve authorised.
6. **Missed or refused deliveries.** If nobody is there to accept a delivery, or it is refused, we’ll charge for re-delivery.
7. **Where to store the floor.** Wood absorbs moisture. Don’t have it delivered to or stored in areas that aren’t sealed, or that don’t have similar conditions to the room where it’ll be fitted, such as garages or unsealed extensions. Boards stored in the wrong place can take on moisture and expand.
8. **Risk.** The goods become your responsibility (for example against damage or theft) when you, or someone on your behalf, take delivery or collect them. They also become your responsibility when we hand them to an independent carrier you’ve arranged.
9. **Ownership.** The goods stay ours until we’ve been paid in full. Until then, you must not remove or deface any marking showing they’re ours. If you sell unpaid goods on, you do so as our agent. If goods haven’t been paid for and **haven’t yet been fitted**, we may collect them from site; we’ll give reasonable notice first. Once goods are fitted, we’ll recover what’s owed as a debt.
### **A5. Natural wood: samples, grading, colour and stains**
1. **Wood is natural.** Every board is different. Samples, swatches and photos are a guide to the general colour and character, not an exact match. We aren’t responsible for variations in shade, tone or colour, including with stains and oils.
2. **Grading.** Most of our boards are rustic grade, with colour variation and knots. That’s normal and doesn’t reduce the quality of the floor. Other grades are available to order. Within a grade there’s a wide range of appearance, and it isn’t an exact science. Any quoted knot size is a guide only.
3. **Check before fitting.** Please open at least 3 packs when your floor arrives and check the grading. If you can’t, ask us to send photos before fitting and we’ll help you choose where the best boards go.
4. **Fitting means the appearance is accepted.** Fitting a board is taken as acceptance of its visible appearance: grade, colour and character. This doesn’t affect claims for hidden defects, or your statutory rights.
5. **Stains.** Stains can give unpredictable results, such as bleeding or reactions with old contamination in the wood. Maple, beech, oak, merbau, birch and pine don’t take stain evenly and can show big colour variation and overlap marks.
6. **Sunlight and rugs.** Floor colour changes with UV light and where it’s covered (under rugs, for example). That’s normal, and natural soaps help minimise it.
7. **Transition bars.** We use some of the smallest transition bars in the UK market. If you want a particular bar, please confirm it again on the first day of fitting. On our standard UV-oiled ranges (such as Newington and Kent) we use matching oils on the bars, but the bars may still differ in colour from the oak. A colour difference between UV-oiled bars and the floor is normal and isn’t a defect. Matching bars for our premium oiled ranges (such as Clissold) must be ordered with your flooring and can’t be supplied once fitting has started. Standard bars are supplied during installation.
8. **Bowed boards.** Engineered boards often have a slight bow when they arrive, especially longer planks. A bow of up to 25mm along the length of a board is normal. Fitted in a random staggered pattern, and glued or fixed as A6 requires, these boards lie flat. A bow within that tolerance isn’t a defect. Boards bowed by more than 25mm should be set aside and reported to us before fitting (A8.3).
### **A6. Site conditions and installing a Kite floor**
Most wood floor problems aren’t caused by the wood. They’re caused by the room it’s fitted in. These conditions apply whoever fits your floor, and they’re also conditions of our warranty.
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Relative humidity | 40–65% RH, before, during and after fitting |
| Room temperature | 18–24°C |
| Acclimatisation | 72 hours in, or as close as possible to, the room where the floor will be fitted |
| Plasterwork | Finished and dry, with a maximum moisture content of 8% |
| Heating and ventilation | Working and on before fitting |
| Underfloor heating | System off for 4 days prior to fitting. The system should be commissioned. Floor temperature never above 27°C, as recorded by a FidBox |
1. **Acclimatisation.** Leave the boards in, or as close as possible to, the room where they’ll be fitted for 72 hours before fitting. That lets them settle to the room’s temperature and humidity. Keep them in their packaging. The room must be sealed (windows and external doors fitted) and the heating working. All wet trades, such as plastering, screeding and decorating, must be finished and dry. You don’t need to open the packs unless we tell you to.
2. **Humidity and temperature.** Keep relative humidity between 40% and 65% and room temperature between 18°C and 24°C. In very dry conditions (for example a heated room in winter) you may need a humidifier. In damp conditions you may need a dehumidifier and better ventilation.
3. **Underfloor heating.** The floor temperature must never go above 27°C. When turning the heating on for the first time, or after it’s been off for a while, raise the temperature gradually by no more than 2°C a day.
4. **We recommend a FidBox.** A FidBox is a small sensor fitted under the floor. It records the temperature and humidity every 8 hours and warns you on your phone if conditions go outside the safe range. It’s the easiest way to keep your floor happy. It’s also the clearest evidence if there’s ever a question about a warranty claim. FidBoxes are available to buy from Kite, and we strongly recommend one for any floor over underfloor heating. The 27°C limit is measured by the FidBox.
5. **Subfloor.** The subfloor must be sound, level, clean and dry. It should be left clean and dry by other trades. Installation follows the guidance in BS 8201:2011. This standard is advisory, and responsibility for a sound installation rests with the fitter.
6. **Floated floors.** Engineered boards with a tongue and groove that are floated over underlay must have their side and end joints glued with good-quality wood glue such as PVA. Otherwise the boards will separate over time.
7. **Glued floors.** Where a floor is fully glued to the subfloor, the tongues and grooves don’t need gluing.
8. **Floated or glued?** Floating over underlay is the cheapest and most common method. The floor can move, though, and may creak underfoot, especially with seasonal changes or underfloor heating. That’s the natural movement of wood, not a defect. Gluing down costs more but minimises movement. It’s only suitable on certain subfloors, so ask us.
9. **Patterned floors.** Chevron and herringbone must be fully glued to a sound, level and dry subfloor, as set out in BS 8201:2011.
10. **Expansion gaps.** Wood moves with the seasons. An expansion gap, typically 8mm, must be left around the edge of every room and covered by skirting or beading. It must not be filled with sealant, grout or anything rigid.
11. **Hidden services.** We won’t fix down boards where there may be electrical cables, water pipes or anything else that could cause a leak or electrical fault. Please mark the routes of any services in the floor before work starts. We can’t be responsible for damage to services that weren’t marked.
### **A7. Returns, bespoke and special orders**
1. **Bespoke and special orders.** Bespoke, made-to-order and special order items are made or bought specifically for you. Once colouring, finishing or manufacture has started, or a special order has been placed with our supplier, the order can’t be cancelled, in whole or in part. These items can’t be returned or refunded unless they’re faulty.
2. **Change-of-mind returns of stocked items.** We accept these at our discretion, subject to a 30% restock fee plus a collection fee. Goods must be unopened, undamaged and in saleable condition. Note, this must be our stocked floors, and not bespoke.
3. The restock fee doesn’t apply to faulty goods, or to a residential customer cancelling within their legal cancellation period (see Part D).
4. Leftover product on supply-and-fit jobs is covered in C14.
### **A8. Problems, claims and warranty**
1. **Check your delivery.** Please check every delivery and tell us in writing within 7 days of delivery or collection about any shortage, visible damage, or goods that don’t match what you ordered. Please tell us before fitting, not after. For trade customers, claims not made within that 7 days are waived.
2. **Other defects.** Tell us in writing as soon as you notice a defect that wasn’t apparent on inspection, and before the affected boards are fitted where possible.
3. **Faulty boards.** On average 1–2% of boards may have a defect. That’s normal for a natural product, and our wastage allowance covers it. Defective boards shouldn’t be fitted. Set them aside and tell us.
4. **What we’ll do.** If goods are faulty, we’ll repair or replace them. If only part of a delivery is faulty, the rest of the order stands, and trade customers may not withhold or set off payment for it. Residential customers keep their statutory rights, including the right to reject faulty goods within 30 days.
5. **Warranty.** On top of your statutory rights:
1. **Product:** our wood flooring carries a 20-year warranty from the invoice date.
2. **Installation:** installations by Kite’s own team (see C1) carry a 12-month warranty from the first day of fitting.
Full terms are in our [Flooring and Fitting Warranty](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kite-Flooring-Flooring-and-Fitting-Warranty-.pdf). Both warranties depend on the conditions in A6 and on the floor being maintained as we advise. They’re personal to you and can’t be transferred.
6. **Moisture treatments.** We regularly carry out damp-proof membranes and moisture treatments, and we’ll use our best endeavours to identify moisture problems during the survey and installation. We can’t offer a warranty on moisture treatments, though. If you need one, please use a specialist damp company.
### **A9. Our liability to you**
1. **What we never exclude.** Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for anything else that can’t legally be limited. This includes a residential customer’s statutory rights.
2. **Reasonable care.** We’ll carry out our work with reasonable care and skill. Some of our work has unavoidable side effects, such as dust from sanding or marks on skirting from edging machines. These are explained in Part C so you know what to expect. Where we say we aren’t responsible for them, that applies only where we’ve taken reasonable care. It doesn’t cover damage caused by our negligence.
3. **Fair remedies for decoration.** If we do damage decoration through our negligence, we’ll put right the damaged area (for example filling and touching up a mark). We won’t redecorate a whole wall or room unless that’s genuinely the only reasonable way to repair the damage.
4. **Types of loss.** We’re responsible for loss or damage you suffer that’s a foreseeable result of our breaking these terms or failing to use reasonable care. We aren’t responsible for loss that wasn’t foreseeable. For residential customers, we supply for domestic use only and aren’t liable for business losses. Trade customers: we aren’t liable for loss of profit, revenue, business or goodwill, or for any indirect or consequential loss.
5. **Cap.** Subject to A9.1, our total liability under any order is limited to the total price paid for that order.
6. **Supply only.** Where we supply only, we aren’t liable for floors that are badly or incorrectly laid by someone else, or for any damage or costs caused by that.
### **A10. Complaints**
1. If something isn’t right, please email info@kite-flooring.com with your order number, what’s wrong and photos where possible.
2. We’ll acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days and aim to give you a full response within 14 days. We’ll visit and inspect the floor where that’s needed.
3. Please give us the chance to inspect and put things right before any remedial work is carried out by others.
4. Disputes with trade customers are dealt with under E6.
### **A11. General**
1. **Events outside our control.** We aren’t liable for delays or failures caused by events outside our reasonable control. Examples include war, riot, strikes, lockouts, lockdowns, pandemics, fire, flood, water damage, transport delays, factory breakdowns, or insolvency of our suppliers. We’ll tell you promptly and do what we reasonably can to minimise the delay. If the delay lasts more than 8 weeks, either of us may cancel the affected part of the order, and we’ll refund anything paid for goods or work not delivered.
2. **Insolvency.** We may suspend or end a contract immediately if a trade customer becomes insolvent, enters administration or liquidation, or stops trading. All sums owed then become due at once.
3. **Marketing photography.** We may photograph or film our work during or after installation and use the images on our website and social channels. We never use your name or address. If you’d rather we didn’t, tell us before your flooring is delivered.
4. **Your data.** We use your personal information as set out in our [Privacy Policy](https://www.kite-flooring.com/privacy-policy/).
5. **Entire agreement.** These terms, our quotation and our order acknowledgement form the whole agreement between us. Any change must be agreed in writing by Kite.
6. **Notices.** Written notices may be sent by email to the address on the quotation (ours is info@kite-flooring.com) or by post to our registered office.
7. **Severability.** If a court finds any term invalid, the rest of these terms still apply.
8. **Third parties.** Only you and we can enforce this contract.
9. **Transfer.** You may not transfer your rights under this contract without our written consent.
10. **Law and courts.** These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction. Residential customers living in Scotland or Northern Ireland may also bring proceedings in their local courts.
## **Part B: Supply only**
Part B applies when we supply the flooring and someone other than Kite’s own team fits it. That includes a fitter we’ve recommended (see C1).
1. **Measurements.** We don’t carry out measurements on supply-only orders, and we aren’t responsible for them. Please make sure your fitter checks the quantities, including a suitable allowance for wastage, before you order.
2. **The installer’s responsibility.** Your installer is the last line of quality control. They must:
1. carry out a final inspection of colour, grade, quality, manufacture and finish before fitting;
2. open several packs and lay boards out in the room to check how they look together;
3. get your approval of the boards before fitting them;
4. set aside any defective boards and contact us immediately if the product isn’t acceptable; and
5. follow the site conditions and installation guidance in A6 and BS 8201:2011.
3. **Once it’s fitted.** Once a board has been fitted, its visible appearance is treated as accepted (A5.4). We can’t then offer financial help or take the product back for faults that were visible before fitting. This doesn’t affect hidden defects or a residential customer’s statutory rights.
4. **Fitting quality.** We aren’t responsible for the quality of fitting by anyone other than Kite’s own team, or for problems caused by poor installation (A9.6). The 12-month installation warranty doesn’t apply. The 20-year product warranty still applies, provided the floor has been installed and maintained as A6 and the warranty require.
5. **Leftover stock.** Unopened, saleable stocked items can be returned under A7.2. Materials are fixed at the quoted price, and any re-orders are charged at current rates.
## **Part C: Supply and fit, renovation and restoration**
### **C1. Your three fitting options**
| Option | Who you contract with for fitting | Installation warranty | Terms that apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Full Service (Kite’s own team) | Kite | 12 months from Kite | Parts A and C |
| 2. Vetted Fitter Introduction: A fitter recommended by Kite | The fitter, directly | 12 months, held by the fitter (not Kite) | Parts A and B for the flooring. The fitter’s own terms for the fitting. |
| 3. Supply Only (your own fitter) | Your fitter, directly | None from Kite | Parts A and B for the flooring |
1. With option 1, Kite is responsible for the work of everyone we send to your site, whether they’re employed by us or self-employed.
2. With option 2, the fitter is an independent business. We recommend them in good faith, but they aren’t our employee or subcontractor. **We don’t warrant their workmanship.** Their 12-month fitting warranty is held by the fitter.
### **C2. Survey and measurements**
1. On supply-and-fit orders, we measure. We’ll carry out a survey, including a full levels survey and a professional moisture test, before your final quotation and, where needed, a final survey before fitting.
2. Our wastage allowance depends on the board shape and the layout of the rooms. If more product is needed than we allowed, we’ll tell you and may charge for it.
### **C3. Invoices and payment**
| Invoice | What it covers | When it’s due |
|---|---|---|
| Booking invoice | 100% of materials and preparation, plus 60% of the fitting cost | Before we place the order |
| Installation invoice | Additional subfloor or other works found after the final survey, once you’ve approved them in writing (C5) | Before fitting starts |
| Completion invoice | The remaining 40% of the fitting cost, plus any other approved extras | Within 7 days of the invoice date |
If you’re unhappy with part of the work, you can hold back a reasonable amount, in proportion to the problem, until we’ve put it right. Please pay the rest on time.
### **C4. Cancelling or postponing fitting**
1. Our fitting teams are booked weeks ahead. If you need to cancel or postpone, please give us at least 14 days’ notice.
2. If you give less notice and we can’t re-book the team, we may keep up to the 60% fitting deposit. That covers the team’s lost earnings, and we’ll only keep what reflects our actual loss. This is separate from your legal cancellation rights in Part D.
### **C5. Changes and extra work**
1. Sometimes we only find what’s under the old floor once it’s up. If extra work is needed, we’ll explain why and give you a written price. We won’t carry out the extra work until you’ve approved it in writing (email is fine).
2. If you ask for changes, we’ll confirm the effect on price and programme before going ahead.
3. **Building sites.** Building sites often involve delays, other trades and extra visits. For these jobs we’ll usually include an additional charge in the quotation.
### **C6. Getting the site ready**
1. The site must be clear, giving our team unobstructed access. Ideally no other trades should be working in the area; if they will be, please tell us in advance.
2. We may charge extra for removing furniture, appliances, carpets, gripper rods, underlay or anything else that delays fitting.
3. We aren’t qualified to disconnect gas or permanently wired appliances. Please arrange a qualified tradesperson.
4. If we need to move plumbed appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, fridges), we’ll take care. We aren’t responsible for leaks from their connections unless caused by our negligence. Please check all moved appliances and services before using them.
5. Please mark the routes of pipes and cables in the floor (A6.11).
### **C7. Subfloors, moisture and levelling**
1. We’ll use our best endeavours to identify moisture problems during the survey and fitting. Moisture treatments carry no warranty (A8.6).
2. **Smoothing compound.** We apply a smoothing compound by hand to create a surface for bonding. It will improve the level, but a hand-applied compound rarely leaves a subfloor perfectly level. Our aim is, always, to get the subfloor to a position where we can fit floor. **Kite doesn’t guarantee a level subfloor.**
### **C8. Asbestos and hazardous materials**
Older properties often contain asbestos, for example in old vinyl or thermoplastic tiles and black bitumen adhesive. If you know or suspect this, please tell us before we quote. If we find, or suspect, asbestos or other hazardous materials, we’ll stop work in that area. You’ll need to arrange testing and any removal by a licensed specialist at your cost. Any resulting delay is dealt with under C13.
### **C9. Flats, leases and sound insulation**
1. **Check your lease first.** Many leases restrict hard floors or require a specific level of sound insulation. Before you order, it’s your responsibility to:
1. check your lease;
2. get any consent needed from your freeholder or managing agent; and
3. confirm the acoustic specification required.
2. **We don’t design acoustic solutions.** If you need a floor to meet a sound insulation standard, the specification must come from your architect or acoustic engineer. We’ll supply and fit the specified underlay and build-up. We don’t guarantee that the finished floor will meet any acoustic standard.
3. **Neighbours below.** In upper-floor properties, fitting (and especially sanding) causes vibration, knocking and banging that may cause damage below. We’ll take care, but repairs to neighbouring properties are the customer’s responsibility unless caused by our negligence.
### **C10. Skirting boards, expansion gaps and decoration**
1. **Expansion gaps.** Every floor needs an expansion gap around the edge, typically 8mm (A6.10). It’s hidden under skirting boards or beading.
2. **Removing and refitting skirting.** We can remove and refit skirting boards, but taking skirting off almost always damages the wall behind it. Old skirting can be brittle, bowed or nailed into uneven walls, which makes it hard to refit neatly. After refitting, expect gaps above, to the side of and **below** the skirting where walls and floors aren’t straight. These need filling and painting by your decorator. **Decorating costs aren’t included in our price, and we don’t cover them.**
3. **Fitting after decoration.** If we fit after decorating or the electrical final fix, we’ll use our best endeavours not to damage walls and finishes. Small scrapes and drops of compound can still happen, and they’re a normal part of the work. If we damage decoration through negligence, we’ll put right the damaged area under A9.3. We won’t redecorate whole rooms for minor marks.
4. **Heat guns and edging machines.** These can mark surrounding surfaces such as skirting and door frames. We’ll take care. Minor marks are an expected part of this work, and we won’t be responsible for redecoration unless caused by our negligence.
### **C11. Sanding, staining and restoration**
1. It’s impossible to use sanding and staining machines without some marks to skirting, walls, doors and edges. We’ll take care, but expect some touching up afterwards. The cost of this isn’t included.
2. Sanding is dusty. We use industrial dust extraction and dust sheets, but it’s impossible to contain all the dust. Please remove or cover curtains, soft furnishings and paintings.
3. Staining can mark skirting and walls, and overlap marks can be visible (see A5.5). These will usually need touching up once we’re finished.
### **C12. Protecting the floor if other trades follow**
If your floor is fitted before decorating or other work, it must be protected with building paper and Correx, taped down. Anything moved across the floor needs protecting too. Once we’ve handed over, protecting the floor is your responsibility.
### **C13. Delays and site conditions on the day**
1. We’ll use our best endeavours to stick to the programme, but we can’t accept liability for costs caused by delays. Please build a contingency buffer into your project.
2. If our team arrives and can’t work because the site isn’t ready, we may charge for lost time. Examples include wet trades not finished, heating not on, no access, or asbestos found. Our current rate is £470 + VAT per day for a two-person team.
### **C14. Wastage and leftover product**
1. We’ll order enough to cover the job plus a sensible wastage allowance (C2.2).
2. Leftover product on supply-and-fit jobs can’t be refunded. We’ll collect it after fitting, unless you ask us in advance to leave some for future repairs (which we recommend).
### **C15. Access, parking and working hours**
Please tell us before we quote about parking restrictions, permits, lifts, building management rules, restricted working hours or anything else that affects access. London costs such as parking permits, suspended bays, the Congestion Charge and ULEZ aren’t always predictable. Additional charges may be due where access, parking or working-hour restrictions add cost or time.
### **C16. Completion, snagging and aftercare**
1. **Handover.** At the end of the job, we’ll walk the floor with you, or a representative, where possible.
2. **Snagging.** Please tell us about any snags in writing within 7 days of completion, with photos where possible, and we’ll put genuine snags right promptly. This window is for finishing touches. It doesn’t limit our 12-month installation warranty or your statutory rights.
3. **Aftercare.** We’ll give you the drying times for your finish. As a guide: light foot traffic after 24 hours, furniture (with felt pads) after 48 hours, and rugs after 14 days. Keep humidity and temperature within A6 and follow our maintenance guidance. It’s a condition of the warranty.
### **C17. Removing old flooring and waste**
1. Removing and disposing of old flooring and packaging is available at a charge, shown on your quotation.
2. Because of waste-carrier licensing, we aim to remove waste within 3 working days after completion. If that’s a problem (for example with limited storage space or building management rules), please tell us before completion. Further charges may then be due.
## **Part D: Your right to cancel (residential customers)**
### **D1. When you can cancel**
Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you can cancel without giving a reason if you agreed the contract with us at a distance (by email, phone or online), or away from our showroom (for example at your home after a survey). This right doesn’t apply to contracts agreed face to face in our showroom.
### **D2. How long you have**
| What you’ve ordered | Your cancellation period ends |
|---|---|
| Flooring only | 14 days after the day the goods are delivered to you |
| Flooring with fitting | 14 days after the day the flooring is delivered to you |
| Services only (e.g. sanding, restoration) | 14 days after the day the contract is agreed |
| Bespoke, made-to-order or special order items | No right to cancel, because they’re made or bought to your specification |
### **D3. If you want work to start sooner**
If you’d like us to start fitting or other work inside your cancellation period, you need to ask us in writing. If you then cancel, you’ll pay for the work done up to the point you tell us you’re cancelling, in proportion to the whole job.
### **D4. How to cancel**
Tell us clearly in writing, by emailing info@kite-flooring.com or by post to our registered office. You can use the model form below, but you don’t have to. You just need to send your notice before the cancellation period ends.
### **D5. Returns and refunds**
1. Return the goods, or let us collect them, within 14 days of telling us you’re cancelling. You pay the cost of returning them. If we collect, we’ll deduct our collection cost.
2. We’ll refund what you’ve paid, including standard delivery costs, within 14 days of receiving the goods back or proof you’ve returned them. If we haven’t delivered yet, we’ll refund within 14 days of your cancellation. Refunds go back by the same payment method.
3. The 30% restock fee doesn’t apply when you cancel under this Part. We can only deduct for any reduction in value caused by handling the goods more than you needed to check them. Fitted boards count as more than necessary handling.
4. Your statutory rights for faulty or misdescribed goods are separate, and they aren’t affected by this Part.
### **Model cancellation form**
*(Complete and return this form only if you wish to cancel the contract.)*
To: Kite Designs Ltd t/a Kite Flooring, \[registered office address\], info@kite-flooring.com
I/We hereby give notice that I/We cancel my/our contract of sale of the following goods / for the supply of the following service:
Ordered on / received on:
Name of consumer(s):
Address of consumer(s):
Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper):
Date:
## **Part E: Trade customers**
Part E applies to trade customers and overrides Parts A–C where they conflict. Parts D and the residential-only protections don’t apply.
1. **E1. Payment.** We don’t offer trade credit accounts. Payment is due as set out in A3.4 and C3. Time for payment is of the essence.
2. **E2. Supply-and-fit payment (Construction Act).** Supply-and-fit work for trade customers is a construction contract under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, as amended. Unless the order says otherwise:
1. we’ll invoice at the stages in C3, and each invoice is our payment notice for the sum due;
2. the final date for payment is 7 days after the invoice (booking and installation invoices: before we order or start);
3. if you intend to pay less than the invoiced sum, you must send a pay less notice at least 3 days before the final date for payment, setting out the sum you consider due and how it’s calculated;
4. “pay when paid” provisions don’t apply to our payments;
5. if a sum isn’t paid by the final date, we may suspend work after giving 7 days’ written notice. We’re entitled to a reasonable extension of time and our reasonable costs of suspending and restarting.
3. **E3. Late payment.** We may charge interest and fixed compensation under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998: currently 8% a year above the Bank of England base rate, plus £40–£100 per invoice depending on its value, and our reasonable recovery costs.
4. **E4. Retentions.** We don’t accept retentions unless agreed in writing on our order acknowledgement. Any agreed retention is released in full within 12 months of completion of our works, and isn’t dependent on completion of the wider project.
5. **E5. Contract terms.** These terms apply in place of any terms on your purchase order, subcontract or other documents, unless we’ve agreed in writing to work under them.
6. **E6. Disputes.** We’ll first try to resolve any dispute through a meeting between senior representatives within 14 days. Either of us may then propose mediation through CEDR. Both parties keep their statutory right to refer a dispute on a construction contract to adjudication at any time.
7. **E7. Claims and liability.** Claims for shortages, visible damage or non-conformity not made within 7 days of delivery are waived (A8.1). Our liability is limited as set out in A9.4 and A9.5. Removal and reinstallation costs, and third-party costs (storage, labour, relocation, cleaning, decorating), are excluded unless caused by our negligence in fitting.
For more information on any of our terms and conditions, please email info@kite-flooring.com
---
### [Our Curated Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/)
**Published:** December 31, 2021
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
Our curated range## Find your perfect floor
Each range has its own distinct features and benefits, and we clearly explain how each floor is priced. No fake sales, just the real price.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
Quick guide## Not sure where to start?
[Kids, dogs, chaos?**Newington Plus**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)[A versatile everyday plank?**Newington**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/)[Herringbone or chevron?**Kent**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)[An unusual colour or size?**Clissold or Epping**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-clissold-range/)[A reclaimed, lived-in look?**Highbury**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-highbury-range/)[A tight budget?**Premium Laminate**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)
The ranges## Eight ranges, clearly priced
### [The Newington Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/)
From £66 per m²
Our best-selling straight wood floor.
190mm wide oak planks with two coats of Ciranova oil (basically the BMW of wood oils), brushed between coats so the oil sits deep in the wood. The oil is the difference between this and cheaper online floors. Prices start from £72 per m² for our Natural Rustic, with Lewis Rustic at £74 per m². When you factor in oil quality, we’re pretty confident these are some of the best value wood floors in the UK.
[Explore Newington Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/)
### [The Newington Plus Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)
From £102 per m²
Whisper it… the floors that kill vinyl.
For anyone worried a wood floor won’t cope. Finished with matt, commercial-grade lacquers, the same class used in high-traffic spaces like department stores, so they handle everything life throws at them (literally…). Fully FSC certified, with low VOC emissions.
[Explore Newington Plus Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)
### [The Kent Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)
From £72 per m²
Herringbone and chevron, off the shelf.
This is where we keep our patterned floors, in medium or large sizes. Matt, family-proof finishes, many in clean grades so the pattern stands out, and often in stock or made on a 3 to 4 week lead time. All of them are regularly fitted by Kite.
[Explore Kent Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)
### [The Clissold Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-clissold-range/)
From £90 per m²
Made to order, in more unusual colours.
Stained with a reactive oil before the oil topcoat, so you get more consistency of colour, and colours like our Light Scandi Silvia, Grey or Black. Completely made to order: you specify the shape, thickness, width and grade. It costs more than Newington because the stains take longer to dry and every part of the floor is made in Europe. From £90 per m² for Mixed Grades.
[Explore Clissold Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-clissold-range/)
### [The Epping Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-epping-range/)
From £90 per m²
Our magnet floors.
People are simply drawn to them. What makes them different is how the grain pops in a different colour. All made to order, so you can have any shape, width or thickness. From £90 per m² for rustic planks.
[Explore Epping Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-epping-range/)
### [The Highbury Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-highbury-range/)
£108 per m²
Reclaimed looks, without the reclaimed hassle.
Heavily brushed, cross sawn, stained and distressed, so you get a new floor that looks like it’s been around for hundreds of years, and is far more affordable and available than a genuine reclaimed floor. £108 per m².
[Explore Highbury Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-highbury-range/)
### [Premium Laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)
£36 per m²
Please, please do not buy a cheap wood floor.
If you think of laminate, the last word you think of is “premium”. But that’s exactly what ours are: super strong, water resistant, and matt and brushed so they’re incredibly realistic. They blow vinyl and cheap wood at similar prices out of the water. Order samples and buy online.
[Explore Premium Laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)
### [Bespoke Floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/belgiqa/)
Price on request
When nothing off the shelf will do.
For most people our ranges will cover it. But sometimes you need something bespoke: a floor in a picture you’ve fallen in love with, or matching an existing floor. Our bespoke floors are made by our partner, Belgiqa.
[Explore Bespoke Floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/belgiqa/)
Stair cladding## Stairs to match your floor
StairFlow · Oak stair cladding### Make your stairs *match your floor.*
StairFlow is our continuous oak stair cladding system, matched to your floor, and cut from the same batch of oak when your floor comes from us. No mismatched nosings, no visible bevels, just one seamless run from hallway to landing.
From £180 per step inc. VAT
[Discover StairFlow →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/stair-cladding/)
### Still deciding?
Book a 30-minute consultation at our Hackney showroom or online, and we’ll help you narrow it down.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[View all floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/shop/)
---
### [Flooring Clarity Call](https://www.kite-flooring.com/clarity-call/)
**Published:** October 6, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/)[Call us020 7427 6053](tel:+442074276053)[Book my Clarity Call](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/flooring-clarity-call)
For London homeowners choosing a wood floor# Find the wood floor you won’t second guess.
Before you spend thousands on a wood floor, get expert 1:1 guidance narrowing the options down to 2 or 3 that actually work for your home, your lifestyle and your budget.
[Book my Flooring Clarity Call](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/flooring-clarity-call)
Free 30-minute WhatsApp video call · No showroom visit needed · No pressure
[★★★★★**4.9 / 5 on Trustpilot**105 reviews](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/kite-flooring.com)
**Free 30-minute call**On WhatsApp video, when it suits you
**CHAS accredited fitters**We supply and fit our own floors
**East London showroom**Since 2019
Tiny samples don’t work.
The problem## You can’t see a whole floor in a sample the size of a coaster.
Most people compare floors in the worst possible way: tiny samples, showroom lighting, online photos and vague advice.
But the floor has to work in **your** home. With your light, your furniture, your kitchen, your subfloor, underfloor heating, children, pets, budget and everyday life.
[Book my Flooring Clarity Call](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/flooring-clarity-call)
What actually matters## The right floor is about more than colour.
Two floors can look almost identical as samples and behave very differently once they’re down.
### How it’s finished
The oil or lacquer affects how the floor looks, wears, marks and how you’ll maintain it.
### What’s underneath
Your subfloor needs to be level, sound and dry, and some styles are far less forgiving than others.
### How you live
Children, pets, natural light and foot traffic all change what will work best.
### How it’s fitted
Plank, herringbone and chevron have very different fitting and preparation needs.
How it works## A clearer way to choose the right floor
We’ll help you make sense of the options, rule out what won’t work, and you’ll leave knowing which floors are genuinely worth considering.
01### Pick a time
Bring questions, plans, photos or inspiration if you have them. If you don’t, that’s fine too.
02### We get to know your home
Your project, style, budget, light, and how the space is actually used.
03### We narrow it down
Which floors are worth considering, and which ones aren’t.
04### You leave with clarity
What to choose, what to rule out, what needs checking and what happens next.
[Book my Flooring Clarity Call](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/flooring-clarity-call)
After your call## You’ll know what to choose, and why.
- The 2 or 3 floors genuinely worth considering for your home
- Why they work with your light, layout, lifestyle and budget
- What to rule out, so you can stop second guessing
- A clear next step: large samples, an estimate, a measure, a showroom visit or an order
[Book my Flooring Clarity Call](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/flooring-clarity-call)
Why Kite## I built Kite because I bought the wrong floor.
> I went through the same process most homeowners go through. Visited showrooms. Ordered samples. Got overwhelmed by the options. Then made a decision I wasn’t fully confident in.
>
> We didn’t build Kite to sell flooring. We built it to match people with the right floor for their home.
Ed Grant, founder of Kite FlooringFitting hundreds of floors a year across London · CHAS accredited · 4.9★ on Trustpilot
Reviews## Most of our clients felt stuck before they found us
★★★★★“I think I must have visited about 6 floor shops and spent hours online before finally and gratefully finding Kite. Simple questions were finally answered.”
Juliet Riddell
★★★★★“I spent almost a year trying to find the right floor and visited at least a dozen flooring companies. Ed spent a considerable amount of time explaining the difference between the ranges, wood treatments and durability.”
Humayun Rashid
★★★★★“They showed me a wide range of different floors, colours and finishes. Ed was extremely knowledgeable. He knew his stuff and made me feel confident about my choices.”
Phil Norris
Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 105 reviews on [Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/kite-flooring.com)
The truth about price## The cost of a floor isn’t just the price of the boards.
One of the most common mistakes we see is comparing floors purely on £ per m². A finished floor normally has three main costs:
### The floor
The timber, grade, width, pattern and finish all affect the price.
### The subfloor
What’s underneath may need levelling, strengthening or moisture preparation.
### The fitting
A plank floor is a very different job from a fully bonded herringbone or chevron.
We’ll talk through all three on your call, so there are no surprises later.
FAQ## A few things people often ask
How does the call work?It’s a WhatsApp video call, so there’s nothing to download and no links to hunt for. When you book, just give us the mobile number your WhatsApp is on and we’ll call you at your booking time. Being on WhatsApp also makes it easy to send us photos of your room, or plans, before or after the call.
Do I need to know which floor I want before the call?Not at all. Most people book because they don’t know yet, and that’s exactly what the call is for. If you’ve got photos, plans or a Pinterest board, bring them. If not, just bring the room.
Am I going to be sold to on the call?No. We do supply and fit floors, so if one of ours is right for you we’ll say so. But the call is there to help you decide, not to push you into anything. Plenty of people take a few weeks to think it over, and that’s fine.
What happens if I find a floor I like?We’ll agree a sensible next step together. Usually that’s posting you some large samples, giving you an estimate, booking a measure, or inviting you to see the full-size boards in our Shoreditch showroom.
Can I save money by ordering my floor in advance?Yes. If your project is a few months away, our [Forward Order Scheme](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/) saves you 15% for planning ahead. We’ll tell you on the call whether it makes sense for you.
Do you fit the floors too?Yes. We supply and fit across London and the Home Counties with our own CHAS accredited fitters. It’s why our advice is based on what actually happens on site, not what looks nice in a brochure.
## Find the floor you won’t second guess.
Book a free 30-minute Flooring Clarity Call and leave knowing which floors are worth considering, which to rule out, and what your next step should be.
[Book my Flooring Clarity Call](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/flooring-clarity-call)
Or call [020 7427 6053](tel:+442074276053)
**Kite Flooring**Choosing a floor, made painless.
[Privacy policy](https://www.kite-flooring.com/privacy-policy/)
**Visit us**Kite Flooring, inside Joyn Kitchens
5 Hackney Road, London E2 7NX
Mon to Sat 10am to 4pm
**Get in touch**[020 7427 6053](tel:+442074276053)
<info@kite-flooring.com>
[Call us](tel:+442074276053)[Book my Clarity Call](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/flooring-clarity-call)
---
### [StairFlow Oak Stair Cladding](https://www.kite-flooring.com/stair-cladding/)
**Published:** October 2, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** StairFlow by Kite: a continuous oak stair cladding system matched to your floor. From £180 per step inc. VAT.
**Content:**
Oak stair cladding · StairFlow by Kite# Stair cladding that’s *finally* as beautiful as your floor.
Tired, mismatched stairs are the one thing that breaks the flow of a beautiful home. We spent years perfecting a better way. StairFlow is the result: a continuous oak stair cladding system, made bespoke for your staircase and matched to your floor, seamlessly.
From £180 per step inc. VAT
[Book a free consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[See how it works](#how-it-works)
**★★★★★**4.9 from 100+ reviews on [Trustpilot](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/kite-flooring.com)
“The quality is fantastic. It’s completely transformed our home. We couldn’t be happier.”
Daniel, Atto Quarto
The problem## Why most stair cladding falls short.
We’ve clad hundreds of staircases. Along the way, we found six problems nobody had properly solved.
01### Colour inconsistency
Nosings and planks come from different oak batches, making a perfect colour match difficult, especially on mid-range floors where staining isn’t always possible. The difference is subtle, but you’ll see it.
02### Visible bevels
Many nosings carry a 1 to 2mm bevel between nosing and plank. A small detail, but one that stops you getting the truly seamless finish a well-renovated home deserves.
03### Height variation
Small batch-to-batch differences in nosing height can leave the nosing sitting proud of the plank. That’s both a trip hazard and an eyesore.
04### Limited coverage
Standard nosings only reach 70mm into the tread. In our view, that isn’t enough to create real visual flow with the rest of the timber.
05### Solid steps move
Solid timber steps expand and contract with humidity, are very hard to fit around winders, and often arrive unfinished, which means fresh oiling and colour-matching headaches.
06### Traditional & clunky
Almost everything on the market is designed for traditional staircases: large, heavy profiles in shiny yellow lacquer. Nothing for modern homes. Nothing elegant.
The StairFlow system## A continuous system.
*Zero compromises.*
Because we’re never satisfied with “ok”, we engineered StairFlow: our own continuous stair cladding system that solves every one of those problems. Timber from the same batch as your floor. A hidden bevel. No height variation. Proper coverage. A seamless result.
*✓*### Same-batch timber matching
Oak from the same production batch as your floor. No colour difference, no compromises.
*✓*### The smallest micro-bevel possible
Tread and nosing form one continuous piece. Where there’s a bevel, it’s the smallest achievable: barely perceptible, never distracting.
*✓*### Full tread coverage
Deep coverage across the whole tread creates genuine visual flow from floor to landing.
*✓*### Contemporary finishes
Matt lacquers and oiled finishes. No shiny, yellowing lacquer. Works in modern and traditional homes alike.
How we compare## StairFlow vs *the alternatives.*
| Feature | Painting | Carpet | Traditional nosings | StairFlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches your floor | ✗ | ✗ | Partial | ✓ Same batch |
| Seamless finish | ✗ | ✗ | Bevels visible | ✓ Hidden bevel |
| Full tread coverage | — | ✓ | 70mm only | ✓ Full coverage |
| Contemporary finish | Limited | Limited | Shiny / yellow | ✓ Matt & brushed |
| Works on open staircases | — | Partial | Rarely | ✓ All types |
| Long-term durability | Poor | Moderate | Good | ✓ Excellent |
Pricing## Priced per step. *Quoted in writing.*
No fake sales and no hidden extras. You get a written quote after your consultation, so you know exactly what you’re paying before anything is made.
Need a floor to match? We supply both, so your stairs and floor come from the same batch of oak. [See our floors](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/).
From£180 per step inc. VAT
- Straight steps and winders
- Oak matched to your floor, oiled or lacquered
- Delivery to London & the Home Counties: £120 inc. VAT
- Further afield: just ask
- Made bespoke in Europe, around 12 weeks
[Get a quote: book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
Recent staircases## Hundreds of beautiful staircases. *Yours next.*
★★★★★
“The staircase transformed our home. Finally, the floor and stairs feel like one continuous, beautiful surface. The team’s attention to detail was extraordinary.”
**Hannah W.**Homeowner, London
★★★★★
“Ed and his team are my go-to for renovation projects. The StairFlow system is genuinely unlike anything else on the market. The quality speaks for itself.”
**Charlie I.**Interior designer, East London
★★★★★
“We had the closed system fitted at our Kensington property and the result is stunning. Seamless with the floor, perfectly finished. Exactly what we wanted.”
**Atto Quarto**Kensington
Our process## From consultation to completion.
1### Consultation
Book a free consultation at our Hackney showroom or over video call. We’ll talk through your staircase, your floor and what you want it to look like.
2### Specification
We specify your StairFlow system, match the oak to your floor and choose the right finish. You approve everything before we go ahead.
3### Production
All our stair cladding is made bespoke in Europe, a bit like your sofa, so allow 12 weeks from order to delivery. Good things come to those who wait.
4### Installation
In London or the Home Counties, we can recommend installation teams. Further afield, we provide full instructions for your fitters. A 14-step staircase normally takes one person two days.
FAQ## Common questions *about StairFlow.*
How much does StairFlow cost?StairFlow starts from £180 per step, including VAT. The final figure depends on your staircase, including any winders, so we confirm your exact price in a written quote after your consultation. Delivery within London and the Home Counties is £120 inc. VAT.
Will StairFlow work on winder stairs?Yes. StairFlow is specifically engineered to handle winders, which is one of the areas where conventional nosing systems fall short. Matching planks are used to backfill winders with a click system.
How long does a stair cladding installation take?Most staircases are completed in one to two days. The exact time depends on the number of steps and whether you have winders. A 14-step staircase normally takes one fitter about two days.
How does StairFlow match my existing floor?If you buy your floor through us, we can use the same timber for the nosings as the floor. We can also colour match existing floors, but it’s harder to guarantee an exact finish. Colour match is one of the key advantages over standard nosing systems.
What finishes are available?StairFlow is available oiled or lacquered, and most of our colour finishes are available.
Is StairFlow a stair cladding kit?Not in the usual sense. Off-the-shelf stair cladding kits come in standard sizes and a stock oak, so they rarely match your floor. StairFlow is made bespoke for your staircase, in oak from the same batch as your floor. In London and the Home Counties we can recommend installation teams. Further afield, we provide full instructions for your own fitters.
Do you supply stair cladding outside London?Yes. Delivery to London and the Home Counties is £120 inc. VAT. For anywhere else in the UK, just ask and we’ll quote delivery, and we’ll send full fitting instructions for your fitters.
How long does it take to make?All our stair cladding is made bespoke in Europe, a bit like your sofa, so please allow 12 weeks from order to delivery.
Get started## Ready to transform *your staircase?*
Every staircase is different. Book a free consultation and we’ll talk you through the options: how StairFlow fits your staircase, which finish will match your floor, and what to expect from the process.
[Book a free consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[Email us](mailto:info@kite-flooring.com)
Showroom5 Hackney Road, London E2 7NX
Telephone[+44 (0) 207 427 6053](tel:+442074276053)
Email<info@kite-flooring.com>
Read more[Why we developed StairFlow →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/oak-stair-cladding-system/)
[A London Bridge staircase, step by step →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/seamless-oak-stair-cladding-in-a-london-bridge-mews-house/)
---
### [Cookie Policy (UK)](https://www.kite-flooring.com/cookie-policy-uk/)
**Published:** October 2, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
*This Cookie Policy was last updated on October 2, 2026 and applies to citizens and legal permanent residents of the United Kingdom.*
## 1. Introduction
Our website, <https://www.kite-flooring.com> (hereinafter: “the website”) uses cookies and other related technologies (for convenience all technologies are referred to as “cookies”). Cookies are also placed by third parties we have engaged. In the document below we inform you about the use of cookies on our website.
## 2. What are cookies?
A cookie is a small simple file that is sent along with pages of this website and stored by your browser on the hard drive of your computer or another device. The information stored therein may be returned to our servers or to the servers of the relevant third parties during a subsequent visit.
## 3. What are scripts?
A script is a piece of program code that is used to make our website function properly and interactively. This code is executed on our server or on your device.
## 4. What is a web beacon?
A web beacon (or a pixel tag) is a small, invisible piece of text or image on a website that is used to monitor traffic on a website. In order to do this, various data about you is stored using web beacons.
## 5. Cookies
### 5.1 Technical or functional cookies
Some cookies ensure that certain parts of the website work properly and that your user preferences remain known. By placing functional cookies, we make it easier for you to visit our website. This way, you do not need to repeatedly enter the same information when visiting our website and, for example, the items remain in your shopping cart until you have paid. We may place these cookies without your consent.
### 5.2 Statistics cookies
We use statistics cookies to optimize the website experience for our users. With these statistics cookies we get insights in the usage of our website. We ask your permission to place statistics cookies.
### 5.3 Advertising cookies
On this website we use advertising cookies, enabling us to gain insights into the campaign results. This happens based on a profile we create based on your behaviour on <https://www.kite-flooring.com>. With these cookies you, as website visitor, are linked to a unique ID but these cookies will not profile your behaviour and interests to serve personalized ads.
Because these cookies are marked as tracking cookies, we ask your permission to place these.
### 5.4 Marketing/Tracking cookies
Marketing/Tracking cookies are cookies or any other form of local storage, used to create user profiles to display advertising or to track the user on this website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
### 5.5 Social media
On our website, we have included content from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to promote web pages (e.g. “like”, “pin”) or share (e.g. “tweet”) on social networks like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. This content is embedded with code derived from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and places cookies. This content might store and process certain information for personalized advertising.
Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are located in the United States.
## 6. Placed cookies
### Miscellaneous
Purpose pending investigation
Consent to service miscellaneous
#### Usage
#### Sharing data
Sharing of data is pending investigation
#### Purpose pending investigation
##### Name
cmplz_functional
##### Expiration
365 days
##### Function
##### Name
cmplz_statistics
##### Expiration
365 days
##### Function
##### Name
cmplz_preferences
##### Expiration
365 days
##### Function
##### Name
cmplz_marketing
##### Expiration
365 days
##### Function
## 7. Consent
When you visit our website for the first time, we will show you a pop-up with an explanation about cookies. As soon as you click on “Save preferences”, you consent to us using the categories of cookies and plug-ins you selected in the pop-up, as described in this Cookie Policy. You can disable the use of cookies via your browser, but please note that our website may no longer work properly.
### 7.1 Manage your consent settings
You have loaded the Cookie Policy without javascript support. On AMP, you can use the manage consent button on the bottom of the page.
## 8. Enabling/disabling and deleting cookies
You can use your internet browser to automatically or manually delete cookies. You can also specify that certain cookies may not be placed. Another option is to change the settings of your internet browser so that you receive a message each time a cookie is placed. For more information about these options, please refer to the instructions in the Help section of your browser.
Please note that our website may not work properly if all cookies are disabled. If you do delete the cookies in your browser, they will be placed again after your consent when you visit our website again.
## 9. Your rights with respect to personal data
You have the following rights with respect to your personal data:
- You have the right to know why your personal data is needed, what will happen to it, and how long it will be retained for.
- Right of access: You have the right to access your personal data that is known to us.
- Right to rectification: you have the right to supplement, correct, have deleted or blocked your personal data whenever you wish.
- If you give us your consent to process your data, you have the right to revoke that consent and to have your personal data deleted.
- Right to transfer your data: you have the right to request all your personal data from the controller and transfer it in its entirety to another controller.
- Right to object: you may object to the processing of your data. We comply with this, unless there are justified grounds for processing.
To exercise these rights, please contact us. Please refer to the contact details at the bottom of this Cookie Policy. If you have a complaint about how we handle your data, we would like to hear from you, but you also have the right to submit a complaint to the supervisory authority (the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)).
## 10. Contact details
For questions and/or comments about our Cookie Policy and this statement, please contact us by using the following contact details:
Kite Designs Ltd, trading as Kite Flooring
5 Hackney Road, London E2 7NX
United Kingdom
Website: <https://www.kite-flooring.com>
Email: info@ex.comkite-flooring.com
Phone number: +44 (0) 207 427 6053
---
### [Free Guide to Buying a Wood Floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/guide-to-buying-a-wood-floor/)
**Published:** October 1, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
Free guide · Kite Flooring# Stop guessing.
Buy the *right* wood floor.
Our free guide gives you the knowledge most flooring companies would rather you didn’t have: straight answers on pricing, species, fitting, subfloors and the mistakes that cost homeowners thousands, every year. Written by a team that supplies and fits floors.
- How floor pricing really works, and why most online “sales” are a con
- How to choose the right species, finish and construction for your home and lifestyle
- What your subfloor, fitter and fitting strategy will actually cost, with real numbers
- The questions to ask any fitter before you commit, and the red flags to watch for
[Get the free guide →](#get-guide)**★★★★★** Rated 4.9 on Trustpilot · Trusted by 2,000+ London homeowners
### Get your free copy now.
Instant download, and we’ll email you a copy too. No spam.
Join 2,000+ London homeowners who read this before they bought.
We never share your details. [Privacy policy](https://www.kite-flooring.com/privacy-policy/)
What’s inside## Everything you need to know
*before* you buy.
Most people spend weeks researching wood floors online and still feel uncertain when it comes to making a decision. This guide changes that, because it’s written by a team that doesn’t just sell floors, but actually fits them.
01### Choosing your floor
Shape, colour, texture, grade: the guide cuts through the noise on every design decision. Plus why patterned floors cost significantly more, and when a premium laminate beats a cheap wood floor every time.
02### The truth about pricing & samples
Most online floors are always on “sale”, and it means nothing. The guide explains the six factors that actually determine what a floor costs, why colour varies between your sample and the real thing, and how to set realistic expectations before you spend a penny.
03### Let’s get technical
Floated or glued? Subfloor preparation, moisture testing, underfloor heating compatibility, herringbone fitting: the guide covers everything that can go wrong on site and how to make sure it doesn’t. Written by people who actually fit floors, not just sell them.
04### Project planning & looking after your floor
The challenges that delay projects and cause cost creep (moisture levels, rip-outs, other trades on site), all covered in advance so you can plan and budget for them. Plus a straightforward guide to maintaining your oiled or lacquered floor for decades.
What’s covered
- You want a wood floor but don’t know which to choose
- A beautiful floor that’s low-maintenance, pet-friendly and within budget
- Pet-friendly floors: more myths and misconceptions
- How much should I budget for my new flooring?
- The truth about floor pricing
- There’s more than one way to fit a floor
- Do I need a professional floor fitter?
- What do I need to know if I’m having herringbone fitted?
- We need to talk about underfloor heating
- Want your project to be on time and on budget?
44 pages · skimmable in 10 minutes · Free to download · No spam
[Get the free guide →](#get-guide)
About Kite Flooring## London’s wood floor specialist.
*Since 2019.*
From our showroom on Hackney Road, we do things differently: transparent pricing (no fake sales), products with provenance (we’ll tell you exactly how your floors are made and which oils protect them), a curated range (we only sell floors that are the best of the best), and we actually fit floors, which means we can give genuinely technical advice.
We work directly with our manufacturers and go to the factories to understand exactly how each floor is made. We wrote this guide because an informed customer makes better decisions, and ends up with a floor they’ll love for decades.
## Trusted by 2,000+ London homeowners
who’ve used this guide before buying a wood floor
**4.9*★***Trustpilot · 100+ reviews
**500+**Floors fitted
**7**Years experience
[Get the free guide →](#get-guide)
## Ready to find your perfect floor?
Book a free consultation at our Hackney showroom or online. We’ll help you find the right floor for your home, your budget and your lifestyle.
[Book a free consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[Browse our floors →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/)
---
### [Forward Order Scheme: save 15% when you plan ahead](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/)
**Published:** October 1, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Save 15% on selected best-selling Kite floors when you confirm 6 weeks to 6 months ahead. Spread payments, a fixed price and 6 months' free storage.
**Content:**
Kite Forward Order Scheme## Beautiful wood floors for less, if you plan ahead
We don’t do fake sales. But there is one genuine way to pay less for a Kite floor: confirm early on selected best sellers, and we’ll take **15% off** our retail price.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)[See the floors](#kfos-floors)
**15% off**our retail price on selected floors
**6 weeks – 6 months**between confirming and delivery
**6 months**free storage if your build runs late
Why we can offer it## No “Spring Sale”. Just a lower price.
Like everyone else, we’ve watched costs head in one direction for the last few years. So we went to our European manufacturers and agreed better terms, on the condition that we bulk our orders.
When clients confirm early, we can collate those orders and pass the saving straight back to you. Ordering ahead genuinely costs us less, so it costs you less too.
Who it’s for## Projects 6 weeks to 6 months away
- **In the window?** That’s most renovations, so if you’re organised, you’re probably already there.
- **More than 6 months away?** No need to order yet. Come back closer to the time.
- **Less than 6 weeks away?** We’ll look after you from stock, but we can’t offer the scheme price at that notice.
- **Trade customer?** The scheme isn’t available on trade accounts, and can’t be combined with trade pricing.
How it works## Four steps, no catches
01### Tell us your date
Share your target delivery date in your consultation, and we’ll send a guide quotation.
02### Get your final quote
Once you have everything you need to decide, we send your final quotation.
03### Confirm within 14 days
Confirm within 14 days of the final quote, 6 weeks to 6 months before delivery, and get 15% off.
04### Your price is fixed
Pay your deposit and your price is locked in, protected from any further increases.
Paying for your floor## Spread across your project, not one big bill
15%
35%
50%
Deposit, when you confirm
Halfway to your delivery date
Six weeks later, or before delivery, whichever is sooner
The 15% deposit and the 15% discount are two different things. The deposit secures your order and stock; the discount is your saving against our retail price.
Floors in the scheme## Our best sellers, 15% off
[**Lewis Rustic**Newington Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/) [**Lewis Warm Beige**Newington Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-warm-rustic-plank/) [**Daniel Rustic**Newington Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/daniel-rustic/) [**Lewis Prime**Newington Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-clean-grade/) [**Lewis Large Herringbone**Kent Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-large-prime/) [**Every Newington Plus floor**Nude, Daniel, Lewis and Esther](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)
These are our current best sellers, and we add new floors from time to time. Bespoke floors from our Clissold Range aren’t included.
Building work running late?## We’ll store your floor, free, for up to 6 months
Delays are the rule, not the exception, on building projects. If your date slips, your floor stays with us until you’re ready. No stacking boxes in your hallway while the plasterer finishes.
Common questions## Before you ask
What if my target delivery date changes?Not a problem. We can store your floor free for up to 6 months. If you need it sooner than planned, we’ll do our best, but we can’t always guarantee it.
Why can’t I order closer to the date and still get the discount?The saving only exists because orders are spread across the 6-week-to-6-month window, which lets us collate them. If everyone leaves it to the last minute, we can’t collate, and there’s no saving to pass on.
What if I need to change or cancel my order?Your deposit pre-orders stock and commits us with our manufacturers, so get in touch as early as you can. In practice we can almost always make it work, especially if you’re switching to another floor in the scheme.
How much notice do you need for delivery?When your floor is ready, our customer services team will be in touch. We normally need 3 working days to arrange delivery.
Can I buy scheme floors online at the discounted price?No. The scheme works through a quotation, so it doesn’t apply to packs bought through our online checkout.
Are all floors included?No, just the best sellers listed above.
The small print, in plain English
- The scheme works through a quotation, so it doesn’t apply to packs bought through our online checkout.
- The minimum order for the scheme is £1,500.
- The 15% discount applies to floor materials only, not underlay, trims, accessories or delivery. Prices include VAT.
- Your final quotation is the binding price, and the 14 days run from its date.
- The deposit is non-refundable, but we may be able to transfer it to another floor in the scheme.
- If your quantities change once the site is finalised, we’ll adjust your order, but we can’t guarantee extra material will carry the discount.
- After 6 months’ free storage, we may charge £10 per pallet per week.
- Scheme pricing is per project, isn’t transferable, and can’t be combined with trade pricing or any other offer.
The full terms are in section A3A of our [Terms and Conditions](https://www.kite-flooring.com/terms-and-conditions/).
## Start with a consultation
Bring your target delivery date (and your floor plans, if you have them) to a 30-minute consultation at our Hackney showroom or online. We’ll tell you straight away whether your project fits the scheme.
[Book a consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
---
### [Transparent Pricing](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/transparent-pricing/)
**Published:** January 3, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
### One of our core reasons for launching the business was to give consumers the full picture on how floors are made and how this effects pricing. Only then could people understand whether they were getting value. Broadly, there are five things that will effect the price of your floor…
1\. **How rustic is it?**
Floors that have knots are cheaper than cleaner grades. This is because if your floor contains knots, you can use most of the tree, with clean grades, you have to be more selective. Rustic grades can also contain Sapwood (the outside of the tree..), and cracks (although with the exception of our Highbury range, our Rustic grades do not contain). For most of our floors, they are available in Rustic (knots up to 50mm), AB grade (knots up to 30mm), and a prime grade (almost no knots). The majority of flooring companies in the UK, especially online, only offer a Rustic grade. It is actually a standard joke from many European flooring companies we speak, that they only send their Rustic floors to the UK! Having said this, Rustic floors do have more character.
2.**What oils do the floor use?**
You can buy floors with cheap oils, but these will perform poorly in busy household environments. Our floors either use good quality UV Oils, deeper reactive stains, or a combination of both. UV oils are applied to the engineered boards, and then dry instantly under UV light. Stains take longer to dry. For this reason, the costs of a stained floor are more expensive than a straightforward UV floor, as the production process is longer. With stains, you can also achieve more unusual colours, such as greys, or very white floors. You also get more consistency of colour. For the majority of people, a UV Oil floor is fine. If you’re looking for something more technical, or a specific look, the floor will have to be stained.
3\. **Are there any additional treatments that have been carried out to the floor?**
There are an almost limitless number of treatments you can apply to a floor. These include cross sawing, heavy brushing, distressing, smoking… the list goes on and on. Every process adds cost. The reality is, all these extra processes are only really used for premium floors, such as our Highbury Range.
4\. **How common is the platform?**
When we talk about platforms, we mean the actual unfinished boards that the oils are applied to. The more of a certain type of platform manufacturers make, the cheaper it is. For example, the 190mm width, 14mm thick engineered board that we use in our Newington Range, is by far the most common shape of plank in the market. Our Herringbones that are 90mm by 450mm are the same. Many of the common platforms and oils, we buy in bulk, which brings down the cost. If you can plan ahead, you can share in that saving: our [Forward Order Scheme](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/) takes 15% off selected best sellers when you confirm 6 weeks to 6 months before delivery. Very wide or narrow boards tend to be more expensive, as they have to be made bespoke.
5\. **How much wood is used?**
Thicker floors will cost more money. At Kite, we mainly sell engineered wood floors. These have an oak top layer and then a core made of either ply or birch and ply. Engineered floors give the appearance of a solid wood floor, but are far more stable (they don’t expand and contract as much with temperature and moisture changes). When people specify wood floors, they typically say 15/4mm or 19/6mm with the first number being the total thickness and the second being the thickness of the oak top layer.
The more oak you have in a floor, the more expensive it is, but there is a [common myth that a thicker floor is of better quality](https://www.kite-flooring.com/engineered-wood-flooring-thickness/). The majority of floors we sell are cosmetic, so they sit on top of a structural subfloor. From a consumer perspective, you will never notice the thickness of the floor once it’s down. Note, it’s important to have a sufficient top layer on your floor, to ensure if you ever wish to sand it, there is sufficient oak, but anything more than 3mm will give you at least a couple of sands. Where thickness should be considered is if you’re flowing the floor into any other floors, and want these to be flush. It’s not uncommon for us to use a 12mm or 18mm floor to ensure a perfect transition. One final point, if you have underfloor heating, go with a floor that’s 15mm or less; the more wood you have the longer the system takes to heat up.
---
### [Contact us - City of London showroom](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/)
**Published:** October 22, 2021
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
### ASK US ANYTHING
If you would like to visit our showroom in London please choose a convenient date, we will then confirm.
Please let us know how you found us?
—Please choose an option—InstagramLetterGoogleReferralRather not say
Occasional email on style tips and flooring?
—Please choose an option—Yes pleaseNo thanks
Please agree to our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/)
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google **[Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)** and **[Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms)** apply.
### VISIT OUR SHOWROOM
**Kite Flooring**
**℅** Joyn Kitchens
5 Hackney Road
London
E2 7NX
Our team are ready to talk through any questions you may have.
[020 7427 6053](tel:020%207427%206053)
Email: **<info@kite-flooring.com>**
Kite Flooring is conveniently located in the centre of Shoreditch, just near Shoreditch high street. We are also a short walk from the City of London.
Please note, whilst our floors are always on display, and the showroom has staff present, it’s best to book an appointment in advance.
Please go to our [BOOK ONLINE PAGE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/) (it takes 30 seconds through Calendly).
This really helps us as it means we can ensure a qualified staff member is available, and it also ensures we don’t have more than one client at a time (it’s super tricky to show the floors when we’re overly busy).
On Saturdays, we are open by appointment only, but it is very easy to book these.
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/kiteflooring/)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kiteflooring/)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKFK5EQIJSEXOGrh0py8cA)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/52179399/)
\[aioseo\_local\_map\]
---
### [Bespoke Enquiry](https://www.kite-flooring.com/bespoke-enquiry/)
**Published:** January 6, 2022
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
Please choose the flooring range your enquiry relates to:
Standard OiledPremium OiledReclaimedForgotten Wood SpeciesOther
Do you require fitting services?
—Please choose an option—YesNo
When do you need the project completed?
Roughly how much flooring do you think you will need?
Please let us know how you found us?
—Please choose an option—InstagramLetterGoogleReferralRather not say
Occasional email on style tips and flooring?
—Please choose an option—Yes pleaseNo thanks
Please agree to our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/)
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google **[Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)** and **[Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms)** apply.
---
### [Privacy Policy](https://www.kite-flooring.com/privacy-policy/)
**Published:** October 15, 2021
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
## Who we are
Our website address is:[ https://www.kite-flooring.com](https://www.kite-flooring.com). You’ll notice the site uses https and there is a padlock in the browser bar indicating the site is safe and uses a SSL.
## Cookies
If you accept our cookies when browsing the web site we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.
When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me” your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.
## Analytics
Our site uses Google Analytics. These cookies gather information such as how many people are using our site or which pages are popular to help us improve customer experience.
## Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
## Who we share your data with
Kite Flooring will not share your data with any third parties.
## How long we retain your data
For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their account profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time. Website administrators can also see and edit that information. We use the information supplied to process the order.
There are forms on this website which ask if you’d like to receive occasional emails about style tips and flooring. If you opt in we will honour this request and not bombard you with emails. Kite Flooring do not share your date with any third parties.
## What rights you have over your data
If you have an account on this site you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you, please email [**info@kite-flooring.com**](mailto:info@kite-flooring.com). This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Updated October 2024
---
### [Our Mission](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/)
**Published:** November 10, 2021
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
## ….to find you the perfect floor
*Most people who buy floors don’t buy one every day. In fact, most people only buy two or three floors in their life! For this reason, it’s no surprise we’re not experts. Before we launched Kite, I bought a floor, and I definitely wasn’t an expert. In fact, the whole process was time consuming, confusing and stressful.*
*Like most people, I visited shops and ordered samples. Most of them looked the same. And I really didn’t understand why they were priced differently. I also didn’t understand what I really needed. Confusion came quickly. At every turn, be it online, in a shop, from my builder, architect or even my parents…. I was given a different opinion. When I tried to dig a little deeper on technical questions, there was rarely any science behind the answers. This confusion led to stress.*
*Was I buying the wrong floor? Would it work with my family life? Could it be fitted easily? Was I overpaying? Would the colour work with our kitchen?*
*Buying the floor turned out to be one of the hardest parts of our refurbishment….and in hindsight, I actually got it wrong!*
*So, fast forward a couple of months and with the help of some flooring experts, we launched Kite, on a mission to help people find the right floor.*
*We launched the business basing it on 5 key aspects, which we explain a little on the following pages.*
*You’re welcome to read through these… or you can cut to the chase, and get in touch to start the journey to find your floor.*
*Best Wishes*
### *Ed Grant*
*Kite Flooring*
**[A simply buying process](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-process/) –** We ask our customers to think along three lines – **colour**, so light, mid-tones or dark, **shape**, think patterned or straight, and finally **texture**, so reclaimed, smooth or something in the middle. This helps us get quickly to the right floor. We also try and provide as much technical and design advice as possible. This comes at the beginning when you’re choosing a floor, but also during the fitting process, even if we’re not fitting.
**[A curated range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-curated-range/) –** Guess what, you don’t need 1,000’s of options. The reality is wood is a natural product, so across planks you will always get colour variation. There is no point in having more than 7/8 colour variations across a floor types otherwise they have too many similarities. It’s also one of the reasons we recommend viewing the large sample boards of our floors, either through arranging a site visit, or at our showroom. Only then can you appreciate these colour variations.
[**Products with provenance**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/products-with-provenance/) – The requirements for a good wood floor are, i) an accurately milled product (so it slots together well), ii) defect-free timber, iii) a controlled manufacturing process and iv) high-quality oils. Before we started working in wood floors, like many people we viewed a floor as a commodity, and simply hunted for the cheapest price. To supply this market, manufacturers inevitably cut corners to hit ever cheaper price points, whether it’s poor quality oils, less staff on a production line to pick our defects, machines that are not properly serviced, factories that don’t have sufficient moisture controls (you get the idea..). When we launched our business, we sold some of these cheaper products, and then had problems. So, for this reason, we i) fully audit all the manufacturers we work with, ii) fit the products we supply, and iii) for the majority of floors we work with, actually go and see them being made!
**[Transparent pricing](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/transparent-pricing/) –** Wood flooring is typically priced in an opaque way. On the one hand, Online retailers continually discount, on the other, Premium retailers don’t explain their pricing; they have different pricing to different customer groups (trade or consumers etc.). We offer a fair price to everyone, and clearly explain the features of each floor and why it’s priced a certain way. That way you can be sure you get what you pay for.
**[Supply and fit](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-fitting-teams/) –** Whilst we’re happy to just sell flooring, we also have fitting teams. This means on many projects we can take end-to-end responsibility.
## Learn more about Kite on the UK Flooring Podcast
[](https://pod.co/the-wood-floor-podcast/being-the-new-kids-on-the-block-kite-flooring)
---
### [Book a Flooring Consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
**Published:** August 17, 2022
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
## BOOK A SHOWROOM APPOINTMENT
Our showroom is the best place to start your flooring journey. Here you can see large sample boards, and we can also give you technical and design advice.
**Showroom times:** Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Later times are available on request, just call us on [020 7427 6053](tel:+442074276053).
**Planning ahead?** Bring your target delivery date. If it’s 6 weeks to 6 months away, you may qualify for 15% off through our [Forward Order Scheme](https://www.kite-flooring.com/forward-order-scheme/).
It’s easy to book an appointment, just choose a date, and some available times will appear. We’ll ask for your name, email address and your phone number.
You’ll receive an email confirming we have received your request for an appointment. We will contact you to confirm.
We look forward to meeting with you!
BOOK A SHOWROOM APPOINTMENT
[](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/book-your-showroom-appointment)
## BOOK A VIDEO CALL
A video or phone call is a quick way to start your flooring project.
**Video call times:** Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Flooring can be confusing, so instead of trawling the internet, one of our consultants can quickly talk you through both how to choose a floor, also the technical considerations. This is a free service, there is no obligation to buy.
If you can. we’d recommend booking an appointment at our showroom. But we also know that’s not always practical for people.
We look forward to meeting with you!
SCHEDULE A VIDEO CALL
[](https://calendly.com/kite-flooring/video-call)
## **Don’t want to book?**
You can also ask us anything (flooring related) here…
Please let us know how you found us?
—Please choose an option—InstagramLetterGoogleReferralRather not say
Occasional email on style tips and flooring?
—Please choose an option—Yes pleaseNo thanks
Please agree to our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/)
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google **[Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)** and **[Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms)** apply.
---
### [Sampling Service](https://www.kite-flooring.com/sampling-service/)
**Published:** November 10, 2021
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
## How we help at Kite Flooring
- We offer large samples for selected ranges (see below).
- But we don’t recommend choosing a floor based on samples alone.
- Our product pages also include extensive photos and videos, and if you can, visit our showroom to review large sample boards.
## Why we don’t sample high-end floors
- Buying an expensive floor without seeing a large sample board is just too risky.
- It’s like agreeing to marry someone from a dating app.
- Although, floors last longer than most marriages — so do your homework!
## Why we make a small charge for samples
- Previously we offered free samples to clients, however, we found we’d send out 100s of samples, and many would end up cluttering up coffee tables across the country, because our floors weren’t quite right for the projects they were ordered for, and were never going to be (budget, too matt, not vinyl, too awesome etc. etc.)
- So, we decided to make a small charge (half the cost of a flat white..) and the hope was that the people would do a little research on Kite before ordering samples.
## We sample our floors across four ranges
**How to order a sample:** choose a range below, then click **Order Sample** on the floor you like, or open its product page and order from there.
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/)### The Newington Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-newington-range/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)### The Newington Plus Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/newington-plus/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)### The Kent Range
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-kent-range/)
[ 
](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)### Laminate
[View products](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)
- **The Newington Range** – Plank, Suitable for Kitchen, Matt Finishes, Underfloor heating.
- **Newington Plus** – Plank, Commercial-grade Matt Lacquer, Family & Pet Proof, Click System.
- **The Kent Range** – Parquet, Suitable for Kitchen, Matt Finishes, Underfloor heating.
- **Laminate** – XL Planks, Realistic Wood Finish, Water Resistant, Cost-Effective.
---
### [Find your floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/shop/)
**Published:** October 22, 2021
**Author:** red2design
---
### [Products with provenance](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/products-with-provenance/)
**Published:** January 2, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
## Products with provenance (..and sustainability..)
When we say provenance, we mean we only sell floors where we know exactly how they are made. This may seem obvious, but believe it or not, it is not normal in wood flooring.
The requirements for a good wood floor are, i) an accurately milled product (so it slots together well), ii) defect-free timber, iii) a controlled manufacturing process and iv) high-quality oils. Before we started working in flooring, like many people, we viewed a floor as a commodity, and simply hunted for the cheapest price. To supply this market, manufacturers, in Europe and the Far East, inevitably cut corners to hit ever cheaper price points, whether it’s poor quality oils, less staff on a production line to pick our defects, machines that are not properly serviced, factories that don’t have sufficient moisture controls (you get the idea..).
When we launched our business, we sold some of these cheaper products and then had problems. So, for this reason, we i) fully audit all the manufacturers we work with, ii) fit the products we supply, and iii) for the majority of floors we work with, actually go and see them being made!
## Sustainability
This comes into the provenance of our floors, and is also important to us. But the reality is it is a far more complex issue than almost every retailer of flooring admits.
The most common advice given to consumers is to look for products that are FSC registered (<https://fsc.org/en>).
We speak to our factories, who all say making a fully FSC compliant wood floor is a real challenge, both from a cost and an administrative point of view. Every part of the product needs to be audited and tracked back against invoices. With the current shortage of raw materials, that is extremely difficult.
Administration and sourcing challenges also cost money, and whilst some consumers will pay a premium for compliant flooring when it comes to the crunch, many consumers still buy on price and quality, not eco-credentials. It is common for retailers to put an FSC badge on their website, but dig deeper and you will find that only a few of their products are accredited, if at all. Moreover, a product will only be accredited at a certain point in time. The reality is raw materials will change as supply chains come under pressure.
We have an open conversation with our manufacturers – where does the wood come from? What oils do they use? How is the floor finished? Is part of the product FSC registered, and other parts not? Why not? We then audit this information with site visits.
**All the manufacturers we work with are doing everything they can to be sustainable within the economic realities of the world. Many of our floors have been FSC registered. Some are only partially accredited. But if that is the case, we understand why.**
---
### [Our Fitting Teams](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-fitting-teams/)
**Published:** January 2, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
### At Kite, we don’t just supply product, we also fit it.
#### This means we can take end to end responsibility for flooring projects. It also means we know about flooring and the quality of our products – we actually fit them!
Currently, our fitting service is only available for London and the Home Counties, but we’re adding more teams all the time. Remember, our teams do get booked up well in advance, so always check with us for availability. We also regularly have delays on other projects, which means last minute availability can sometimes happen.
Whilst professional fitting teams will deliver a better finish (they fit 100s of floors every year), they are not right for every project. Why? Well firstly, we only work with a small number of high-quality teams. If we experience last minute delays, it can be tricky to reschedule, which will be a problem if you’re working to a tight move in date. Secondly, professional fitting teams will often be more expensive than having a contractor fit. This is because they specialise in more complex floors, and have the tools (..and insurance), to allow them to do this. Finally, at Kite we fit to the British Standards (BS8201) of floor fitting. These are a set of rules, that ensure a perfectly fitted floor. During a flooring journey, there are often times when you can bend the rules to save cost (such fitting a floor on an uneven subfloor, or not taking the appropriate damp prevention measures). Many contractors will take a view on this, but we don’t. This ensures we don’t have problems with our floors in the future.
Whether to use a professional floor fitter, and also the steps you need to follow to ensure a smooth installation, are not always obvious when your project managing a renovation for the first time. To help we’ve written several blogs;
[**Do I need a professional floor fitter?**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/do-i-need-a-professional-floor-fitter/)
[**How to reach flooring Nirvana**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-reach-flooring-nirvana-six-essential-terms-and-conditions-you-cannot-ignore/)
[**Want you project to be on time and on budget?**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/want-your-project-to-be-on-time-and-on-budget/)
[**British Standards or BS**](https://www.kite-flooring.com/british-standards-or-bs-why-they-matter-and-how-to-avoid-problems-in-the-future/)
Kite is a professional contractor, and as received an accreditation by [CHAS](https://www.chas.co.uk/), the UK’s leading contractor accreditation service.
## Alfie and our Daniel Herringbone from our Kent Range.
---
### [Our Process](https://www.kite-flooring.com/our-mission/our-process/)
**Published:** January 3, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
#### [Step 1 – **Inspiration**](#Inspiration)
Our process should really only start at our showroom. We’re strong believers that you cannot choose floors based on small samples.
When clients come in, we always start the process by asking our customers to try and find images of rooms they like. This can be on our website, or anywhere from Pinterest or Instagram.
With each floor, we then think along three lines –
**Colour –** Is it light, mid-tone or dark? Is the colour consistent or are there variations? Does the floor have knots or no knots at all?
**Shape –** Is the floor straight board, or patterned (think Herringbone or Chevron)? Are the planks wide or thin?
**Texture –** Is the floor smooth, textured (like a reclaimed floor), or something in the middle.
Thinking along these three features helps whittle down the 1,000s of options and prevents customers from going down a rabbit hole of choice!
#### [Step 2 – **Consultation and Quotation**](#Sampling)
Flooring can be confusing, so when you have a vision, you need somebody to help you turn it into reality. This is where our consultations come in. You can book online – [Book Online.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
Our consultations will start by asking you some background on your project, and then go into your Floor Design, Technical Requirements and After Care.
Don’t worry if you simply don’t know where to start, we can help here as well.
After the consultation we will prepare you an indicative quote, so you will know exactly whether our strategy meets your budget.
#### [Step 3 – **Confirm Your Floor**](#Quotation)
If you are broadly happy with your quotation, the next stage will be to confirm your floor choice. This should hopefully be possible after you have visited our showroom. However, don’t worry, our clients always leave with free samples, giving them the opportunity to see the floors in the actual light.
If client’s require fitting services, the next stage is to book a “Technical Visit”.
#### [Step 4 – **Technical Visit**](#Payment)
If you require fitting services, and are happy with your floor choice and the quotation, the next step is a Technical visit. This will be carried out by one of our Master Fitters. They will use lasers to check the subfloor levels, moisture readers, and generally pick up everything we may have missed during the consultation.
This visit enables us to prepare a fitting survey, and finalise the quotation.
If we are just supplying a floor, then we do not need a Technical visit.
#### [Step 5 – **Invoice and Payment**](#Production)
If you’re happy with the quotation, we will send across the initial invoice.
For supply only, we take payment upfront. For supply and fit, we take payment for the product and accessories upfront, along with 60% of the fitting. The balance is due on completion.
This payment allows us to 1) confirm a fitting date, and 2) book the floor into production or reserve from our stock holding.
For some of our floors, such as the [Newington](/floor-range/the-newington-range/) Lewis or the [Newington](/floor-range/the-newington-range/) Daniel, we try and keep them in stock. If these floors are available, we will deliver them as soon as you need them.
For most of our other floors, we make them to order. Floors can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 weeks to make, but throughout that process, we will keep you updated. Once the floor is in our warehouse, you just need to let us know when you need it.
It’s pretty common for us to store floors for clients. This is a free service we offer (up to a maximum of six months)
#### [Step 6 - **Pre Installation Survey**](#1687987078912-4cd8b8e5-9d47)
If we are fitting the floor we have to undertake a full assessment of the property prior to our fitters arriving on site.
This assessment includes moisture testing any screed, checking levels, looking out for problems with the subfloor, and flagging any site developments that may have happened since our initial visit.
Sites will either pass or fail, so please prepare in advance for a visit. Here are two great blogs designed to help the process run smoothly.
As soon as we’re happy the site is ready, we can then confirm our fitters arrival.
> [How to reach flooring nirvana; six essential Terms and Conditions you cannot ignore](https://www.kite-flooring.com/how-to-reach-flooring-nirvana-six-essential-terms-and-conditions-you-cannot-ignore/)
> [Want your project to be on time and on budget?](https://www.kite-flooring.com/want-your-project-to-be-on-time-and-on-budget/)
#### [Step 7 – **Delivery and/or Fitting**](#Deliveryfitting)
Unlike many other flooring companies, we don’t believe in kerbside delivery. For the majority of deliveries, we do them ourselves, which means we pay a little bit more to carry them out, but it also means our team will call you in advance of arrival and assist you with unloading. This is especially helpful for our customers who live in flats!
If we’re just supplying you a floor, remember, we’re on hand provide any technical advice to your contractor when they fit the floor. We can also provide them any accessories they might need, such as door bars, underlay and wood glues, but please contact us in advance of your contractor needing these. Please remember the Installers Responsibility –
***“It is the installer’s responsibility to carry out a final inspection of the floor prior to installation to ensure the colour, grade, quality, manufacture and finish are acceptable. On average, 1% to 2% of our boards may have a defect on them. This can vary from a crack, to a slightly raised knot. Please, please, make sure the product is checked with the end user, before it is fitted.”***
If we’re fitting the floor, the delivery of the flooring and accessories will take place in advance of the fitting date. This ensures everything is ready to go, in advance of works starting. It also ensures the flooring acclimatises to its new surroundings.
We also strongly advise that you are onsite on the first day to inspect the flooring, and reconfirm any special fitting instructions. After we have started fitting the flooring, it can’t be changed, so please, please check you are happy with it when it arrives.
#### [Step 8 – **Final payment**](#Finalpayment)
We will always give you an estimate of how long the project is likely to take. Of course, with any trade, sometimes works happen quicker or slower than expected. Throughout the process, our customer liaison team will keep you fully informed.
Once works have been completed, you will be able to review the final finish. Once you are happy, we will then issue an invoice for the final amount.
---
### [Technical and Warranty](https://www.kite-flooring.com/technical-and-warranty/)
**Published:** January 9, 2022
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Content:**
## Kite Flooring warranty, technical and maintenance documents
#### Here you’ll find the Kite Flooring warranty, plus everything you need to fit your floor and keep it maintained for years to come
## Installation and Maintenance Guide
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Kite-Flooring-Installation-and-Maintenance-Guidelines.pdf)
## Kite Flooring Warranty
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Kite-Flooring-Product-and-Fitting-Warranty.pdf)
## How to look after your floor
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Kite-Flooring-Care-and-Maintenance-Google-Docs.pdf)
---
### [Request a Consultation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/request-a-consultation/)
**Published:** May 25, 2022
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
## To request a consultation please fill in the form below
Do you require fitting services?
—Please choose an option—YesNo
When do you need the project completed?
Roughly how much flooring do you think you will need?
Occasional email on style tips and flooring?
—Please choose an option—Yes pleaseNo thanks
Please agree to our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/)
### Browse and order samples
Array
---
### [Trade](https://www.kite-flooring.com/trade/)
**Published:** January 5, 2024
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
#### At Kite we regularly supply and fit beautiful, natural floors for the design community
This means we are always looking for partners who share our vision of delivering high quality floors, with great service.
We have partnered with our manufacturer’s to deliver a Designer Collection, which is a range of European Oak floors, made in Europe, featuring our 12 best selling oiled finishes, from light to dark, textured to smooth. These are suitable for large orders, and trade discounts apply. We’re also able to work on a trade basis with other finishes, including our Cork range, which we source directly from Portugal.
Kite is passionate about professionally fitting floors, and all our fitting teams are NVQ qualified and hold CSCS cards. We also have a sanding and refinishing team that can match any of our floor finishes to an existing floor. To learn more about our trade programme, you can **[read our brochure here](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Kite-Flooring-Contracts-Brochure.pdf)**.
#### Get in touch with our sales team +44 (0) 207 427 6053
[Trade Enquiry](https://www.kite-flooring.com/trade/trade-enquiry/ "Our Curated Range")
[Download our Brochure](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Kite-Flooring-Contracts-Brochure.pdf "Our Curated Range")
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Kite-Flooring-Contracts-Brochure.pdf)
## Testimonials
Beautiful floor. Huge thanks to Ed and the team who helped us enormously with choosing and supplying the lovely new cork floor for our garden office. The whole process couldn’t have been more straight forward and the finished product is fabulous. Thank you! Chris Fletcher Beautiful floor
I highly recommend Kite Flooring. They have a beautiful range of oak boards (some of which with subtle differences that make a big impact when you're flooring large areas), which the team are very knowledgable on. A huge amount of care goes into the fitting. I have had a lot of contractors in our house during our renovations and can say that Robbie & the fitting team are absolutely lovely. We had some problems with the sub layer that our builders put down but Ed was very understanding, rectified it and the fitters returned another day to continue. I also found Kite to be competitively priced. We are thrilled with our floor and would definitely use Kite again. Lucy E I highly recommend Kite Flooring
I highly recommend Kite Flooring. They have a beautiful range of oak boards (some of which with subtle differences that make a big impact when you're flooring large areas), which the team are very knowledgable on. A huge amount of care goes into the fitting. I have had a lot of contractors in our house during our renovations and can say that Robbie & the fitting team are absolutely lovely. We had some problems with the sub layer that our builders put down but Ed was very understanding, rectified it and the fitters returned another day to continue. I also found Kite to be competitively priced. We are thrilled with our floor and would definitely use Kite again. Hannah Wheeland I highly recommend Kite Flooring
Kite were so easy to use and I love my new floor! They provided a superb service and guided me through the whole process sending out someone to asses my flat which was being renovated and they came up with some really insightful suggestions. I would highly recommend using these guys! Aaron Mason Wonderful service and product!
When I started to research wooden floor companies in London Kite stood out with a lot of positive reviews. I showed interest in different colours and just a little later a personalised document arrived in my inbox with the options, examples and quotes. The samples came in the post very soon too. Patrick visited our house to show the samples and look at potential issues. We had to delay the laying of the floor slightly as our builders weren't ready yet, but Sasha managed to find us a slot fairly quickly. James spent 3 days being really precise and laid a fabulous floor throughout our ground floor. We are very very happy with the floor and the customer experience was truly great. We hope it wall last for many years to come. Patricia Sexty Great experience and we love our new floor
I would highly recommend using Kite. I had a smooth and hassle-free experience with this company from start to finish....and that's exactly what I needed whilst doing a complete house refurb. Their products are of a superb quality and stand out immensely from other companies...trust me, I done a lot of research! Ed and his team were AMAZING, every single one of them from start to finish. I have lost count of the amount of compliments I have received on my flooring. It's absolutely beautiful and I love it! Would I recommend anyone using Kite - absolutely. Would I use Kite again - without a shadow of doubt! Go-on....use this company too, you won't regret it. Asinetta Exceptional Service, Exceptional Product, Exceptional Aftercare - What more could you want?
---
### [Trade Enquiry](https://www.kite-flooring.com/trade/trade-enquiry/)
**Published:** January 5, 2024
**Author:** red2design
**Content:**
If you would like to visit our showroom in London please choose a convenient date, we will then confirm.
Please let us know how you found us?
—Please choose an option—InstagramLetterGoogleReferralRather not say
Occasional email on style tips and flooring?
—Please choose an option—Yes pleaseNo thanks
Please agree to our [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy/)
---
### [The Project](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/)
**Published:** April 18, 2024
**Author:** red2design
---
### [Not all floors are equal](https://www.kite-flooring.com/not-all-floors-are-equal/)
**Published:** January 29, 2025
**Author:** John Derbyshire
**Content:**
#### Not All Floors are Equal
#### **Hi, my name is Ed, and I founded Kite Flooring**
Seven years ago I started a renovation project. And like almost every project I needed a floor. However, very soon my living room filled up with tiny samples that all looked the same and I became more and more confused with the different pieces of advice I was given. I also had no idea what made a good or bad floor as a floor seemed to be a commodity, to be bought at the cheapest possible price. There also seemed to be plenty of, so called, “Sales” happening across almost all online retailers.
Anyway, fast forward to the end of my project and I chose the wrong floor, and it was fitted badly. And that was one of the reasons I launched Kite.
### **So, as you begin your renovation journey, and it can be a journey, repeat after me. *“Not All Floors Are Equal”*. *“Not All Floors Are Equal”.***
Just like every other product in life, there is the good, bad and the seriously ugly. And just like every other industry, the rules of economics apply.
A well made floor has good quality oils or lacquers applied to it in multiple coats, has accurately filled knots, beautiful grains, and is manufactured accurately, so the planks slot together correctly. Cheap, container floors give wood floors a bad name. At Kite, we sell a range of floors that are the good, better and best, each with different specifications and price points. Each floor we sell represents the best in class in that category from Europe, and we curate the range so you are not presented with too many options. Finally, we price the floors transparently, so you know exactly what you’re buying.
We love what we do, and love helping people find the right floor for their project.
Flooring isn’t easy. So we try and make it as simple as possible.
### **Happy Project Planning**
# Floor samples can be a good place to start your journey …
[View Samples](https://www.kite-flooring.com/sampling-service/ "Sampling Service")
# Or browse some of our finished projects:
[View Projects](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/ "The Project")
[](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/)
### Want more advice? Download our Free Guide to Buying a Wood Floor here..
© 2024 Kite Flooring. All rights reserved
Registered office – 5A Frascati Way, Maidenhead SL6 4UY Kite Flooring is the trading name of Kite Designs Ltd (No. 12138377)
[Web design by](https://www.red2design.co.uk/) Red 2 Design
---
## Portfolio
### [Shoreditch – plates Restaurant](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/shoreditch-plates-restaurant/)
**Published:** October 7, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** How we refloored plates on Old Street, the UK's first vegan Michelin-starred restaurant, in four days, without ripping up the old tiles.
**Content:**
## Shoreditch. plates Restaurant.
## Michelin-starred food. A floor that looked like a newsagent’s stock room.
This summer we refloored [plates](https://plates-london.com/) on Old Street, the UK’s first vegan restaurant to win a Michelin star. Beautiful food, beautiful joinery, and an uneven tiled floor that made the tables wobble.
The old tiles were structurally sound, so we didn’t rip them out. That would have meant noise, dust and more days closed. Instead we levelled over them with compound to get a flat, solid base. **A floor is only as good as what’s underneath it.**
On top went a smoked, textured engineered plank from our [Highbury Range](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/the-highbury-range/), picked to look like it had always been there, with an extra coat of oil to stand up to a full service every night.
Four days later, the floor was done.
[Read the full story of the plates renovation](https://www.kite-flooring.com/plates-restaurant-shoreditch-floor/)
## RUN OR DESIGN A RESTAURANT, BAR OR HOTEL?
Book a Flooring Clarity Call
**Project Categories:** Plank
---
### [Richmond Staircase](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/richmond-staircase/)
**Published:** April 17, 2024
**Author:** red2design
**Excerpt:** Kite was commissioned by the owner of a property in Richmond to clad stairs seamlessly.
**Content:**
## RICHMOND STAIRCASE
## The Ultimate Modern Staircase
##### Kite was commissioned by the owner of a property in Richmond to clad stairs seamlessly.
This required the manufacture of treads and risers which were mitred in the corner. The timber used was a clean grade, to match the flooring and was finished in an invisible hard wax oil, giving a consistent and strong finish.
This cladding strategy can be used on most existing staircases, both closed like this, and open (where edging is used).
StairFlow · Oak stair cladding### Make your stairs *match your floor.*
StairFlow is our continuous oak stair cladding system, matched to your floor, and cut from the same batch of oak when your floor comes from us. No mismatched nosings, no visible bevels, just one seamless run from hallway to landing.
From £180 per step inc. VAT
[Discover StairFlow →](https://www.kite-flooring.com/stair-cladding/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Contact us](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Plank
---
### [Wandsworth - Wide Plank Premium Laminate](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/wandsworth-wide-plank-premium-laminate/)
**Published:** January 4, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** After visiting several flooring shops, and ordering countless samples, Juliet came to Kite...
**Content:**
## Wide Plank. Light Oak. Premium Laminate. Wandsworth
## When you can’t make a wood floor work. Go with a premium laminate instead…
This project in Wandsworth was over 90m², and the client couldn’t quite make one of our wood floors work.
Instead they opted for one of our premium laminates.
Our laminates are different; Realistic wood structure, water resistant, AC6 rated (so almost indestructible), wide and long planks. They will completely change your mind with what is possible with a laminate floor. And they best bit? They are half the price of a good quality wood floor and…(whisper it..) cheaper than the many, many LVT floors that flood the UK market.
Kite is the only company in the UK that sells this specification of Laminate.
Why? Well most flooring retailers either sell low quality laminates, or more expensive vinyl. Our laminates are also trickier to deliver (given the sizes), so your regular drop-ship online retailer steers well clear.
We don’t offer a huge range. Just light, medium and dark. And that’s all you need.
The best place to start your journey with this floor is to order a sample online, or better still, book an appointment at our showroom.
[PREMIUM LAMINATE](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/laminate/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Laminate, Plank
---
### [Kidbrooke - Renovating a New Build](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/kidbrooke-renovating-a-new-build/)
**Published:** January 6, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** This client was unhappy with her Developer floors. Kite was able upgrade them to a clean grade Herringbone, finished with a very high-quality oil.
**Content:**
## Kidbrooke. Renovating a New Build
## This client was unhappy with the carpet and cheap, shiny wood flooring that had been supplied by the Developer.
Unfortunately, most Developers don’t value flooring; they simply see it as a line on a spreadsheet. So, it’s very common for Kite to be called on to replace floors that have been installed in a New Build.
Normally this means Grey carpet and laminate is ripped up. Which for some reason is the most common colour specified (even though grey makes a space feel smaller!!).
This client chose our Lewis Large Herringbone, in a clean grade, so very few knots. This helps make the Herringbone pattern stand out. It’s finished with a very strong, UV cured, invisible oil, meaning that it doesn’t mark easily, and works in family life.
We also clad the stairs in solid oak treads, again finished with the same raw, oak oils.
We even made a video about it 🙂
Get in touch if you’re thinking of renovating your New Build.
You can order samples of our Lewis Large Herringbone here –
[Order Samples](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-herringbone-large-prime/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Contact us")
## Renovating a New Build
## Outstanding Quality and Craftsmanship
*“We compared several providers for our new build, but Kite Flooring stood out immediately for their excellent customer service and high-quality materials. They were incredibly patient while we chose the right wood and pattern. The installation process felt daunting at first, but the team was outstanding: always on time, professional, and true perfectionists. Despite a tricky staircase, they delivered a beautiful solution that looks stunning. Guests constantly compliment our floors, and even after over a year with cats, they’re still scratch-free. Highly recommended!”*
Pedro, February 2026
**Project Categories:** Parquet
---
### [Queens Park - The Ultimate Family Friendly Floor](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/queens-park-the-ultimate-family-friendly-floor/)
**Published:** January 6, 2026
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** The brief from this client was to create the ultimate, family friendly floor. And we think we nailed it.
**Content:**
## The Epping Natural. The ultimate family friendly floor.
## The brief from this client was to create the ultimate, family friendly floor. And we think we nailed it.
Our top tips for family friendly floors are –
1. Think about oil quality, ideally oils that have dried into the veneer.
2. Some texture can make your floor less susceptible to marks and scrapes.
3. Mid-toned, or invisible floors work in any design scheme.
4. Think about a statement floor, such as this clean grade Herringbone.
This client ended up with our Epping Natural floor. We don’t post out samples of this floor, as it’s one of our mega floors, and you really have to see a large sample board to appreciate it.
But you can book a showroom consultation here – [Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Contact us")
## Epping Natural - The Ultimate Family Friendly Floor
**Project Categories:** Parquet
---
### [Stoke Newington - Invisible Oiled](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/stoke-newington-invisible-oiled/)
**Published:** April 3, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** After visiting several flooring shops, and ordering countless samples, Juliet came to Kite...
**Content:**
## Stoke Newington. Invisible Oiled.
## After visiting several flooring shops, and ordering countless samples, Juliet came to Kite…
We’re going to let you into a secret. We are not the only company that sells nice floors. The problem is, within all these retailers or online providers, there are plenty of bad floors, or floors that won’t work for your use case. At Kite, where we try and focus is finding the right floor for each an every project. And being frank, many of our competitors are not so hot on this. They just present hundreds of options of similar floors, without really understanding their features and benefits.
In this project, we supplied and fitted our Lewis Plank floor, on a 190mm width platform, in a middle grade (some knots, but not too many). During the process we were also able to advise on underfloor heating strategy, subfloor build ups, moisture testing, flooring alignment, fitting strategy and maintenance. All the things that matter for a successful installation.
As Juliet said, in here review….
## *“Finally got there I think I must have visited about 6…*
*I think I must have visited about 6 floor shops and spent hours online before finally and gratefully finding kite. Simple questions were finally answered- we wanted something affordable, hard wearing and of course beautiful. We have been extremely happy and very much recommend. Trustworthy, professional and great products!”*
If you’re serious about your flooring project, we always advice booking at time at our showroom. That way you can see large sample boards, and we can also advise you on fitting strategy.
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Plank
---
### [Forest Hill](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/forest-hill/)
**Published:** April 15, 2024
**Author:** red2design
**Excerpt:** Working in partnership with designer, Palmer and Stone, Kite sourced wide, invisible oiled planks.
**Content:**
## FOREST HILL
## Supply of wide, invisible oiled oak planks
##### Working in partnership with designer, Palmer and Stone, Kite sourced 190mm width, invisible oiled, oak planks.
The floor was chosen to have some knots, but not too many, and was finished with invisible oils from Ciranova.
The floor can be viewed here –[ Lewis Rustic](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lewis-rustic/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Contact us](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Plank
---
### [Hampstead - White Ash Flooring](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/hampstead-white-ash-flooring/)
**Published:** April 3, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** The client's brief was to provide a wide, long plank, in the cleanest of grades (so very few knots). The planks also had to be the lightest possible, with "no yellow".
**Content:**
## White Ash, wide plank, clean grade. No yellow.
## An impossible brief?
##### This project was one of our best projects from 2024.
##### The client’s brief was to provide a wide, long plank, in the cleanest of grades (so very few knots). The planks also had to be the lightest possible, with “no yellow”. Finally, the client had a young family, so the floor had to be easy to maintain.
On a standard engineered oak platform, this brief is possible, but very expensive. Clean grade, wide plank engineered floors are now incredibly expensive, due to the scarcity of raw materials. Also, at Kite, we do not recommend that white oiled floors are used in busy family environments, unless they are stained (so the oils sit within the veneer, rather than a surface UV treatment). Cheap white oiled or lacquered floors often leads to people saying “their floor marks easily”. Finally, yellow is one of the hardest colours to remove from timber, unless the floor is bleached.
Fortunately, at Kite, we have started working with [Hardened Wood](https://www.kite-flooring.com/floor-range/hardened-wood/) products. Rather than being an engineered construction, these have a very thin, real wood veneer. You can read about the advantages (and disadvantages) of these products – [Hardened Wood Blog.](https://www.kite-flooring.com/hardened-flooring-beautiful-sustainable-and-strong-the-real-wood-alternative-to-engineered-flooring/)
Our favourite Hardened Wood option is this Ash floor. You simply cannot get a wider plank, cleaner grade, better performing (it has a super strong lacquer), for this price anywhere else on the market (between £70 to £80 + vat per m2). The floors aren’t perfect, and if you go down this route, there are fitting tips you need to follow, but for this client we were able to fulfill their seemingly impossible brief. At Kite, we are the only business in the UK, that supplies and fits these products, so have plenty of tips on when they are appropriate, and when an engineered floor is better.
If you’re interested in this floor, we would recommend you come and see our wide planks in our showroom. You can book online here – [Book Online](https://www.kite-flooring.com/book-online/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Contact us](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Plank
---
### [Rostrevor Road - Fulham](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/rostrevor-road-fulham/)
**Published:** April 1, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Kite was commissioned by the owner of a property in Richmond to clad stairs seamlessly.
**Content:**
## CLEAN GRADE, WHITE OILED
## Clean Grade, White Oiled Herringbone
##### Kite was commissioned by Henry Harry Projects to supply a clean grade, white oiled herringbone, in the living areas, with a matching white plank in the kitchen. We also used the same timber to clad the stairs.
Architect: [Aura Architecture.](https://aurahomes.co.uk/)
Styling: [Burbeck Interiors.](https://burbeckinteriors.com/)
Photography: [Silvia Olsen \| Fashion Photographer \| London](https://www.silviaolsen.com/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Contact us](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Parquet, Plank
---
### [Maida Vale](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/maida-vale/)
**Published:** April 15, 2024
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Working in partnership with the architect, Alex Catterall of Red Works, Kite was commissioned to supply a "wow" floor for a client in Maida Vale.
**Content:**
## MAIDA VALE
## A floor in eight stages
##### Working in partnership with the architect, Alex Catterall of Red Works, Kite was commissioned to supply a “wow” floor for a client in Maida Vale.
The client wanted something modern and unique. After a home visit, they were drawn to this finish, not to light, not too dark, with layered oils. There are eight steps to create the finish on this floor, including staining, bleaching, cleaning, wire brushing and staining again. The floor was supplied in a “Prime” grade, with almost no knots and matching square, modern nosings.
This floor is completely bespoke, so can come in any width (up to 400mm), and any length (up to 5m).
Architect – [Red Works Studio](https://www.instagram.com/redworks.studio)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Contact us](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Plank
---
### [Courteney Gardens Hornchurch](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/courteney-gardens-hornchurch/)
**Published:** January 23, 2024
**Author:** red2design
**Excerpt:** Working in partnership with interior Designer, Born and Bred Studio, Kite was commissioned to source a clean-grade Herringbone, with a layered Hard Wax oil.
**Content:**
## COURTENEY GARDENS HORNCHURCH
## Layered Hard Wax Oak Herringbone
##### Working in partnership with interior Designer, Born and Bred Studio, Kite was commissioned to source a clean-grade Herringbone, with a layered Hard Wax oil.
Hard wax oils, dry into the oak veneers of the engineered floor, giving the best possible protection. From an aesthetic perspective, they also achieve deeper colours. On this floor, a natural wax was applied, followed by a white finish, that sat within the oak grains. The effect was a layered finish, that created a geometric pattern, you could stare at for hours.
This floor was also fitted by Kite. To start, Ply was screwed into the floorboards, followed by the application of a levelling compound, to take out the imperfections of the subfloor. After this, the Herringbone was fully bonded, by our fitter James.
Designer – [Born and Bred Studio](https://www.bornandbredstudio.com/)
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[CONTACT US](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Parquet, Reclaimed
---
### [Norburn Street Notting Hill](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/norburn-street-notting-hill/)
**Published:** April 15, 2024
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Working in partnership with Up Architects, Kite was commissioned to source a clean-grade, engineered oak Chevron for a project in Notting Hill.
**Content:**
## NORBURN STREET NOTTING HILL
## Supply of Prime Grade Chevron
##### Working in partnership with Up Architects, Kite was commissioned to source a clean-grade, engineered oak Chevron for a project in Notting Hill.
This floor is our Lewis Chevron, and is protected by two coats of invisible UV oil from Ciranova (the BMW of wood oils). This makes it fine for busy family life, and easy to maintain. The floor is also slightly brushed, which causes the light to reflect off at different angles, bringing out the geometric pattern. This floor is a “clean grade”, so has very few knots.
Chevron’s are a statement floor, and work well in long rooms, where you want the floor to flow through the property. From a fitting perspective, billiard flat subfloors as essential, to ensure the angles don’t start misaligning. Well milled product, is also essential for the perfect Chevron.
At Kite, we make almost all our floors to order, so clients can choose the shape, texture, grade of wood and colour, giving a limitless amount of combinations.
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[CONTACT US](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Parquet, Plank
---
### [The Vicarage Kingswood](https://www.kite-flooring.com/projects/the-vicarage-kingswood/)
**Published:** April 15, 2024
**Author:** red2design
**Excerpt:** Working for Luxury Home builders, Paarl Homes, Kite supplied and fitted Clean Grade Herringbone for this new build property.
**Content:**
## THE VICARAGE KINGSWOOD
## Invisible Oiled, Clean Grade Herringbone
##### Working for Luxury Home builders, Paarl Homes, Kite supplied and fitted Clean Grade Herringbone for this new build property.
Given the property, every part of this project had to be completed to perfection, including flush transitions, running into marble. Matching timber was also used to clad the stairs. Square stair nosings were used, to achieve a modern finish.
## READY TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM?
[Contact us](https://www.kite-flooring.com/contact-us/ "Contact us")
**Project Categories:** Parquet, Plank
---
## Products
### [Lauren Rustic – £84 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/lauren-rustic/)
**Published:** December 3, 2021
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** A versatile, oak floor, with subtle red tones. This floor has more warmth to it than our Lewis and Daniel finishes in the range, but is still versatile enough to work with almost any design style.
This floor is available to purchase online and is sold in packs. Each pack contains 2.88 m² of flooring (£82 per m²).
For help in calculating how many packs you need, click here - Measuring a Room - Kite Flooring
**Content:**
#### **Why we love it?**
- This is another versatile floor, but has slightly more warmth to it, than our Lewis and Daniel floors. It has hints of red, which make it more unusual.
- It’s a Rustic floor, so has knots up to 50mm. This means it has lots of character. Note, the knots are machine filled with a matching filler, meaning the floor still looks modern.
- 190mm width boards will almost always look great. They’re not too wide, not too narrow.
- An oiled floor that works in a busy family environment. This floor has two coats of Ciranova oil (basically the BMW of wood oils). The floor is brushed between coats meaning the oil sits deep within the floor structure, improving performance.
- Easy to maintain – As this is a straight forward finish, any marks can be easily repaired through the use of inexpensive maintenance oils.
- Easy to fit – our floors are accurately milled and then finished in Belgium. Kite is also a fitting business; any floor we sell has always been fitted prior to sale.
- Great Value – Due to the quality of oils and accuracy of the milling, we believe this to be one of the best value floors on the market.
#### **Why look elsewhere?**
- Warmer coloured floors like the Lauren will make a space feel cosier. Lighter floors may work better in dark, small rooms.
- This floor is Rustic, so will have knots up to 50mm. This also means you get colour variations across the planks. If you’re looking for a more consistent colour, then the floor needs to have less knots. It also helps if the floor is stained prior to applying the top coat of oil. This happens with our more premium floors.
- If you have a very large room, say greater than 6m in width, a wider plank may look better. We can offer this floor on a bespoke basis.
## [Kite Flooring for the best engineered flooring in London](https://uk.trustpilot.com/reviews/61ae34d30b7cbbcbfe02b618)
*“To begin with, I tried 20+ flooring stores independent and nationwide chains. I didn’t come across anyone with a product knowledge similar to Ed of Kite Flooring. His passion for his product is what drove me to buy the flooring from Kite Flooring. Independent operation and customer focus is of primary importance to Ed and his colleagues. From the time I ordered the flooring to the time it got delivered Ed kept me informed of what is going to happen and when it is going to happen.*
*I think Ed is one of those rare entrepreneurs who visualises the customers needs and works in delivering on those. I would definitely recommend Kite flooring for any project, their quality and standard is amazing.”*
Karthik, from Richmond, who purchased the Newington Lauren in November 2021.
**Product categories:** £60 - £90, Fast Lead Time - Check for Availability, Smooth, Soho House, Straight, The Newington Range, Wood
**Product tags:** Rustic wood floor
---
### [Newington Plus - Nude - £114 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/newington-plus-nude-voc-free/)
**Published:** October 13, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Our Nude Newington plus floor is certified by the Eco-Institute Germany as low VOC (Volatile Organic Chemicals).
[html_block id="37713"]
This floor is lacquered, so very low maintenance.
This floor is available to view at our showroom.
For help calculating the amount of flooring you need, click here - Measuring a Room - Kite Flooring
**Content:**
#### **Why we like it?**
- VOC Content – These floors have been tested by the ECO-Institute in Germany, the toughest testing in the world. For clients that are concerned about emissions, this is complete piece of mind.
- Beautiful – These floors come in very similar colours and finishes to our best selling Newington Range. They also come in several different wood grades.
- Shape – These planks are wider and longer than our Newington Range (200mm width and 2.2m in length!!)
- Easy to maintain – This floor has a commercial-grade matt lacquer, so it needs very little maintenance. Kids, dogs and spills are no problem.
- Clean or Rustic Grade – The floor is available in Rustic grades and also cleaner options (clean grade shown in images)
- Sustainable – The floor is made from fully FSC accredited. All the floors are made in Germany.
- Easy to fit – This floor is a click system floor and the planks simply slot together, so no PVA glue is required during fitting. The floor can be fitted on a floated or glued down basis.
#### **Why you should look elsewhere?**
- The testing regime the floor goes through does mean there is a slight premium on our Newington Range. This is around 10%.
- Make sure you allow for wastage. For our plank floors, we normally recommend 10% wastage
**Product categories:** £60 - £90, Fast Lead Time - Check for Availability, Herringbone, Scandi, Smooth, Soho House, The Newington Plus Range, Versatile, Wood
**Product tags:** Lacquered, plank floor, rustic plank, Rustic wood floor, VOC Free
---
### [Newington Plus - Esther - £102 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/esther-newington-plus/)
**Published:** November 19, 2024
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Our Natural Oak Newington plus floor is certified by the Eco-Institute Germany as low VOC (Volatile Organic Chemicals).
[html_block id="37713"]
It's the same colour as our best selling Newington range, and as a mid-toned floor will look good in any design scheme.
This floor is available to view at our showroom.
For help calculating the amount of flooring you need, click here - Measuring a Room - Kite Flooring
**Content:**
#### **Why we like it?**
- VOC Content – These floors have been tested by the ECO-Institute in Germany, the toughest testing in the world. For clients that are concerned about emissions, this is complete piece of mind.
- Beautiful – These floors come in very similar colours and finishes to our best selling Newington Range. They also come in several different wood grades.
- Shape – These planks are wider and longer than our Newington Range (200mm width and 2.2m in length!!)
- Easy to maintain – This floor has a commercial-grade matt lacquer, so it needs very little maintenance. Kids, dogs and spills are no problem.
- Clean Grade or Rustic – The floor is available in Rustic grades and also cleaner options.
- Sustainable – The floor is made from fully FSC accredited. All the floors are made in Germany.
- Easy to fit – This floor is a click system floor and the planks simply slot together, so no PVA glue is required during fitting. The floor can be fitted on a floated or glued down basis.
#### **Why you should look elsewhere?**
- The testing regime the floor goes through does mean there is a slight premium on our Newington Range. This is around 10%.
- Make sure you allow for wastage. For our plank floors, we normally recommend 10% wastage
**Product categories:** £60 - £90, Fast Lead Time - Check for Availability, Herringbone, Scandi, Smooth, Soho House, The Newington Plus Range, Versatile, Wood
**Product tags:** plank floor, rustic plank, Rustic wood floor
---
### [Newington Plus - Daniel - £102 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/newington-plus-daniel/)
**Published:** September 2, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Our Daniel Newington plus floor is certified by the Eco-Institute Germany as low VOC (Volatile Organic Chemicals).
[html_block id="37713"]
It's the same colour as our best selling Newington range. This is the lighter scandi option.
This floor is available to view at our showroom.
For help calculating the amount of flooring you need, click here - Measuring a Room - Kite Flooring
**Content:**
#### **Why we like it?**
- VOC Content – These floors have been tested by the ECO-Institute in Germany, the toughest testing in the world. For clients that are concerned about emissions, this is complete piece of mind.
- Beautiful – These floors come in very similar colours and finishes to our best selling Newington Range. They also come in several different wood grades.
- Shape – These planks are wider and longer than our Newington Range (200mm width and 2.2m in length!!)
- Easy to maintain – This floor has a commercial-grade matt lacquer, so it needs very little maintenance. Kids, dogs and spills are no problem.
- Clean Grade or Rustic – The floor is available in Rustic grades and also cleaner options.
- Sustainable – The floor is made from fully FSC accredited. All the floors are made in Germany.
- Easy to fit – This floor is a click system floor and the planks simply slot together, so no PVA glue is required during fitting. The floor can be fitted on a floated or glued down basis.
#### **Why you should look elsewhere?**
- The testing regime the floor goes through does mean there is a slight premium on our Newington Range. This is around 10%.
- Make sure you allow for wastage. For our plank floors, we normally recommend 10% wastage
**Product categories:** £60 - £90, Fast Lead Time - Check for Availability, Herringbone, Scandi, Smooth, Soho House, The Newington Plus Range, Versatile, Wood
**Product tags:** plank floor, rustic plank, Rustic wood floor
---
### [Newington Plus - Lewis - £102 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/newington-plus-lewis/)
**Published:** September 2, 2025
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Our Lewis Newington plus floor is certified by the Eco-Institute Germany as low VOC (Volatile Organic Chemicals).
[html_block id="37713"]
It's the same colour as our best selling Newington range, and as a mid-toned floor will look good in any design scheme.
This floor is available to view at our showroom.
For help calculating the amount of flooring you need, click here - Measuring a Room - Kite Flooring
**Content:**
#### **Why we like it?**
- VOC Content – These floors have been tested by the ECO-Institute in Germany, the toughest testing in the world. For clients that are concerned about emissions, this is complete piece of mind.
- Beautiful – These floors come in very similar colours and finishes to our best selling Newington Range. They also come in several different wood grades.
- Shape – These planks are wider and longer than our Newington Range (200mm width and 2.2m in length!!)
- Easy to maintain – This floor has a commercial-grade matt lacquer, so it needs very little maintenance. Kids, dogs and spills are no problem.
- Clean Grade or Rustic – The floor is available in Rustic grades and also cleaner options.
- Sustainable – The floor is made from fully FSC accredited. All the floors are made in Germany.
- Easy to fit – This floor is a click system floor and the planks simply slot together, so no PVA glue is required during fitting. The floor can be fitted on a floated or glued down basis.
#### **Why you should look elsewhere?**
- The testing regime the floor goes through does mean there is a slight premium on our Newington Range. This is around 10%.
- Make sure you allow for wastage. For our plank floors, we normally recommend 10% wastage
**Product categories:** £60 - £90, Fast Lead Time - Check for Availability, Herringbone, Sale, Scandi, Smooth, Soho House, The Newington Plus Range, Versatile, Wood
**Product tags:** plank floor, rustic plank, Rustic wood floor
---
### [Light Oak Wide Plank Premium Laminate Flooring - £36 per m²](https://www.kite-flooring.com/product/light-oak-laminate-premium-flooring/)
**Published:** July 31, 2023
**Author:** Ed Grant
**Excerpt:** Our lightest laminate: a light, Scandi-style oak look with a matt, lightly brushed finish. AC6 rated, so it’s almost indestructible, and about half the price of our wood floors.
- AC6 wear rating: built for kids, dogs and kitchens
- 10mm thick, for less bounce than a standard 8mm laminate
- Extra-wide planks: 246mm × 1.78m, with no repeating patterns
- 100 hours water resistance, and works with underfloor heating
£36 per m², sold in packs of 1.751 m². Enter your area below and we’ll work out the packs, including 10% for cuts. Not sure yet? Order a sample first. How to measure your room
Our most versatile laminate: a mid-tone oak look that suits any home, with a matt, lightly brushed finish. AC6 rated, so it’s almost indestructible, and about half the price of our wood floors.
- AC6 wear rating: built for kids, dogs and kitchens
- 10mm thick, for less bounce than a standard 8mm laminate
- Extra-wide planks: 246mm × 1.78m, with no repeating patterns
- 100 hours water resistance, and works with underfloor heating
£36 per m², sold in packs of 1.751 m². Enter your area below and we’ll work out the packs, including 10% for cuts. Not sure yet? Order a sample first. How to measure your room
Our darkest laminate: a warm, deep oak look with a matt, lightly brushed finish. AC6 rated, so it’s almost indestructible, and about half the price of our wood floors.
- AC6 wear rating: built for kids, dogs and kitchens
- 10mm thick, for less bounce than a standard 8mm laminate
- Extra-wide planks: 246mm × 1.78m, with no repeating patterns
- 100 hours water resistance, and works with underfloor heating
£36 per m², sold in packs of 1.751 m². Enter your area below and we’ll work out the packs, including 10% for cuts. Not sure yet? Order a sample first. How to measure your room