Engineered oak is the correct specification for the majority of London homes — compatible with all subfloors, all underfloor heating systems, and available in every laying pattern from herringbone to wide plank. LIGNORA supplies and installs engineered wood flooring across all London boroughs and throughout the South East, with our own team on every job.
Engineered oak is a real oak wear layer bonded to a plywood or HDF core. The core gives the board a dimensional stability that solid wood does not have — it resists the moisture-related expansion and contraction that causes solid floors to gap, cup, and fail when installed on concrete subfloors or above underfloor heating. For the majority of London properties — where ground floors are concrete, basement conversions are common, and UFH is increasingly standard — engineered oak is not a compromise, it is the correct specification.
The wear layer — the real oak surface you see, walk on, and eventually sand — ranges from 2mm to 6mm depending on the product. LIGNORA specifies a minimum 3mm wear layer on all installations, ensuring the floor can be sanded and refinished at least once in its lifetime. Thicker wear layers give more sanding life; the trade-off is slightly higher thermal resistance above underfloor heating.
Available in every laying pattern — herringbone, chevron, wide plank, straight lay, and bespoke — and in grades from prime (minimal character markings) to rustic (significant knots and grain variation). The grade is a purely aesthetic choice; durability is the same across grades.
Choose engineered oak when:
Choose solid oak when:
Engineered oak works across all laying patterns — the same material, installed differently, produces very different results. The pattern decision should be made alongside the grade and finish decision.
The most popular patterns for London period properties. Herringbone suits hallways, reception rooms, and formal spaces. Chevron is a more contemporary take on the same geometric logic, better suited to larger rooms. Both are glue-down on concrete. Herringbone guide →
The most versatile specification — boards 150mm and above, running parallel to the longest wall. Suits open-plan spaces, family kitchens, and contemporary interiors equally well. Wide plank feels generous in a way that narrow boards do not, and reads well in properties with good ceiling height.
Custom widths, bespoke stain colours, and unusual grades are available as made-to-order products. Lead time is 8 weeks from confirmed specification. We specify bespoke floors as part of the home visit — assessing the grain character, width proportion, and finish appropriate to the brief before recommending a direction.
Every LIGNORA engineered oak installation follows the same process regardless of location or scale. The home visit establishes the subfloor type, the room dimensions, the correct product, and the fixing method. The floor is then ordered, delivered to the property, and acclimatised in the actual conditions of the home for the full required period before a single board is fixed.
Acclimatisation is not optional and is never shortened. Wood responds to the temperature and humidity of the environment it lives in — and if it has not adjusted to those conditions before installation, it will continue to adjust afterwards. The results are gapping, cupping, and joint failure. Every LIGNORA floor is acclimatised in the property, not in a warehouse average.
Lead times for pre-finished engineered oak from our stocked London and Nottingham warehouses: 2–3 weeks from confirmed order. For bespoke and made-to-order: 8 weeks from production. We confirm exact timelines at the point of enquiry.
We visit the property, assess the subfloor, and show you samples before writing an itemised quote. No commitment, no charge.
Engineered wood is what we fit in the majority of London properties. These are the questions that come up on almost every consultation.
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