Free samples posted anywhere in the UK✦25-year structural warranty✦The same in-house fitters for over 11 years✦Every enquiry answered within 24 hours✦Free samples posted anywhere in the UK✦25-year structural warranty✦The same in-house fitters for over 11 years✦Every enquiry answered within 24 hours✦
"NEWBUILD"
New Build & Extensions

Wood Flooring for
New Build & Extensions.

New builds and rear extensions share a specific set of requirements — concrete subfloors, underfloor heating, and a brief that starts from scratch rather than matching what is already there. This is where engineered oak performs at its best. LIGNORA installs across new-build residential, rear extensions, and development projects throughout London and the South East.

Concrete SubfloorUnderfloor HeatingRear ExtensionsDeveloper SpecificationOwn Team Install
Why Engineered Oak Works Here

New Build Requires
Engineered Construction

New builds and extensions almost always have concrete subfloors — either a ground-bearing slab or a beam-and-block floor with a screed finish. Solid wood is not appropriate on concrete: the moisture in the slab, even when cured, causes movement that solid timber cannot accommodate. Engineered oak, glued directly to the concrete with the correct adhesive, eliminates this problem.

New builds also frequently have underfloor heating — wet or electric. All engineered oak boards in our collection are UFH compatible. The multi-ply core handles the thermal cycling that would cause a solid board to gap and lift. The adhesive specification is chosen for the specific UFH system present.

The result is a floor that performs exactly as expected from day one and continues to do so through seasonal temperature changes, without the gaps, cupping, or creaking that poorly specified floors develop.

Oak extension floor Cobham
Engineered Oak · Rear Extension · Cobham, Surrey
The New Build Specification

What We Consider
at Survey Stage

01
Subfloor Moisture

New concrete slabs and screeds require a minimum drying time before any floor is installed. We test with a calibrated moisture meter — typically requiring readings below 75% RH for standard wood floor adhesives. We will not install before the subfloor is ready, and we will tell you what the readings are.

02
UFH Commissioning

Underfloor heating must be commissioned — run through a controlled warm-up and cool-down cycle — before wood flooring is installed above it. This takes 21–28 days and is often not done in time on developer programmes. We check the commissioning record before installation begins.

03
Subfloor Flatness

New-build screeds are often not as flat as they appear. We assess flatness across the full installation area before any boards are ordered — tolerance is typically 3mm over 1800mm for straight-lay boards, tighter for pattern formats. Grinding or self-levelling compound resolves most irregularities.

04
Continuity of Specification

In new-build projects, the floor should be specified before the build programme is finalised — not as an afterthought. We join the specification conversation early, provide product samples for approval, and confirm lead times so the installation lands on programme.

Developer & Architect Enquiries

Working With
Professionals

We work with architects, interior designers, and developers on residential new-build and development projects across London and the South East. Our process for professional clients is the same as for direct homeowners — a site visit, a clear specification, and an itemised quote with confirmed lead times.

For developments with multiple units, we can provide a single specification across all units and a phased installation programme that fits the handover schedule. We are comfortable working to architect's specifications and can provide samples, product data sheets, and technical information for planning and building regulation submissions.

We do not provide discounted rates for volume based on an expectation of repeat business. We provide competitive rates based on the actual scope of work, and we stand behind what we install.

Floors to start with

A few floors from the range. Each has its own page with the full specification, a spec sheet and a free sample posted to you.

Supplying New Builds Across the UK

Building outside London? We supply engineered oak to self-builders, developers and contractors across the UK, delivered by pallet to site with the quantities and wastage worked out. In 2026 we supplied 420m² of 20mm engineered oak to a new build in North Cornwall, chosen because the screed had already set the floor height.

Choose a 20mm board where floor heights are fixed, unfinished oak to sand and finish on site, or a prefinished floor from the collections. Developers and builders can find trade details on our trade supply page.

New Build Flooring,
Answered

The questions we are asked most often.

Ask Us Anything →
What is the best flooring for a new build?
For living areas, engineered oak is the most reliable real-wood choice: it is stable on concrete screeds and works with underfloor heating, which most new builds have.
How long should a new screed dry before wood flooring?
It must be dry enough for the adhesive and floor being used, which is confirmed with a moisture test rather than a fixed date. Underfloor heating also needs commissioning before the floor goes down.
Can you supply flooring for a new build outside London?
Yes. We supply engineered oak across the UK, delivered by pallet to site, with samples and specification sheets first.
Should I choose 15mm or 20mm boards for a new build?
Over a level screed, 14mm or 15mm is usually enough. Choose 20mm when the screed has already set a higher finished floor level.

Tell Us About
Your Project.

Order free samples to see them at home, or send us a photo of the room and we will suggest where to start.

Order Free Samples →Get in Touch
From a seed to a legacy — generations of craft with LIGNORA