Hardwood FAQs

Our engineered hardwood flooring is made from sustainably-sourced European Oak, coloured with a UV oil with a matt lacquer finish, enhanced with an additional hybrid protective layer.

An engineered wood floor is a type of flooring that is made from real wood, but it differs from solid hardwood flooring in its construction. Engineered wood flooring is designed to provide the appearance and warmth of solid hardwood while offering increased stability and resistance to environmental factors like moisture and temperature changes.

Layered Construction: Engineered wood consists of multiple layers of wood. The top layer, known as the wear layer, is made of real hardwood. At Matt Britton our top layer is made of European oak providing the visual appeal and texture of natural wood.

Core Layers: Beneath the top hardwood layer, there are several core layers. These core layers are made of plywood. The core layers are often arranged in a crisscross or perpendicular pattern to enhance the floor’s stability and strength.

Enhanced Durability: The layered construction of engineered wood adds to its durability. It is less prone to warping, cupping, or expanding and contracting with changes in humidity and temperature compared to solid hardwood flooring. This makes it a suitable choice for areas with variable climate conditions.

Moisture Resistance: Engineered wood flooring is more resistant to moisture than solid hardwood. This feature makes it suitable for installation in spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, where solid hardwood might not be recommended.

Versatility: Engineered wood flooring is available in a wide range of colours and patterns of plank, herringbone and chevron. This diversity allows homeowners to choose a floor that matches their interior design preferences.

Ease of Installation: Our engineered flooring comes in a tongue-and-groove installation system, making it easier for DIY installations. It can be glued down or installed as a floating floor (not directly attached to the subfloor), depending on the specific product. At Matt Britton, we recommend a fully bonded installation, as it ensures maximum stability, reduces movement in the boards, and offers the most durable, long-lasting finish.

In summary, engineered wood flooring offers the aesthetic appeal of solid wood with added durability, stability, and moisture resistance due to its layered construction. It has become a popular choice for flooring in a variety of settings, offering a balance between the elegance of hardwood and the practicality of engineered design.

The Plank design is a classic form of wooden floor. The flooring is traditionally laid in a staggered pattern where the planks are arranged on alternating sides of a centre line so that the seams appear to be random, which gives the floor a fluid and uniform look.

A Herringbone floor is made with small rectangular planks all cut to the same size. Each plank is laid out at a 90-degree angle from another, creating a broken zig-zag pattern that is prized for its asymmetry. A Herringbone floor has a great deal of visual movement and can help to make smaller spaces seem larger.

The Chevron design utilises a zig-zag pattern that is similar to Herringbone. However, rather than being laid in a staggered pattern, they are more uniform and are laid to form a true centre point. The regularity of Chevron style flooring means it creates a simple and cleaner appearance.

One of the most frequently asked questions! The difference is all in the zigzag, where Chevron patterns have a continuous zigzag design whereas the Herringbone pattern has a broken zigzag design.

A wear layer is part of an engineered wooden floor. It is the top layer of the plank of flooring which is seen once installed giving it it’s authentic wood look. Matt Britton European and London Collection products are 15mm thick with a 4mm European oak top layer. The Original Collection products are 10mm thick with a 3mm European oak top layer.

There are 3 plank board widths available – 192mm, 242mm and 300mm.

Herringbone boards come in a 100mm, 120mm and 152mm widths.

Chevron boards come in a 100mm, 120mm and 152mm widths.

Yes! Our engineered floors are compatible with underfloor heating but please check with your system manufacturer before installation (fully bonded installation recommended).

The grading of a wood floor refers to the natural appearance and characteristics of the wood — such as colour variation, grain pattern, and the presence of knots.

For example, a Prime Grade floor has a clean, uniform look with minimal knots or colour variation, while Rustic or Natural Grades feature more knots, grain movement, and tonal variation for a more characterful, natural appearance. Our European and London Collections are available in both Prime and Natural grades.
Grading doesn’t affect the quality or durability of the wood — only its visual style.

At Matt Britton, all our flooring is made to order for each customer at our Wexford based production facility. For this reason, please allow approximately 6-8 weeks for your order to be produced and delivered. A member of our team will be in touch regarding your order.

Note: All production times given are approximate only and while normally correct, are subject to change without notice.

Once your flooring has been produced, a member of our team will get in touch to arrange delivery. This usually takes place around 2–3 working days after production.

Yes, once your order has been produced, our team will get in touch to arrange delivery.

Please ensure the phone number you have provided is the best number to contact you on. All of our standard delivery services will be between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Yes, delivery charges are a flat rate for nationwide delivery.

No, we do not deliver to the UK.

We accept a wide range of payment methods. All Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express debit/credit cards and bank transfers are accepted.

No, we do not offer finance options.

No, as a manufacturer, we do not offer an installation service. Please ensure that the person installing your hardwood floor is a suitably qualified fitter. We can recommend qualified fitters but they are independent contractors.

You can order up to 3 free samples of hardwood and/or carpet.

Samples are designed to give you an idea of colour; however, please note that they may not be an exact match, as colours can vary slightly due to a number of factors. Each piece of wood is unique in its grain and tone, and therefore cannot be fully representative of a finished installation.

We don’t typically send samples to the UK, except in exceptional cases where a client has a property in Ireland that they’re sourcing flooring for.

Yes, our engineered flooring is sourced from FSC® or PEFC™ certified suppliers, ensuring traceable and responsibly managed forestry practices.

All our coatings and adhesives comply with low-VOC or zero-VOC standards, contributing to healthier indoor environments.

Yes, our floors are certified Gold for Indoor Air Comfort (IAC), an innovative certification demonstrating compliance with low-VOC (volatile organic compound) emission requirements established in Europe.

The Indoor Air Comfort Gold certification also confirms that our products meet the strictest emission standards required by leading eco-labels and quality marks across the EU.

The hardwood floors produced by Matt Britton are sourced from sustainable forests throughout Europe. They are finished with a durable hybrid matte lacquer and available in a variety of colours.

We recommend using specialist cleaning and maintenance products to keep your hardwood floors in pristine condition. See our Care Kits to find the right home care kit for your flooring.

• Avoid cleaning lacquered hardwood floors with a soaking-wet mop — use a lightly damp mop instead, as excess water may cause the floor to swell, warp, or discolour.
• We do not recommend using wax, soap, or any other household cleaners on lacquered, hardwood floors as they may dull the floor’s finish.
• We advise that you do not let sand, dirt, or grit build-up on the surface of your floor, as this can cause abrasions that will dull the hardwood finish.
• We recommend that you vacuum or sweep your floors regularly (at least once a week is advisable).
• We recommend putting down mats at exterior doors to trap excess sand and grit. Using rugs in high traffic areas, at the end of stairs and near doorways is advisable. However, avoid rubber backed or non-ventilated rugs.
• We recommend using protective pads or caps on the legs of furniture and to keep your pets claws trimmed to avoid scratches and gouges in the hardwood.

If you don’t see an answer to your query in the FAQs provided, you can email us on [email protected] and we will do our best to help you with your query.