Chene Engineered Oak Flooring

A stable multi-ply core sits underneath a genuine oak wear layer in every board in the Chene range, which is what lets it handle the temperature and humidity swings of a typical UK home far better than solid oak would on its own. The range spans 14mm, 18mm and 20mm board thicknesses with wear layers from 3mm to 6mm, in plank widths from 125mm to 190mm, giving a fair spread of options depending on the room and the budget.

Wear layer and refinishing

The thickness of the wear layer, not just the overall board thickness, is what determines how much life a floor has left in it once wear starts to show. Boards with a 4mm or 6mm wear layer can typically be sanded and refinished two to three times over their lifetime, which matters if you're fitting in a kitchen, hallway, or anywhere that sees daily traffic and might need a refresh years down the line. The 3mm wear layer boards are a genuinely good floor too, but with less material to work with, they're better suited to bedrooms and other lower-footfall rooms where a full refinish is less likely to ever be needed.

Lacquered or oiled

• Lacquered — a sealed surface that's straightforward to keep clean day to day, holds up well to spills, and is the common choice for kitchens and busy family rooms
• Oiled — sits closer to the natural grain and colour of the oak, needs occasional reoiling to stay protected, but makes scratches easier to spot-repair without refinishing the whole floor

Neither finish is objectively better than the other; it comes down to whether you'd rather have a lower-maintenance sealed surface or a floor that shows its natural character more and is easier to touch up in small sections.

Fitting and underfloor heating

Chene's engineered boards can be fitted using either click or tongue-and-groove installation, depending on the specific product and subfloor. Boards up to 190mm wide are generally a safer bet over underfloor heating systems than wider boards, since narrower boards move less as the subfloor temperature rises and falls through a heating cycle, reducing the risk of gaps or movement over time.

See it in person

Free samples are available by post, or you can view the full Chene range at our NW2 North London showroom, open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm. We've supplied London homes with real wood flooring for over 20 years and offer a supply-and-fit option alongside standard online ordering.

FAQ

What's the difference between a 3mm and a 6mm wear layer?
A thicker wear layer gives more scope for sanding and refinishing over the floor's life, typically two to three times for 4mm and 6mm boards. A 3mm wear layer is still genuine oak, but with less material to refinish, so it suits lower-traffic rooms better.

Is Chene engineered oak suitable for underfloor heating?
Yes, particularly in narrower widths. Boards up to 190mm wide are the safer choice, since they move less than wider boards as the subfloor heats and cools.

Should I choose lacquered or oiled Chene flooring?
Lacquered is easier to maintain day to day and suits busy rooms like kitchens. Oiled shows more natural grain and is easier to spot-repair, but needs occasional reoiling to stay protected.