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• Pros of solid wood flooring: Has a classic look and feel, appealing to buyers if you decide to sell or let your home
• Cons of solid wood flooring: Swells in damp conditions and shrinks in dry, tough to install because it has to be glued or nailed down, has a more expensive starting price than other wood flooring options

Each solid wood board is made from a single piece of wood, which is typically 18-20mm thick. It is usually fitted using a tongue-and-groove system.

Solid wood flooring can be sanded back to restore the finish – the number of times you can do this is determined by how deep the tongue is set from the top of the board. It’s also worth seeing how well the planks fit together on in-store display panels, so look at the quality of the finish and the size of any gaps between the planks.

Wood is a natural material and the planks will vary a little in colour, but some more than others, so think about whether you want a uniform look or a set of planks with a range of light and heavy grains.

Note that solid wood floorboards can amplify sound, so rugs are a good option if you have boards upstairs.

Anywhere with a relatively consistent humidity – particularly in hallways and living areas where you can show it off.

• Pros of engineered wood flooring: More stable than a piece of solid wood, and less prone to changes caused by temperature, cheaper than comparable solid-wood planks
• Cons of engineered wood flooring: Tongue-and-groove planks are harder to install than click-lock ones, generally more expensive than laminate

Each engineered wood floorboard consists of three or four layers of wood, glued together to create a plank around 14mm thick. It has a real-wood veneer of around 4mm thick on top, which means it can be sanded back and treated to restore the original finish if it becomes scuffed, worn or damaged.

Engineered wood flooring is sometimes available with click-lock installation, which doesn't require any adhesive. Tongue-and-groove versions will need to be glued into place.

Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. While it's more resistant to warping than solid wood, it's still best avoided in places where it will be exposed to a lot of humidity, such as a bathroom. It's also best avoided on stairs, where it is time-consuming and fiddly to lay. 

It can be tricky to achieve a good finish around corners, too – for instance, around sink pedestals.

• Pros of parquet flooring: Can be used to create interesting patterns, can handle high levels of traffic
• Cons of parquet flooring: Expensive, fiddly to install, can fade in direct sunlight and be damaged by moisture

Parquet flooring is easily recognisable and formed of short, wooden blocks or strips arranged in a geometric pattern - usually herringbone or basket weave.

Visually, you might find this wood flooring type more interesting than others.

Parquet flooring is suitable throughout a property, but best avoided in humid areas like bathrooms.

• Pros of reclaimed wood flooring: Environmentally friendly, vintage wood is aesthetically pleasing and will add overall value, can be painted, white-washed or stained any colour.
• Cons of reclaimed wood flooring: Can often cost four or five times more than new floorboards, can contain hidden dangers like protruding nails, unless you purchase it from a company that will process it for you.

Reclaimed wood flooring is timber that has been used in another, older property that has been salvaged to be reused. Generally, it is very durable.

If you live in an older property, you might be lucky and discover perfectly preserved original floorboards under decades-old carpet. If not, you can source your own vintage planks. 

Reclaimed timber flooring can be installed anywhere, but it's best avoided in bathrooms where moisture may cause the timber to swell and crack. If you do lay reclaimed wood in bathrooms, wipe up spills quickly and keep the room well ventilated.

• Pros of bamboo flooring: Sustainable resource, strand-woven bamboo is tougher than oak flooring, good for allergies as bamboo is inhospitable to dust mites and repels dust and pollen
• Cons of bamboo flooring: In some bamboo flooring, the adhesive used contains formaldehyde, a toxic substance that can release small amounts of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) over time

Technically a grass rather than a wood, bamboo forms its own unique grain pattern and can be worked into extremely hard-wearing floorboards that look and feel very similar to natural hardwood. It's also easy to clean.

Bamboo reaches maturity in a quarter of the time of hardwood trees, which means it's more sustainable to harvest. 

The material is water resistant (so less likely to develop mould and mildew) but not waterproof – too much water can leave unsightly spots and cause the flooring to warp. Darker bamboo has been through a carbonisation process, which weakens the material, making it softer and more prone to scratching.

Bamboo works well in most rooms. Although it's more water resistant than hardwood, it's not waterproof, so it's best avoided in bathrooms.

• Pros of cork flooring: Absorbs sound, keeps naturally warm all year round, doesn't absorb dust or mites (making it good for those with allergies), shock-absorbent and durable, so it can withstand plenty of foot traffic
• Cons of cork flooring: Unlikely to last as long as hardwood floors, can be scratched and is susceptible to furniture damage

Eco-friendly and sustainable, cork is actually the bark of the cork oak tree. Bark naturally splits periodically – around every 9-15 years – and can be safely harvested without harming the trees. The bark regrows and the cycle continues. 

For flooring, cork is ground up, compressed and formed into sheets bonded with resins. Natural, quickly renewable cork is biodegradable at the end of its life cycle, so it's an eco-friendly option.

Cork has a soft surface that can have a slight cushioning effect, so it can be a great choice for children's bedrooms or playrooms. Don't be afraid to use it in the bedroom, either – cork retains warmth so feels cosy underfoot. It's also a good choice for those with allergies, as it doesn't absorb dust or mites.

Cork floor tiles are finished with a clear varnish that gives protection against water stains and damage. However, if the seal isn't perfect and the room floods, the cork will probably warp and discolour. High humidity can also cause cork to curl, so it's best to avoid it in bathrooms.