Tongue & Groove

Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring Samples

Find Your Perfect Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring With Our Free Samples

If you know you want hardwood tongue & groove flooring but aren’t sure which colour or finish to choose, our free samples can help. At Flooring365 we provide unlimited free samples of our entire solid wood flooring range to help you choose the right tongue & groove flooring for your home. Our range includes everything from oak tongue & groove flooring to more unique styles such as solid walnut or parquet. So, there are plenty of floors for you to sample and choose from.

How To Order Your Free Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring Samples

To order your free samples, browse through our tongue & groove solid wood flooring range until you find your style. Once you have a style or two in mind, click the ‘Order FREE Sample’ button to add them to your cart. Remember, our samples are unlimited so add as many as you need to help you decide. Once you are happy with your selection, you can proceed with your sample order free of charge (delivery included).

Quick & Easy Delivery

We always aim to have your free flooring samples delivered within a couple of days via Royal Mail. Don't worry about being at home for them though as they will be posted through your letterbox.

Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring FAQ's

What Is Tongue & Groove?

The term "tongue and groove" refers to the specific shape and design of the flooring planks. This design allows for a simple installation, without any nails.

What is Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring?

Tongue & groove solid wood flooring is a type of hardwood flooring that utilizes a precise fitting mechanism to create a secure and seamless installation.

Each plank of tongue & groove solid wood flooring has a protruding "tongue" on one side and a corresponding groove or channel on the opposite side. These tongue & groove features allow the planks to interlock smoothly when installed, creating a tight and stable connection. During installation, the tongue of one plank fits snugly into the groove of the adjacent plank, creating a strong bond between the planks. This fitting mechanism ensures that the planks remain aligned and prevents any movement or gaps between them. The result is a visually appealing and durable floor surface that will last you for many years to come. The absence of visible gaps between the planks also gives the floor a clean and uniform appearance.

Which Is Tongue and Which Is Groove?

The tongue & groove can be found on each board and have been cut to precision to create a perfectly interlocking system. To determine which is which, you should look alongside the plank, looking for a slot. This will be a long gap that has been carved all down the side of your floorboard to create a groove. Once you have found your groove, check the other side of the plank and this is where you will find the ‘tongue’ of the board.

Do Wood Floors Have to Be Tongue & Groove?

No, not at all! Wood flooring has more than one installation option, however, as experts we have found that tongue & groove is the best method for solid wood floors. Not only is it much quicker and easier than installing solid wood blocks, but it’s also more cost-effective than the click system, which helps us keep our solid wood flooring prices low and affordable.

Is Tongue & Groove Better Than Click Flooring?

Both installation methods have their strengths and weaknesses so it would be impossible to say which is better overall. Hardwood tongue & groove flooring uses adhesive, making it extremely secure, and can be installed as a floating floor if required. Whereas the Click Lok installation method allows a quicker and easier installation that’s perfect for DIY enthusiasts. However, Click Lok installations require a solid, even, and flat subfloor, so underlay is often required.

How Thick Is Tongue & Groove Flooring?

Tongue & groove flooring comes in varied lengths and thicknesses since tongue & groove only refers to the installation method. Here at Flooring365, our tongue & groove solid wood floors are available in 15mm and 18mm thicknesses. However, we also have a wide range of tongue & groove engineered wood floors which come in thicknesses from 10-20mm.

Is Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring Waterproof?

No, our tongue & groove solid wood flooring is not waterproof. Wood is a natural material that can absorb moisture and is susceptible to damage when exposed to excessive water or moisture for extended periods. If exposed to standing water or high humidity levels, solid wood flooring can swell, warp, or cup.

However, it's important to note that solid wood flooring can have some level of moisture resistance when properly sealed and maintained with a finish such as lacquer. These finishes create a barrier on the surface of the wood, helping to repel water and prevent it from seeping into the wood. It's crucial to understand that the moisture resistance of lacquered solid wood flooring is not equivalent to being waterproof. 

For areas prone to moisture or water exposure, alternative flooring options like engineered wood flooring or waterproof vinyl flooring may be more appropriate. For bathroom installations, we advise that you choose luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) since these are 100% waterproof.

Can Tongue & Groove Flooring Be Floated?

Yes. Tongue & groove flooring is highly versatile and allows for multiple installation methods whether that is nailed, glued, or floated. Feel free to contact our experts to find out which is the best solution for your home.

Does The Tongue Or Groove Go Against The Wall?

If you are planning on laying the floor yourself, you'll need to know where to start. With tongue & groove flooring, you should always put the tongue against the wall. Don’t worry about the ‘gap’ where the tongue of your flooring is as you will need to leave a ½-inch gap for expansion.

Can You Glue Tongue & Groove To The Wall?

While this is possible when using tongue & groove cladding, we would never advise it for tongue & groove flooring. The glue should only be applied to the joints, not the wall or the subfloor. This will allow the boards to extract and expand as necessary.

How Much Tongue & Groove Glue Do I Need?

To calculate how much glue you need for your tongue & groove solid wood flooring installation, you will need to know the volume of glue in each bottle as well as your square metre floor coverage and the width of your floorboards. However, the general rule of thumb is that 1 litre of glue will cover 10 metres of hardwood tongue & groove flooring. If you are unsure, just get in touch. We’d be happy to calculate the exact amount needed.

How To Cut Tongue & Groove Flooring?

Like with any hardwood flooring, you will need to cut some of the tongue & groove boards to fit the shape of your room. To do this, you will need a saw. For cutting the ends of straight floorboards, a handsaw will suffice. However, for awkward corners, rounded edges, or along the sides of boards, you may need a jigsaw, a plunge saw, or a table saw to make things easier. We also advise that you always use a fine-tooth blade to achieve a clean-cut edge.

How Long Does Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring Need To Acclimatise?

Solid wood flooring must be acclimatised before installation. This allows the flooring to adjust to the ambient conditions of the room where it will be installed. The purpose of acclimatisation is to minimize the potential for expansion, contraction, and warping of the wood after installation, ensuring a stable and long-lasting floor. For the best results, we recommend letting your solid wood flooring acclimate for a minimum of 5-7 days.

To properly acclimatise your flooring, it should be removed from its packaging and laid flat horizontally in the room where it will be installed. This allows the wood to gradually adjust to the temperature and humidity of the space.

Can You Reuse Tongue & Groove Flooring?

Yes, it is possible to reuse hardwood tongue & groove flooring by pulling it up and re-installing it. However, this may prove more difficult if it has been glued or nailed down. It’s also worth noting that you may need to prep the tongue & groove, by brushing it with a wire brush to get a snug fit again. Once you have carefully rescued as many boards as you can, we recommend leaving them to acclimatise to their environment again before reinstalling. If any boards do look worn, you can always sand and refinish them again too.

How To Clean Tongue & Groove Wood Flooring?

For the regular maintenance of your tongue & groove solid wood flooring, a simple sweep and damp mop with mild detergent should do the trick. However, for a deep clean between the tongue & groove seams, you should lightly dampen a cloth with mild floor cleaner and wipe along the grooves by hand. Remember to squeeze the cloth regularly so you do not allow excess water to seep into the wood. Continue these steps until the floor is complete, using a clean and dry cloth to wipe away what’s leftover as you go work along the floor.

How To Install Solid Wood Tongue & Groove Flooring

Our hardwood tongue & groove flooring is slightly more involved than Click Lok flooring but should still be simple for any DIY enthusiast to complete. For more information on how to carry out your own DIY installation, visit our guide. Or, if you have a specific question, get in touch with our team.

Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring Finishes & Treatments

Unfinished

Unfinished floors come completely untouched and have not had any stains, oils, or lacquers applied to them. This allows you to finish your hardwood tongue & groove flooring however you see fit. There are numerous different finishes out on the market and each one has its pros and cons. There’s also a wide range of different colours and styles such as invisible, matt, or gloss allowing you to get creative.

If you are considering an unfinished floor, please note that it is best practice to apply your finish before installation.

Brushed & Lacquered

Brushed finishes have a much more enhanced grain and texture to them. To achieve this look, we brush the floor using steel wire wool to remove the thin upper layers during the manufacturing process. Once the brushing process is complete, the flooring is ready to be lacquered.

Lacquer is a clear protective coating that is applied to the surface of the wood. It provides a glossy, satin, or matt finish while protecting the wood from stains, spills, and general wear and tear. The lacquer forms a hard, durable layer that helps to maintain the beauty and integrity of the wood flooring. This builds up a smooth and even finish that enhances the natural beauty of the wood while providing excellent protection.

Brushed & Matt Lacquered

A brushed and matt lacquered finish is another type of surface treatment commonly used for hardwood flooring. It shares similarities with the brushed and lacquered finish but has a different final appearance.

The process starts with brushing the surface of the wood, just like in the previous finish. This exposes the harder wood fibres and creates a textured effect. The enhanced natural grain patterns and textures of the wood give the flooring a more rustic or distressed look. Then a matte lacquer is applied. Unlike glossy lacquers, matt lacquer has a lower sheen or shine, which creates a more subdued and natural appearance.

Brushed & Oiled

All of our brushed floors (regardless of the finish applied) go through the exact same brushing process as stated above. With our brushed & oiled floors, the oil penetrates the wood fibres, nourishing and moisturizing them. This helps to prevent the wood from drying out, cracking, or warping over time. The oil also provides a durable finish that helps to protect the wood from stains, spills, and general wear and tear. However, when it comes to protection from liquids and spillages, lacquers perform much better than oils.

Handscraped

Handscraped finishes give each board its own individual character to create a worn and rustic look. The wavy surface of handscraped floors is extremely unique and looks especially good on glossy, lacquered boards. It’s also a great option for anyone with pets as it can hide and conceal any slight damage much easier.

Lacquered

Lacquered finishes create a protective layer to help reduce damage from spillages, liquids, and light scuffs. This makes them ideal for high-traffic areas. However, we still recommend cleaning any spillages as soon as possible to keep your flooring looking its best.

Oiled

Oiled finishes flow deep into the wood grain to enhance the floor’s appearance and offer deep protection. However, unlike lacquered finishes, oiled flooring does not create a surface layer and therefore requires a higher level of maintenance. We find that most customers choose an oiled finish due to its striking colours and wood grain textures, rather than purely for protection.

Invisible Oiled

Invisible oil provides a natural and subtle look while still offering protection and durability, making it a perfect choice for those who wish to keep a natural finish and not alter the wood's appearance. This allows the true beauty and texture of the wood to shine through without any distracting glare or reflection.

Wood Species

Oak

Oak is often the most popular choice of tongue & groove flooring. Not only because it is easier to source than other wood species, but because oak is a durable hardwood that can withstand the rigors of daily life, making it ideal for high-traffic areas such as living rooms, hallways, and kitchens. It features a tight and prominent grain pattern that is unique to oak and charming to look at. Plus, it is very easy to stain, making it a popular choice for finished or unfinished flooring. With proper care and maintenance, oak tongue & groove flooring can last for decades, maintaining its beauty and functionality.

Walnut

Walnut is the less popular option of the two and this is mostly because it's a rarer product that is harder to source and therefore more expensive to buy. That said, it's often still pretty high in demand due to the vibrant colours and wider grains. Walnut flooring is ideal for grand entrances and large living rooms thanks to its rich and elegant appearance. However, walnut floors do tend to have more variation from plank to plank, so if you're looking for a more uniform appearance, then walnut floors may not be for you.

Birch

Birch tongue & groove flooring offers a distinctive and appealing option for those seeking a unique flooring solution. While not as readily available as oak tongue & groove flooring, birch possesses its own set of characteristics that make it a compelling choice. Known for its light hue and subtle grain patterns, birch flooring adds a touch of natural elegance to any space. With proper care and maintenance, birch solid wood flooring can endure for many years, providing a timeless and charming foundation for any living space.

Tongue & Groove Solid Wood Flooring Thickness

Board Thickness

Generally speaking, board thickness is a case of personal preference. However, thicker boards do tend to be more hard-wearing and provide a slightly improved sound reduction performance. As well as this, thicker boards are usually more suited to higher traffic areas, where they can withstand greater use.