Why Engineered Wood Is The Right Base For Bespoke Work

Engineered wood flooring is built with a real hardwood veneer over a layered plywood or fibreboard core, this gives it significantly more dimensional stability than solid wood, this matters in London properties where underfloor heating, varying room humidity and mixed subfloor conditions are common.

For designers, this stability also means greater creative flexibility. Engineered planks can be manufactured in wider widths and longer lengths without the same risk of movement that solid wood carries so those oversized statements your clients want are achievable.

What "Bespoke" Means In Practice

Over 70% of the floors we produce at WFA are custom designs, bespoke does not mean choosing a finish from a swatch book, it means complete specification control across every variable:

• Board size – width, length & thickness, including very wide & very long planks
• Pattern – herringbone, chevron, mansion weave, Versailles, mixed-width plank, hexagon
• Colour – matched to your interior palette, whether that is a fabric swatch, tile or paint reference
• Surface texture – brushing, aged, bandsawn & eased edge
• Finish type – oils, UV lacquers, fuming & staining

To date, we have created over 5,500 different bespoke flooring designs, all produced in our factory in Romford, Essex, just outside of London.

The Colour Lab & Design Room

Our on-site colour lab is where all the real specification work happens, our colour technicians mix stains and UV oils to achieve precise shade matching, working with leading UK and European finish brands. We have been asked to match everything from fabric palettes, architectural stonework and even once a Steinway Grand Piano.

The design room at WFA HQ houses over 100 large display panels, this covers the full range of formats, grades and finishes. You can arrange a visit to us in person or consult with us remotely, either way, our team can walk you through the options until your brief is met.

Sustainability Credentials For Specification Documents

All WFA bespoke floors are FSC® and PEFC certified, this means the timber is sourced from responsibly managed forests. Engineered construction uses less solid hardwood per board than solid wood flooring, with recycled or fast growth timber making up the lower core layers, a sustainability argument for BREEAM or client facing documentation.

Practical Considerations For London Projects

London projects often involve period buildings, mixed subfloors, tight site access and phased fit outs. A few points worth factoring into your specification early:

• Engineered wood is compatible with most underfloor heating systems when specified with the correct wear layer thickness
• WFA holds large stocks with next-day delivery available across the UK mainland, which helps when programme dates shift
• For commercial projects with raised access flooring, our Magnitude Magnetic installation system is worth exploring

With over 50 years of combined experience across the WFA team, we are well placed to advise on any technical limitations before they become site problems.

Working With WFA As A Trade Client

We supply exclusively to the trade – designers, architects, contractors, developers and flooring retailers. Our clients include major London and UK projects such as the Tate Modern Gallery, and our returning client rate reflects the consistency of both the product and the service.

If you have an active brief or a project in early specification, speaking to our design team is the most efficient way to establish what is achievable within your timeline and budget.

Get in touch with our team today to book a visit to our design room and find out more about our colour lab and bespoke wood flooring.