Hi there I thought I would jump in here a touch as you are on the right track but there are some glaring points that need to be cleared up for you before you go and purchase flooring. Laminate flooring is a Hi Def image of Timber flooring/oak/Natural Species etc and then transposed using a heat method to a MDF or HDF core, then profiled with a click system for ease of installation, maintenance relocation and repair. Good laminate flooring (Quikstep or Krono Swiss) can be very rewarding , look very much like natural timber, and be very durable against scratching and indentation. Laminates nemesis is high saturation of water or moisture. Good e budget solution for all living areas and rooms except toilets bathroom or laundrys. Engineered boards are a veneer of Natural timber and are just as durable as the solid version of whatever species you choose. Whether that be Spotted Gum, Jarrah or Oak. Sorry but you CAN re sand engineered boards. When re sanding occurs through a professional sander, the top .5mm is the depth of the product that you generally ever really need to remove. Some engineered flooring has a 6mm wear layer/ veneer and that's more than if you purchased a solid 19mm raw timber floor. Engineered boards are less likely "cup"(edge of the boards rising so that you can see a little lip) than a solid. We would recommend that if you are considering a timber floor please consult a retailer that only handles timber and specializes in that medium. Hope this helped

Thanks, Sylvia. This is the first time I have had timber in a new build. The stairs are only a bit over one year old, do not get heavy traffic and have no visible or noticeable scratches. Having said that, I just don't know the exact product the painter used, but I will post it as soon as I find out. The painter is very exacting and fussy about what products he uses.

HI Demelza If engineered timber is to be floated, then a 2mm dampscreen underlay should be installed. I have not heard of engineered flooring being nailed down, but if you are wanting to "fix" to the subfloor, then you will need a moisture barrier over the sub floor before it is glued - (generally how we do things here in NZ). The timber attracts moisture, so with either a moisture barrier or dampscreen underlay, the intention is to prevent the moisture from penetrating the timber. Depending on which product you are looking at, there is plenty of information on their websites which will help.

Hi Mon, have you seen the Dulux Paint App? You can download it to your phone for free. The idea is that you can take a photo of of the space you want to paint and the App allows you to change the wall colour by selecting from their colour range; Dulux says this enables you to actually see what the new colour looks like next to your floor and other furnishings without the need of trying out several paint pot samples. I have not personally used it but the concept is pretty cool. Hope this is of help. Malcolm