Guides
Before you choose.
The decisions that actually matter when specifying a floor, explained without the sales language.
Start here · 4 min read
Wear layer explained: what 12, 20, 22 and 28 MIL mean
The wear layer is the single number that most affects how long a resilient floor keeps looking new. Here is what the measurement means and how the thicknesses compare.
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5 min read
SPC vs engineered hardwood: how to choose
Two very different products that often end up on the same shortlist. The honest differences in construction, water behaviour and where each one makes sense.
4 min read
Is waterproof flooring actually waterproof?
Waterproof, water-resistant and waterproof-core mean different things. What the term covers, and the part of the floor it does not.
4 min read
Rubber flooring for gyms, clinics and high-traffic spaces
Why rubber keeps being specified for demanding commercial spaces, and what to look at when comparing it.
3 min read
How much flooring do I need?
Measuring your area, why coverage is quoted per carton, and why the number you order should be larger than the number you measure.
6 min read
Flooring for basements: what the grade rating actually tells you
“Waterproof” and “approved for below grade” are two different specifications, and a floor can carry one without the other. Here is how to read both — and the 10 Oakline floors the manufacturer rates for below-grade rooms.
5 min read
Why the samples do not match the floor: shade variation explained
Manufacturers publish a shade variation rating from CV1 to CV4, and almost nobody looks at it. It is the single best predictor of whether your finished floor will look like the plank you held in the showroom.
Oakline supplies flooring materials. These guides cover choosing materials; Oakline does not offer installation or repair services.