Wood Flooring · 5 min read
GF Engineered Wood Flooring Review: Is Our Own-Brand Range Worth It?
Reviewed by our team, led by Adam Williams, Managing Director
GF is the engineered oak range we put our own name to. It runs to 76 designs: 35 herringbone, 35 planks and 6 Versailles panels. We sell the big engineered wood brands as well, so this review tries to be straight about what GF is, where it is strong, where it is not and who should buy it.
In this article
Key takeaways
What GF engineered wood is
A GF board is built like any good engineered floor. A layer of solid European oak sits on a cross-layered core that resists the swelling and shrinking solid wood suffers when the heating comes on. That makes it stable over underfloor heating and allows the oak top to be sanded and refinished, more times on the thicker builds.
The difference is how it reaches you. GF comes from established European mills and is sold by us directly, online and from our showroom, rather than through a national distribution chain. There is no brand premium to pay for. Each design takes the name of a Cheshire or South Manchester village (Alderley, Hale, Tatton, Bowdon, Tabley and many more), which makes the range easy to talk about when you visit.
Herringbone: 35 designs in five builds
Herringbone is where most people start. It is also where GF makes the biggest difference to a budget, because a pattern floor needs 10 to 15% extra material for cutting. The 35 designs come in these builds:
Surfaces include brushed, smoked and smooth oak in oiled, lacquered and unfinished versions. GF herringbone is glued or nailed down and suits underfloor heating.
| Build | Oak top | Block size | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mm | 3mm | 80 x 300mm (plus one 91 x 600mm design) | Whole-house herringbone where floor height is tight |
| 14mm | 3mm | 90 x 300mm | A more solid feel at a sensible price |
| 15mm | 4mm | 90 x 400mm or 125 x 600mm | Larger rooms; the big blocks suit open plan |
| 20mm | 5mm | 70 x 350mm | A slim, elegant block on a heavy board |
| 20mm | 6mm | 80 x 350mm | Floors you plan to keep and refinish for decades |
Planks: 35 designs from narrow to extra wide
For a calmer look, the 35 GF planks run from narrow boards to wide modern planks. Most are 14mm with a 3mm oak top in widths up to 190mm. Bollington and Bowdon step up to a 15mm board with a 4mm top at 220mm wide. At the top of the range, 20mm boards with a 6mm top come at 190mm and, in Overleigh, 240mm wide. The majority are rustic grade, which brings the knots and colour movement most people want in a plank floor today.
Versailles: 6 panels
The six Versailles panels (Belgrave Park, Peckforton, Oulton Park, Rookery Hall, Dorfold Hall and Utkinton) are 600 x 600mm, 14mm thick with a 3mm select-grade oak top, oiled or unfinished. Versailles is the most expensive GF format per square metre. It belongs in period hallways, dining rooms and anywhere you want a floor with real presence.
How GF compares with the brands we sell
We supply Kahrs, Parador and V4 on a quote and can supply and fit Ted Todd and Woodpecker locally, so we see GF next to all of them. In our experience GF matches the brands on the things that decide how a floor performs: the oak top and the stability of the core. Where the brands pull ahead is design breadth, specialist finishes and, in some cases, longer warranties. Kahrs and Parador are on display beside GF in the Wood Room, so you can judge for yourself.
GF is one half of the wider GF by Grosvenor Flooring own-brand range, which also includes GF LVT.
Who GF suits
Homeowners who have seen a premium brand they like but not its price. Order free samples of the nearest GF boards, lay them next to the brand sample and decide on what you see.
Developers and landlords fitting real oak across several properties, where the saving per square metre adds up quickly.
Designers and specifiers who want a dependable oak floor to put in front of clients without a brand premium.
Trade buyers can apply for Grosvenor+ for member pricing, ex-VAT display, extra samples and project tools.
Where GF is not the answer
If chevron is a must, GF does not make one. If a specific branded design or an antique or reclaimed floor is the brief, a brand such as Parador, V4 or Ted Todd will fit better. If water is likely to stand on the floor, look at a waterproof floor such as GF LVT instead of any wood.
Seeing and buying GF
The full GF range is laid out at full size in the Wood Room at our Altrincham Smart Showroom. Request a door code online and visit when it suits you. Every GF product can be bought online with its price shown. Order up to five free samples to check colour in your own light, then order online or ask us for a supply and fit quote across Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire. Start on the GF engineered wood page or get in touch with questions.
Who leads our guides
Managing Director, Grosvenor Flooring
Adam Williams is Managing Director of Grosvenor Flooring in Altrincham. He sets the standards our guides are written to and guides the team that reviews them, so the advice matches the floors we supply, the manufacturers' specifications and the way the fitters we work with install them.
More about Adam →Floor Finder
Not sure which floor to choose?
Answer a few quick questions about your room, who uses it and the look you like. Floor Finder picks the designs that suit you best, with prices per m² and a rough cost for your room.
Start Floor FinderFrequently asked questions
Is GF real wood?
Yes. Every board has a solid European oak top on a layered core.
How many GF engineered wood designs are there?
76: 35 herringbone, 35 planks and 6 Versailles panels.
Is GF engineered wood waterproof?
No. Like all real wood it copes with everyday spills if they are wiped up, but not standing water.
Can GF go over underfloor heating?
Yes, within the recommended surface temperature limit.
What guarantee does GF have?
20 or 25 years depending on the board. The product page shows the term for each design.
Can I see GF before I buy?
Yes. The whole range is on display at full size in our Altrincham Wood Room, open 24/7. Samples are free by post.