Wood Flooring · 5 min read
Looking for a Parador Flooring Alternative?
Reviewed by our team, led by Adam Williams, Managing Director
Parador makes good floors. Most people who search for an alternative have simply found a Parador design they like and want to see what else could give them the same look, at a different price or with a different spec. We sell Parador from our Altrincham showroom, so we are not here to talk you out of it. This guide works from what you liked about the Parador floor and points you to the closest match in our range.
In this article
Key takeaways
Match the thing you liked about Parador
You liked a Parador wide plank
Wide boards are the heart of the Parador range, especially in Classic 3060 and Trendtime 4. In GF, the closest matches are the 15mm/4mm Bollington and Bowdon oak at 220mm wide and the 20mm/6mm Overleigh at 240mm wide. Both give you a broad, calm board with a thicker oak top than most of Parador’s series. If you want a recognised premium name on the box, Kahrs Smaland is a 240mm wide single-strip plank with a hand-scraped surface.
You liked Trendtime 3 herringbone
GF has 35 engineered herringbone designs in five builds, from 10mm boards with a 3mm oak top to 20mm boards with a 6mm top, so there is almost always a close colour match to a Trendtime 3 design. For a Kahrs herringbone, Life Authentic Herringbone is the affordable option and the Piazza range covers the flagship end.
You wanted the same pattern in a kitchen or bathroom
One of Parador’s clever touches is that Trendtime 3 comes in wood, vinyl and laminate. You can do something similar with GF: pair GF engineered herringbone in the living areas with GF Glue-Down LVT herringbone in the kitchen, utility or bathroom, where a waterproof floor makes more sense.
You liked a Parador chevron
GF does not make an engineered chevron, so this is the one area where Parador is hard to replace from our own range. V4 Tundra comes as a chevron. If chevron is essential, we can quote Parador and V4 side by side.
You liked the character of the oak
Much of the Parador range uses a lively grade with visible knots and colour variation. GF’s brushed and smoked boards give a similar characterful look. Kahrs Da Capo and Ingresso go further towards a rustic, aged oak.
The three alternatives in brief
| GF Engineered Wood | Kahrs | V4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | Our own brand, European oak | Swedish brand, founded 1857 | British brand |
| Best for | Value, herringbone, thick top layers | Premium brand name, wide range | Design-led collections |
| Chevron | No | No | Yes (Tundra) |
| How to buy | Online with prices shown | Through our showroom on a quote | On a quote, supplied to order |
| On display in Altrincham | Yes, full range | Yes, 23 boards | No |
| Samples | Free by post | View in the showroom | Ask us |
GF Engineered Wood: the value match
GF engineered wood is our own European oak range: 35 planks, 35 herringbone and 6 Versailles panels. Because there is no brand premium, a GF board usually comes in below a Parador board of a similar build. Every design is priced online, samples are free by post and the guarantee is 20 or 25 years depending on the board. Read the GF engineered wood review for the full detail.
Kahrs: the premium brand match
If you want to stay with an established European brand, Kahrs is the closest like-for-like. It is a bigger range than Parador, covering 3-layer and 2-layer parquet and the Kahrs Life veneer floors. We are a Kahrs approved retailer and 23 Kahrs boards are on display in our Wood Room. Like Parador, Kahrs is bought through our showroom on a quote.
V4: the British design-led option
V4 has six engineered oak collections: Alpine, Deco, Driftwood, Heritage, Tundra and Urban Nature. It suits buyers who want a design-led collection with the same colour running across plank and herringbone. We hold a V4 Approved Gold Account. V4 is not on display in our showroom; we supply it to order on a quote.
Compare them in one visit
Our Wood Room in Altrincham shows five Parador ranges (Classic 3025, Classic 3060, Trendtime 3 herringbone, Trendtime 4 and a chevron), the full GF range at full size and 23 Kahrs boards. It is open 24/7 by smart lock: request a door code online and visit when it suits you.
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
What is the closest alternative to Parador?
For value, GF engineered oak. For a like-for-like premium brand, Kahrs. The right one depends on whether you liked a wide plank, a herringbone or a chevron.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Parador herringbone?
Yes. GF has 35 engineered herringbone designs priced online. Kahrs Life Authentic Herringbone is a more affordable premium-brand option.
Which alternative works over underfloor heating?
All of them. GF, Kahrs and V4 engineered floors are designed for underfloor heating within each maker’s temperature limit.
Can I still buy Parador from you?
Yes. Parador is bought through our Altrincham showroom on a quote, supply only or supply and fit. Five Parador ranges are on display in the Wood Room.
Do you fit the alternatives?
Yes. We supply across the UK and fit across Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire using a regular team of fitters we know and trust.
Further reading
- GF by Grosvenor Flooring: the value alternative to the big flooring brands
- The big flooring retailers: a competitively-priced, high-quality alternative
- Parador vs GF Engineered Wood Flooring
- Looking for a Kahrs Flooring Alternative
- Looking for a Ted Todd Flooring Alternative
- V4 Engineered Wood Flooring Guide
- GF Engineered Wood Flooring Review
- Best Engineered Wood Flooring UK
- Engineered Wood Flooring in Altrincham: Visit Our Wood Room
- Parador Engineered Wood Flooring
- GF Engineered Wood Flooring
- GF Engineered Wood on the GF Flooring website