Shaw Pebble Hill 5" Engineered Wood - Pebble Hill 5" wide planks offer a charming and natural hardwood option that is easy to install and care for. This engineered technology allows these wood planks to be installed on any level of the home, including the basement.

Microbevel edging creates a unique look across the whole floor while light and dark planks lay side by side, adding a rustic touch to any room. Unlike solid hardwood, this Hickory option is extremely versatile, durable, and is backed by a lifetime warranty.

Lime wash floor. Wipe off the stain with a clean rag while the stain is still wet, again working in the direction of the boards and the wood grain.

Move along the floor boards applying and wiping off stain in small sections at a time until you have stained the whole floor. Let the floor dry for a few hours if you used water-based stain; let it dry overnight if you used oil-based stain. Don't proceed with sealing the floor until the sealer is fully dry to the touch.

I was in this position a couple of years ago and chose solid timber over laminate for two reasons: 1 It looks and feels much better. 2 It is more durable.

When the finish gets worn down and you get scratches etc, you can grind and refinish the whole floor a couple of times, depending on the thickness of the boards. For me the only advantage of laminate flooring was that the prep of the subfloor was minimal and the whole process of laying the floor can take place over the course of one day. I suppose you can also replace scratched laminate boards as needed if you can find matching pieces.