What to buy to finish the new oak floor · updated 2026-09-01
Recommendation: match the new Naturel oak floor with a plinthe chêne placé (oak veneer) in a natural/oiled finish, ~100–140 mm tall. Best value and visually close. Go solid oak (massif) only if you want the plinthes to be the same material as the floor.
1. Quantity
Wall line ≈ 23 m (perimeter 2 × (4.04 + 7.26) = 22.6 m, plus the closet notch returns). Buy ~26 m for waste + mitre cuts + door end returns. Plinthes are sold in 2.4 m lengths → ~11 pieces.
2. The three types
Type
€/ml
Cost (26 m)
Pros
Cons
MDF brute/peinte
2–6 €
~50–160 €
Cheapest
Must paint; won't read as oak; least premium
Placé chêne (oak veneer) ⭐
5–10 €
~130–260 €
Real oak face, dimensionally stable, matches floor, best value
Slightly less authentic than solid
Chêne massif (solid oak)
10–20 €
~260–520 €
Same material as floor; most authentic
Moves with humidity; pricier; needs finishing
3. Height
Minimum ~70 mm — must cover the 10–15 mm expansion gap + the underlay upturn + any wall base imperfection.
100 mm = modern, clean.
120–142 mm = classic/period — suits a main room with 18 mm oak in a character house (the Leroy/Castorama "H. 14,2 cm moulurée" is this).
4. Finish
Match the Naturel (huilé) floor: buy "chêne naturel" plinthes, oiled or natural. Avoid painted-white or grey tones that fight the oak.
5. Where to buy
Leroy Merlin — "Plinthe chêne massif moulurée H. 14,2 × 2,4 m" and "plinthe bois massif plaquée chêne" (prix au mètre linéaire).
Castorama — "Plinthe chêne massif Naturel".
Also ask EASIKLIP if they sell a matching plinthe with the board order (one shipment).
6. Install note (after the floor is laid)
Fix plinthes to the wall, never to the floor — the floor must stay free to move.
Leave the 10–15 mm gap under the lip; the plinthe hides it.
Mitre the corners (45°), use end stubs/returns at door frames.
Fix with acrylic mastic (color match) or a couple of fine headless nails into the wall; for massif plinthes, cleats or glue.