Wood flooring can be a beautiful addition to any space. With such versatility, choosing wood flooring is a great option! If you are in the process of deciding what type of wood flooring you’d like to go for. We have provided you with a run-down on different options and what you should look out for!
Everything from solid timber, to reclaimed and laminate flooring, we have you covered!
Laminate Flooring
Laminate floor covering is a pressed fibreboard plank, covered with a photographic image of wood with a safety overlay.
A much cheaper option than alternatives while giving a wood-like feel. Most affordable kinds are smooth and don’t look specifically reasonable. Bevelled sides, a more diverse set of photos as well as printed features, such as knots, will certainly give an extra natural appearance and texture but will set you back a bit more.
As laminate flooring is highly engineered, different strengths are available. This means high traffic areas are possible with laminate flooring such as living rooms, kitchens and studies. Check if your laminate flooring comes with a waterproof core which are appropriate for kitchens and bathrooms.
Before purchasing, make sure to examine the guarantee thoroughly before buying to ensure you don’t invalidate it if you do intend to lay laminate floor covering in these spaces.
Engineered wood flooring
Each engineered wood floorboard consists of three or four layers of wood, glued with each other to develop a plank of around 1.4cm thick.
It has a real-wood veneer of around 4mm thick on the top, which indicates it can be fined sand back and treated to bring back the initial finish if it ends up being scuffed, used or harmed. It’s in some cases offered with a ‘click-and-lock’ installation, which does not need any glue. However, tongue-and-groove variations will need to be glued into the area.
Prices range widely for engineered wood flooring from cheap to very expensive depending on the wood. Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchen areas are suitable areas to lay engineered wood flooring. While it’s much more resistant to bending than solid wood, it’s still best avoided in places that it will be exposed to a lot of humidity, such as a restroom. It’s likewise best stayed clear of on staircases, where it is difficult and fiddly to lay as it can be tricky to achieve a good look around corners.
Reclaimed Wood Flooring
Reclaimed wood flooring is timber that has been used prior to being used again, often this has been sourced from old buildings such as barns, farmhouses and old wooden flooring in townhouses.
If you live in an older property, you could be fortunate enough to uncover a completely preserved floorboard. Usually, you can source either reclaimed oak flooring or reclaimed pine. Of course, reclaimed oak is very hardwearing and because of its age, any expansion or detraction has ceased and thus it is very strong. Having said this, sourcing reclaimed oak is much more expensive than reclaimed pine, which is a softwood.
Reclaimed timber flooring can be laid anywhere, but it is advisable to not lay in wet areas, such as shower rooms. If spillage does occur it is advisable to wipe it up straight away.
