After being involved in wood floors and joinery production for more than 35 years we are seeing big changes in the flooring world.
People looking for wood flooring in our modern times are so frequently bombarded with so many different products and information it can often be overwhelming. Gone are the days where an oak floor was simply just that, an oak floor.
Nowadays the varying dimensions, finishes and specifications of engineered boards can make choosing the right wood flooring for your home no mean feat. There are still specialist flooring companies such as ourselves that work directly with you to ensure you get a flooring solution that is best suited to your individual project.
One of the biggest changes that has taken place in the world of flooring within the last few years is a change from Solid Oak to Engineered Oak flooring, and this certainly has made a vast improvement for the ease of fitting and practicality if a quality product is purchased.
With the right engineered board the speed of fitting is increased, the chance of shrinking and swelling is reduced and the flooring can easily be used over under-floor heating with peace of mind as well as a stunning visual result.
A top end high quality engineered board is always manufactured consisting of an underside that is made up from quality multi-laminate plywood with a top layer of solid wood and not a block board type underside. The multi-laminate ply is what gives the board its vast strength and stability. If you wish to purchase a floor that will give you the longest life expectancy its top layer of hardwood should be between 3 to 6 mm in thickness. This upper layer in our modern day times is known as the “wear layer”. In purchasing a board with a thick wear layer of solid timber, you can expect to get a life expectancy that is equivalent to a solid wooden floor yet with far more advantages in terms of stability and loosing none of the visual beauty that a natural hardwood floor offers.
To conclude here are a few factors to consider.
Firstly, try to get straight forward expert advice from someone who is up to date in modern wooden flooring and is not simply trying to sell their own product.
When purchasing an engineered wood floor for your home remember simply paying more for the flooring does not necessarily mean that you get a better product.
When comparing prices always compare like for like. The flooring market can range extensively in both quality and price. When comparing floorboards, take all factors into account eg don’t just compare one thickness of board to another board of the same thickness and choose the cheaper. Consider the grade of the hardwood, the dimensions, the quality of ply, the quality of the adhesives used in the board and more.
Nowadays the flooring world can be described as a bit of a minefield, but with the right advice and a little bit of know-how, you will find a floor that is perfect for your home.
