Wooden flooring in a home is a great investment and offers natural beauty with perceived warmth and luxury. Whatever your circumstances and budget, there is a perfect choice. Solid wood, engineered, parquet, reclaimed and laminate all have a place in today’s modern home.
Laminate is probably the only one that cannot be described accurately as ‘wooden flooring’, as it is wood effect. This is printed onto the pressed wood substrate with no real wood present on the top surface.
Hardwoods are the most durable and can be refinished should this become necessary. In a busy area, oak, maple and cherry are popular choices; alternatively, if your budget is limited, one of the softer species such as pine can be more accommodating on price. This will tend to scratch more easily; however, refinishing is again an option.
Solid or engineered wood?
The choice between solid and engineered generally depends on both the environment and your budget. If you are looking to place it in a living room, dining room, hall or bedroom, a solid wood floor would be suitable, as these tend to be stable locations with no fluctuations in humidity and no real dampness. A solid hardwood floor can be refinished time and time again if necessary to bring it back to its former glory.
Engineered wood flooring is the favoured choice for kitchens, conservatories and basement areas where temperature and humidity are prone to large variations. Engineered wood boards are more stable and less likely to split or distort over time.
Advantages of engineered wood
Engineered wood flooring retains a solid wood top layer and is therefore available in many species, colours, widths, thicknesses and finishes. Take a look at stockists such https://www.irwintiles.ie/wooden-flooring/engineered-wood-flooring.html for inspiration.
You will soon discover that engineered wood has many advantages over solid hardwood flooring. Not only is it dimensionally stronger due to its construction but also it can be used in conjunction with underfloor heating, is less expensive to buy, and is often supplied with a ‘click’ fitting system to make it quick and easy to lay. The major plus factor is that once installed, it is very difficult to tell the difference from solid hardwood floors.
You will find engineered wood as the flooring of choice in many domestic and commercial situations. Once fitted, your floor will be the envy of family and friends.
