Wooden flooring is among the best flooring choices for your house or business. It not only provides character and appeal but also is durable and easy to maintain. We collected and compared different types of wooden flooring for your convenience, included solid, engineered or laminate boards.
1. Laminate Flooring: Cost-effective and Natural-Looking
On a budget? Looking for an inexpensive and natural-looking wooden floor? Then go for laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is built from compressed fiberboard layers on which a photographic image is attached. The photograph can imitate any natural wood or stone. This layer usually protected by an overlay wear layer. Laminate flooring is great for most room especially high traffic areas that require frequent cleaning such as living room, studies or kids’ room. Avoid using laminate flooring in wet rooms such as a bathroom or kitchen, unless it guaranteed by the floor manufacturer that their product is water-proof. Cheap laminar floors are smooth and don’t look natural. If you are going to buy a laminate flooring look for products with beveled edged and embossed patterns.
2. Engineered Wooden Flooring: Versatile and DIY-Friendly
Each engineered floorboard consists of three or more plywood layer laid at the right angle to each other. The top or wear layer is made of a high-quality natural timber up to 6mm thick. It means that it can be sanded and refinished if it becomes scratched, worn or damaged. Engineered flooring is more stable than solid flooring and less prone to humidity and temperature changes. You can lay an engineered flooring in most rooms from a hallway and living room to a bedroom. But you should avoid installing it in a shower room, bathroom or laundry room as it may get damaged by excess humidity or water spills. As an advantage, it can be installed over underfloor heating and in high humidity areas such as an underground basement. Some manufacturers offer click-and-lock installation method which is DIY-friendly and don’t require adhesive. Please be aware that with Tongue-and-groove versions, you need to glue or nail the floor to the sub-flooring.
3. Solid Wooden Flooring: Warm and Luxury
Nothing can provide warmth and charm to a room more than solid wood flooring. Solid floorboards are cut from an authentic tree and can be sanded and refinished several times to revive their look and shine. Solid woods such as walnut and oak, if properly maintained, may last for decades and bring charm and luxury to your home. You can install them in any room in your house but avoid exposing it to a lot of moisture. If you lay it in a kitchen or bathroom, the floorboard will soon begin to warp. Besides, if a wooden floor gets wet, it becomes very slippery and dangerous.
4. Reclaimed Wooden Flooring: Affordable and Eco-Friendly
Reclaimed wooden floors are woods that are salvaged from another older property to be reused. If you are lucky enough you may a find a good preserved and characterful reclaimed wooden floor at the local store or online. Some reclaimed floor can be installed over underfloor heating too. Always consider your home age when buying reclaimed flooring.
5. Parquet Flooring: Elegant and Durable
Easily recognizable by short wooden blocks arranged in a geometric pattern, parquet has a long history in the home of aristocracy, and is gaining in popularity. A pattern such as chevron or herringbone reflects the light enhances the look of natural wood. The good news is that parquet is not as expensive as a hardwood flooring and because it is made form smaller pies of wood, it is more environment-friendly. You can fit a parquet flooring into any room except than areas in which water spills are spread around such as bathrooms or kitchens. To make a statement, use it in the hallway and avoid laying it rooms where furniture covers up the majority of it.
6. Cork Flooring: Soft and Sustainable
Cork is actually harvested from the bark of the oak tree. Therefore, it is a sustainable and eco-friendly flooring. For flooring, cork is compressed and formed into sheets with resins. Cork is soft and can act as a cushion, so it is a wise choice for a kid’s room or playroom. Besides, it is warm and cozy. You can use cork flooring in the bedroom without any problem. As it doesn’t absorb dust or mites, cork flooring is a good option for allergic people. It is best to avoid it in bathrooms and high humidity rooms. When you are going to choose a wooden flooring type you should take factors such as color, length and width of the boards, hardness, and price into account. Choose solid, engineered or parquet flooring to enhance visual appearance and bring charm and warmth to your home. Cork and reclaimed wood floors are more sustainable and help you save our prized forests. References: 1- https://www.realhomes.com/buyers-guides/wooden-floor-buyers-guide 2- https://www.hardwoods4less.com/learning-center/top-6-factors-in-choosing-hardwood-flooring 3- https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/wood-flooring/article/how-to-buy-wood-flooring/types-of-wood-flooring#point5 4- https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/wood-flooring/article/how-to-buy-wood-flooring/types-of-wood-flooring#point5 5- https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/all-about-hardwood-floors 6- https://www.floormania.com.au/wide-vs-narrow-timber-planks-whats-the-difference/ 7- https://villagecarpetshop.com/about/blog-page/4/what-is-the-most-durable-hardwood-flooring-option-