Most people nowadays want to have hardwood floors in their homes because they look rich and are easier to take care of than carpeted floors. When you’re in the market for timber floors, you have a choice between solid wood flooring and engineered wood. Knowing the difference will help you determine which is the best option for your home.
Solid Timber Flooring
Solid timber planks are milled from a single piece of timber and, because they can be sanded down, they can last for decades. In fact, there is a trend for using reclaimed wood for flooring and other home design needs. Since it is a natural material, wood is susceptible to changes in the weather, such as temperature and humidity levels. It cannot be installed below a certain gradient because of this susceptibility.
Engineered Timber Flooring
Engineered timber flooring is created by layering timber or plies together using cross-grain construction. By virtue of these layers, this kind of timber flooring is sturdier and more stable. Since it is able to withstand higher humidity, engineered flooring can be installed in bathrooms, basements, over concrete sub-floors and over heating elements that will help to heat your floors in the winter.
Which Do You Prefer?
The main advantage that engineered timber flooring has over solid timber is stability, or the ability to hold its shape better. Engineered flooring is less prone to warping, cupping or gapping, so it can be manufactured in wider planks for people who like that look. Engineered floors can be installed quickly or replaced without too much trouble since the planks can be fitted together without the need to use adhesives or nails to affix it to a sub-floor.
Design Considerations
In many cases, solid timber and engineered timber flooring do not have advantages over one another, but which you prefer will often depend on the floor design you want. Solid timber flooring is installed with a mixture of short and long planks to give the floor more stability and resistance to moisture, humidity and temperature changes. Engineered flooring comes in standard lengths, so the floor will look more uniform in design.
Environmental Concerns
Solid timber flooring generates more waste than engineered flooring because it takes more trees to produce the planks. If you are concerned about the use of old growth trees to make flooring or about wasting wood, then consider engineered flooring as it uses wood more efficiently in its production. When buying engineered wood flooring in Perth, look for a high-quality product. Cheaper versions are made with a wood veneer on the top, which cannot be sanded and refinished.
When selecting engineered timber flooring, you will have a choice between fibreboard-cored or timber-cored flooring. If you live in a more humid or rainy area, you should select timber-cored flooring as it holds up better in such climates. The choice between solid timber or engineered timber flooring depends on your design aesthetic, where it is being laid and your budget, as engineered flooring is usually less expensive than solid timber.