Tips for choosing your wooden floor

How do you choose the right wooden floor for your home?

 

Wooden floors can be a stylish and functional addition to your home, but there is so much out there to choose from – where do you start?

The type of flooring we have is an important decision; the floor of your room is the base from which all other decorating decisions are made. More than this though, a floor sees a lot more action than walls or furniture, and we expect a floor to last longer than a coat of paint on the walls. We need the right floor for our home that will look and feel good for years to come.

 

There are three main types of wooden flooring:

 

1. Laminate flooring

Why choose laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is actually made from compressed fibreboard covered with a photographic image of wood grain. It comes in thin planks which are laid over the top of a thin underlay and can be very cost effective and hard wearing.

Some laminate flooring has a waterproof core designed to  make it impervious to moisture but it is still probably not the best choice for a bathroom or kitchen which is likely to see more moisture and water spillages.

 

2. Engineered wood flooring

Why choose engineered wood flooring?

Engineered wood is several thin layers of wood glued together at right angles to create planks. Glueing the wood like this restricts its natural movement, so this type of wooden flooring is more stable than solid wood and less likely to change or move when exposed to heat or humidity.

High quality engineered wood has a thick top layer of wood which means it can be sanded and refinished if required. In terms of price, engineered wood flooring is a mid-range option and this alongside its stability in heat or humidity makes it very popular.

 

3. Hardwood flooring

Why choose hardwood flooring?

Hardwood is solid planks of wood, usually installed on top of a layer or two of plywood which means it can raise the level of your floor by a considerable amount. This is something to bear in mind as it can affect everything from doors to the available height in the room. Hardwood flooring can be sanded back and refinished numerous times because each piece is made from one solid piece of wood. One major problem with hardwood flooring is that it is reactive to moisture levels in your home. Hardwood flooring shrinks in dry conditions and swells in damp which can mean it’s hard to work with.

 

For help choosing the right wooden flooring for you, get in touch with Holybourne today.