Different Types of wood flooring
Laminate Flooring
What is laminate flooring?
The core of laminated flooring consists of wood fibres which have been highly compressed. It is then covered by a photographic image of wood and laminated with a protective outer layer.
Costs
Prices can start as low as £3 sq metre but the cheapest types are very unrealiable.
Better quality types have a varied set of photos, registered embossing of various wood grain features, and are HDF cored this means they are more resistant to moisture, as there types have a moisture resistant backing on the bottom face, these can also come with bevelled edges to give a more realistic wood look and feel.
Where can it be used?
It can be used in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, studies and playrooms. Some laminated floorings have a waterproof core and are claimed to be suitable showers and bathrooms. However it’s advisable to meticulously check the manufacturers guarantee before using in these areas.
Pros
• It’s click-lock designs are easy to fit.
• It is available in a wide range of designs.
• It’s cheap and hardwearing.
Cons
• NONE hdf core products are easily swollen by moisture, and this cannot be repaired.
• Once the surface is damaged it’s impossible to fix.
• The most expensive laminate will not look or feel like the real thing.
• Shoddily installed laminate is a turn off for house buyers.
What is engineered wood flooring?
Each floor board is made from three or four layers of wood, glued to each other with the grain running at right angles to each other. This makes it less prone to expansion and contraction in areas of slightly higher humidity and more suitable for under-floor heating. It has a top layer of real wood about 4mm thick which can be sanded and restored to its original finish if it is damaged or worn.
Costs
Prices can start from as little as £14.99 sq metre and up to £100.0 per sq metre for the high quality products specifically woods like smoked oak, teak, maple, or walnut.
Where can it be used?
It can be installed anywhere it won’t be over exposed to water, or very high humidity.
Pros
• It is cheaper than comparable solid wood floor boards
• It is more stable than solid wood due to its construction, so less inclined to distortion caused by changes in temperature or humidity.
• It looks more “real” and is more attractive than laminates.
Cons
• Tongue and groove is harder to install than click-lock boards.
• It is dearer than laminate.
• It is time consuming to fit and difficult to achieve a good finish in some areas, such as around toilet pans and pedestals.
What is real wood flooring?
Each solid wood floor board is made from a single piece of wood, which is thicker than laminate or engineered wood at 16mm to 21mm thick. It is usually tongue and groove.
Solid wood flooring like engineered floors can be sanded and restored to its original finish a number of times, which is determined by how deep the tongue is set from the top of the board.
Solid hardwood flooring have hardness ratings which indicates how easily they can be dented and damaged by wear and tear.
Costs
Prices vary depending on the grade and the type of wood from as little as £18.99 sq to £300.0 per meter dependant on the quality/ type of wood and the grade of the product.
Where can it be used?
It can be used anywhere in your home with a stable atmosphere, especially in living areas and hallways.
Pros
• It looks wonderful
• Installed correctly it will last for ever
• Adds value to your house
Cons
• It is more expensive than engineered or laminates.
• Solid wood swells in damp conditions and shrinks in dry conditions.
• It’s the hardest to install because it has to be secret screwed or nailed down, and individual boards can distort after they have been manufactured, so there is a high risk of failure if its fitted poorly, in all cases you must get someone who knows what they are doing, who have been properly trained in how to use a sub floor meter, and humidity gauge. Some one turning up who does not have these instruments will not have the knowledge to be able to fit your solid wood floor to the required standards to stop it from being affected during its life from excessive shrinkage or expansion, and even failure.