What is all the fuss about engineered wood flooring?

This article is provided by Becky Knowles.

Move over solid wood, there is a new wood in town and its call engineered. For centuries solid wood, with its authentic natural beauty, and durable nature has been a true favorite when it comes to flooring. Now, with a solid wood top and a plywood (or HDF) base, Engineered Wood Flooring has come into the mix and there is simply no competition. 

If you are wondering why engineered wood flooring is so good? Here we will talk about the benefits of engineered wood and why it is the way forward for wood flooring. 

Looks like solid wood!

With a solid wood surface, engineered wood looks just as authentic and striking as a solid wood board – you would not be able to see any difference once it has been laid! 

Structural stability

Wood naturally expands and contracts throughout environmental and seasonal changes. If a solid wood floor is not laid correctly or the environment is not stable enough it could warp or lift. By bonding plywood layers horizontally to the solid wood veneer a structurally solid board is created. With excessive heat and humidity fluctuations experienced in a conservatory and kitchen, wood flooring has previously been a no go due to the high potential for damage. However, with engineered wood’s ingenious construction the boards are less reactive to humidity and heat fluctuations than solid wood, barely moving throughout these changes and can therefore be laid in these rooms. Plus, unlike solid wood, engineered wood can also be laid over underfloor heating.

Wider boards

Wide flooring boards are much rarer than narrow boards due to the need for older and thicker trees to be harvested. On top of this, solid wood boards can only be made to a certain width as the wider the board the more susceptible it is to bowing. With the added support of the plywood back, bowing is no longer a problem and engineered boards can be made much wider. Plus, as only a relatively thin veneer is needed more boards can be made with a small amount of wood! 

Choice

Just like solid wood, engineered is available in a huge range of finishes, colours, grades styles and sizes available so you can pick the perfect wood for your home and lifestyle.

Durability

One of the best things about a wood floor is its longevity and its ability to gain more character as it ages. Engineered boards are incredibly durable and their ability to handle heavy footfall means they can last a lifetime. Over time wood can start to look tired (after around 10 years) and scratched but this can be solved by simply sanding and re-finishing it. Engineered wood can sand be sanded once every 1mm veneer, so long as 1mm remains (a 5mm veneer can be sanded 4 times). 

Cost = Investment

Although wood flooring is considered to be expensive, the longevity of the flooring as well as its timeless beauty and ability to add value to your home makes it much more of an investment. Besides this, with suppliers like www.directwoodflooring.co.uk offering a huge range of engineered and solid wood all at amazing low prices, wood flooring will no longer break the bank. A wood floor will add class and style to any room and with all the benefits of engineered wood you can get a naturally beautiful floor with an abundance of character combined with the valuable qualities provided by its effective structure. So if you are thinking of getting a wood floor, you might want to have a look at engineered wood as an option!