Solid and engineered timber flooring
Timber Flooring is a vital component of any property and owners want flooring that is lifelong, tough and that adds value to the house. Timber flooring is very resilient, comfortable, low-allergenic and easy to care for that’s why it will always be a favorite among new house buyers and renovators. Natural wood enriches a sense of class and style inside homes and offices.
The most common and high on demand wood flooring types in Sydney are Solid timber flooring and engineered timber flooring.
Solid timber flooring is 100% hardwood from the top to the base, meaning that the plank is solid wood all the way through.
On the other hand, engineered timber flooring is made up of a 3-6mm top layer of solid hardwood, which is glued to an engineered base of layered ply.
Engineered timber flooring utilizes engineered timber boards, in contrast to solid timber flooring which uses solid timber boards.
Engineered Wood Flooring is constructed from layers of timber glued together and finished with a top layer of hardwood. The top layer of wood can be sanded and refinished multiple times. The engineered construction adds dimensional stability and strength.
A large number of homeowners prefer solid timber flooring because of its rich aesthetic appeal and low maintenance. These floors deliver warmth and durability to any space or home/office decor. For homes or offices with high traffic areas, these floors work best because of their high resistance to damage. Solid wood flooring can be stained or re-sanded to change the color or appearance of the existing floor.
There’s a sheer difference between the two types:
- Engineered wood is a layered product made of real but thin slice of hardwood on top of high-quality plywood whereas Solid hardwood is nothing but hardwood.
- Sanding is one of the greatest differences between engineered and solid wood flooring. Engineered wood can be sanded but only once or twice lightly, before the thin upper layer wears away. Solid wood can be sanded numerous times. Eventually, solid hardwood will become too thin after years of sanding, compromising its structural integrity.
- Engineered wood is easier than solid hardwood because there a multiple installation methods, including stapling or nailing, or glue whereas Solid wood flooring is only nailed or stapled down.
- Engineered wood floors are durable, but not comparable to solid wood. Because the surface is thin, it can become chipped if stressed beyond normal conditions. Well-maintained solid hardwood flooring will last for decades. Moisture is the enemy of this type of flooring. Wood floors stand a chance of being recovered after flooding, but they will never return to their original shape.
- Engineered wood is better than solid hardwood with coming in contact with moisture. Its plywood base is dimensionally stable, meaning that it warps and flexes less easily upon contact with moisture than solid wood. Solid hardwood is never recommended for bathrooms, basements, or other areas where moisture is predominant or even probable. Still, solid hardwood can resist some moisture. Site-finished wood flooring (as opposed to pre-finished), though, does have a sealed top layer that can shed some moisture.
- While it is best to avoid any kind of organic material in kitchens, engineered wood can be made to work with proper precautions. Engineered wood can be installed below-grade with a proper subfloor. Solid wood works best in dining rooms, bedrooms, living areas, hallways. While it's sensible to avoid solid wood in kitchens, installation can be okay if waterproof mats are placed near sink and dishwasher to avoid contact with moisture. You should elude installing solid wood flooring in bathrooms, though would be fine in a powder room. Never install solid wood floor below grade, in basements.
These are some of the other highly requested types of Australian Timber flooring:
- Hardwood flooring is timeless and durable. It is one of the most highly sought after floor materials due to its versatile function and design. the look of this material never gets old.
- Laminate timber flooring is very popular in Sydney and by far a favorite. Laminate wood flooring is made from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures. The hardwood is then placed over the composite wood, covering it to form the laminate. Laminate offers you the look and feel of real wood but for a fraction of the price, about half the price of Hardwood flooring. Another advantage is that it is scratch hygienic, easy to clean, resistant, and very low maintenance.
- Oak timber flooring was established to offer the erudite style of traditional hardwood available to homes for a more reasonable price. Installation options include gluing, stapling, or floating. If you want to add class and elegance to your home you can’t go wrong with Oak timber flooring.
- Floating timber floors – this type of flooring does not attach to the subfloor beneath meaning that have not been nailed into the layer lying directly under the new surface. Individual planks or boards are attached to one another. The benefits of a floating floor include is that they are much inexpensive to install but also much easier, also its engineered toughness and the flexibility to tolerate expansion and contraction that can be caused by environmental conditions.