Types of Wood flooring

Things to Know Before Buying Hardwood Floor

So wood floors are wonderful, it’s the word that inspires image of beauty, luxury and richness but where do you begin? To help you to out, we have bought together 5 factors to consider while choosing which hardwood flooring type is ideal for you.

1. Type of Wood Flooring
There are fundamentally three kinds of wood flooring—solid wood, engineered wood and laminated. Solid wood flooring is processed from solid wood logs, and is joined with a conventional tongue and groove along both the long and short edges. Since it can be repeatedly sanded, it can keep going for quite a long time.

Engineered wood flooring is made up of numerous layers, the top layer being a veneer of solid wood and the base compromising of either multilayer plywood or 3 layer softwood.. Engineered wood usually comes with a click lock making easy to install and if required uninstall and reinstall.

While the three kinds offer a similar stunner of genuine hardwood, the essential distinction between solid wood and engineered wood flooring is in the floor’s composition. Since solid wood flooring is prone to expand and contract with relative and external humidity, it is recommended to be used in areas with less moisture. On the contrary, engineered wood has restricted expansion and contraction under varied weather conditions; it becomes a better choice in areas of relatively higher levels of humidity

2. Specificity of wood
Today in wood flooring there is a wide range; some are harder and dense while other are soft and sturdy.

Species of wood have varied properties, colours and grain patterns. Teak, African mahogany, Kayu Kuku are some of the most recognized exotic woods while Walnut and Oak are among the most widely accepted and used.

Wood floors can be revamped over and again however remember that it’s susceptible to damage if not used as per the recommended care.

3. Colour, Grain & Appearance
Since wood flooring comes in such a significant number of various species, styles and finishes, it is simple to choose a floor to match any room design.

In the event that you have a vintage style interior, wide plank floors with fine defined wood grains and a distressed appearance will be a good match. For conventional interiors, wood floors in Oaks or Walnuts, would make a smart decision. For all intents and purposes any kind of wood can be utilized in a contemporary setting, depending upon what stain or finish is used.

4. Type of Finish
The finish is one of the major factors in the general appearance and significance of the wood floor. There are distinctive gloss levels and finishing styles that change the general look of the wood floor. Distressed, hand-scraped or wire-brush finishes will likewise be an interesting point when looking for a wood floor.

Similar wood specie will look totally changed in a clear gloss, versus a distressed, hand-scraped or wire-brush finish up. Unfinished floors are sanded and finished on-site, which accommodates a consistent seal at the joints with a choice of finish and color.

5. Cost and Installation
The expense of wood flooring relies upon the type, the wood species and the finish. The normal expense of installation is no more than a fraction of the cost of flooring yet it depends on the sort of flooring and installation for your home.

Solid wood floors are installed by nailing, stapling or gluing planks to a subfloor while engineered wood flooring are free floated on the subfloor using the click locks that form the edges of the product.

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FAQs

1. What are types of wood flooring? 3 types. A. Laminated wood flooring, B. Engineered wood flooring C. Solid wood flooring.
2. What is the difference between these 3 types? Laminated wood flooring has no wood element in it. Its only made to look like wood using a deco paper (laminate) over an MDF base. Engineered wood flooring has the top layer of real wood with a backing of a plywood or soft wood (like pine). Solid wood flooring is a homogenous / single piece of wood.
3. What is the life of these 3 types of wood flooring? 
   1. Laminated wood flooring
      1. Residential use -10-12 yrs
      2. Commercial use – 4-5 yrs
   2. Engineered wood flooring
      1. Residential use – 15-20 yrs
      2. Commercial use – 7- 10 yrs
   3. Solid wood flooring
      1. Residential use – 20 yrs or more
      2. Commercial use – 12 – 15 yrs. (not recommended is its very high traffic) 

4. What is the kind of coating / polish on these 3 wooden flooring material and can they be re-polished? 
   1. Laminated wood flooring – Does NOT have any polish, the deco paper has a protection film on the deco paper.  The floor cannot be revived if the paper is damaged or peeled off.
   2. Engineered wood flooring – Is coated with a special Aluminum oxide and ceremic coating. This combination has very high scratch resistance Can be re sanded and polished if the coating wears off over time.
   3. Solid wood flooring – Is coated with a UV coating, which has high scratch resistance. Can be re sanded and polished if the coating wears off over time. 

5. How long does the coating last?  Engineered and Solid wood flooring – Will last about 15-20 yrs for residential use and about 5-7yrs for commercial use.

6. Are there any advantages of engineered wood flooring over solid wood flooring? Its important to remember that wood expands and contracts with weather changes. Engineered wood are more stable. The expansion and contraction is controlled by its construction unlike that of the solid wood flooring. 

7. Can laminate, engineered or solid floor be re sanded and polished? Engineered wood flooring and Solid wood flooring can be re sanded and polished depending on the product construction whereas a laminate cannot be re polished.

8. What are the advantages of using a wooden floor?
   1. Value: Wood floors add value to your residence at resale time, not to mention it is a lifetime product. They increase in value as your home does. Hardwood floor products are one of the most sought after hard surface flooring in remodeling and new home constructions.
   2. Ecological Sound: Unlike most floor coverings, wood floors come from a natural resource that is sustainable.
   3. Healthy: Wood floors help contribute to a healthy living environment. Hard surface flooring such as hardwood floors does not rap or harbor dust mites or molds. That creates better air quality for all inhabitants, especially for people who suffer from allergies.

9. What does one need to do to maintain these floors? A little care and maintenance procedure will help to keep the floor looking its best and help to protect it from unnecessary wear and damage.
   1. Sweep or vacuum the floor regularly to keep or clean and free of dust, sand and other abrasive material.
   2. Blot up liquid spills immediately.
   3. Place area rugs or doormats at entryways to help prevent sand, grit, oils, dirt and other abrasive or staining materials from being tracked onto the floor surface from outdoors. (Avoid rubber-backed or similar dense matting materials that may trap moisture between the mat and the floor; choose mats that enable airflow instead.
   4. Place protective mats at high-use work areas such as sinks, ranges and workstations.
   5. Do not use wet mops and detergents on the floor.

10. What should one keep in mind while ordering a wooden floor?
    1. One can plan the levels of the adjoining flooring, keeping in mind the finished height of the wooden flooring he has ordered.
    2. The base floor provided must be smooth and leveled (zero level).
    3. The base floor must have clear marking in bright paint of the conduits running below them to avoid being punctured while fastening the plywood, if it’s a solid wood installation.

11. What are the accessories used in a wooden floor?
    1. Skirting – Installed at the base on any wall.
       1. Profiles
          1. T profile (TP) – is installed at the meeting of 2 finished-leveled floors.
          2. Adapter profile (AP) – is installed at the meeting of 2 floors that are not of the same finished level.
          3. Edge profile (EP) – is installed at the edge of a wooden floor where the floor ends onto a doorframe, an open end, furniture etc.
          4. Corner beading (CB)– installed at the border of fixed furniture.

12. How does one know which accessory to use where?  Depending on the site, accessories may vary. It is always advisable to measure the exact skirting, profiles and beading required.

13. How does one estimate the quantity of flooring required? Should one order any extra material?  One should measure the area to be floored and then add about 5-7% towards wastage before ordering the wooden floor material. Remember to consider a nominal wastage of the skirting, profiles and beading required.  Also remember all material are normally sent in standard box packing so one must be prepared to account for a small amount of wastage towards extra stock (can be used as replacements if required).

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