A World Of Choices In Wooden Flooring
Wood has always been an excellent material for floors since man discovered its benefits in terms of practicality, durability and beauty
. Indeed, the warm tones of wood brings out the best in a home and its decor regardless if said wood was made from oak, maple or walnut, among other trees. With product innovations, the choices in wood flooring run the gamut of finishes, styles and sizes so much so that making a choice can be difficult.
Still, a world of choices in wood flooring is always better than being stuck with a single choice. The most obvious reason is that a home is a personal statement, said statement of which starts from the floor going up to the roof, in a manner of speaking.
Here then are the most popular choices in wood flooring. Since all of these are beautiful, functional and durable, the final choice boils down to personal preferences.
Solid Wood:
Arguably, the best flooring is made from solid wood strips or planks made from the likes of oak, black walnut, maple, cherry and ash, among others. Local species of trees cultivated in sustainable tree farms like pecan are also used for their distinctive grain patterns.
When the wood comes in strips, these usually measure from 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide while planks come in sizes from 4 to 8 inches wide. The choice between the two comes down to the planned floor size, style and look since both work just as well.
Aside from oils and lacquer, these solid wood flooring can also be finished with ceramics, acrylic monomers and aluminium oxide. The results are astounding in that the solid wood looks more beautiful and proves more durable in the long run.
Why choose solid wood? Well, let's just say that its classic looks harmonise with just about any theme for interior design from the classic to the avant-garde. The tones are easy on the eyes, too.
Engineered Wood:
The second choice in wooden flooring is engineered wood. Basically, the lower layers are made from cheap plywood with the upper layer being solid wood although many manufacturers now use a mixture of stone dust and recycled wood fibre for the backing layers. The layers make the flooring more stable on one hand and less susceptible to environmental changes in humidity and temperature on the other hand.
While solid wood is preferred for living rooms and bedrooms, engineered wood is most often used in kitchens and basements. Many home owners also choose engineered wood for in-floor heating systems.
When installing engineered wood, it can be nailed or glued to the floor. Many manufacturers are also making click-able engineered wood that lock onto themselves, thus, doing away with wood nails and glue.
Laminated Wood:
The most affordable wood flooring is laminated wood, which also comes in a wide variety of patterns, colours and styles. Although similar to engineered wood in that the layers are made from plywood and other similar materials, the top layer of laminated wood is a plastic coating - not real wood.
Before the plastic coating is applied, a photograph of the grain pattern is placed on top of the plywood layers. The result is laminated wood that closely mimics the look of solid wood to the point that only an expert can detect the differences.
So, which of these wooden flooring choices is your choice? Look at your budget first and then your planned floor style before making a choice in your own home. No matter which one you choose one thing is clear: You will love the beauty of wood floors.
by: Lawrence White
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