Solid timber flooring and oak engineered timber flooring both exploit the inherent warmth and beauty of genuine wood from trees, with a broad selection of hues, textures, and finishes that make it worthy of its premium reputation in flooring.
The question remains: what is the difference between the two? We’ll examine their make-up, installation process, pros and downsides, and differences and similarities between these two types of “genuine” wood flooring here. We hope that after reading this manual, you will feel prepared to choose the path that is best for you.
Wood Variety: Hardwood vs. Softwood
It’s important to know that there are two distinct kinds of solid wooden floors—hardwood and non-hardwood—distinguished by the wood they’re made from. Hardwood flooring is more costly than its non-hardwood counterparts due to its greater durability. Meanwhile, non-hardwood is both more cost-effective and friendlier to the environment than hardwood since it grows at a quicker rate.
If you’re looking for a floor, hardwood is our top recommendation since it’s more long-lasting and resilient.
Solid Wood Flooring: Prefinished vs. Raw
Also, you’ll need to decide whether you want a prefinished or raw solid wood floor. What must be done to the flooring before and after installation is what differentiates the two. If you want greater control over the look and feel of your flooring, raw solid wood floors need finishing (i.e., coating with material, usually to boost longevity) after installation. Raw solid wood flooring, in contrast to prefinished solid timber floors, allows for the expansion and contraction of spaces between floorboards to be sealed.
Raw solid wood floors have to be acclimated to the environment for around two to three weeks before they can be installed. Floorboards might expand or shrink in size during this seasoning process, depending on the relative humidity and temperature in your house or workplace. Additional time of up to a week is required for the sanding and polishing step after the installation of raw solid wood flooring.
Meanwhile, the more modern and practical choice is prefinished solid wood flooring, which has already been sanded, treated, and sealed throughout the manufacturing process. Because they don’t need acclimatisation before installation or polishing afterwards, they may be set up more quickly. In addition, the protective top layer may be sprayed more completely and uniformly using expert equipment in the factory, making prefinished floors more durable.
Solid Timber Flooring: Advantages & Disadvantages
Solid timber flooring, which is made from real wood planks, has the classic appearance and feel of wood and is strong and durable. Because they are treated with finishes like polyurethane, solid wood floors can withstand a lot of foot traffic and wear and tear. A solid wood floor is simple to maintain and may last for decades with regular sweeping and mopping. Solid hardwood flooring expands and contracts naturally over time, particularly in areas with strong climatic variations.
Advantage
- Superb and authentic appearance and texture
- Durable
- They are long-lasting
- Very simple to clean
Disadvantage
- Floor’s surface isn’t as sturdy as others
- Possible instability in rapidly changing climates
- More costly
Oak Engineered Timber Flooring: Advantages & Disadvantages
Instead of using a single thick plank of wood, as is done with solid wood floors, oak-engineered timber flooring uses many planks of wood cemented together. Engineered wood floors are an excellent alternative for individuals who don’t want to commit to solid timber flooring since they provide the same exquisite appearance and feel of solid timber at a reduced cost.
Most oak-engineered timber wood flooring is sold prefinished to save you the trouble of sanding, polishing, and varnishing after installation, which can be both time-consuming and a source of unpleasant odours. Additionally, engineered wood floors are as durable as prefinished solid timber floors due to the several layers of protective coating sprayed on by the manufacturer.
Advantage
- Less expensive than solid timber flooring
- Fast and simple set-up
- More reliable
- Exquisite in appearance and texture
- Fairly resilient and resistant to moisture
- Minimise needed repairs
Disadvantages
- Less durable than solid wooden floors
- May sound hollower than solid wood
- Possibly give off gases
Timber Flooring Installations: How Does It Work?
You can glue or nail solid or engineered wood floors to the subfloor, but you can also “float” engineered wood floors. Floating flooring is ideal for short-term repairs or for tenants due to its speed and ease of installation and removal. However, they have a tendency to have a more hollow sound and need underlayment for both structural support and sound absorption. Your selection is also influenced by any variations in your present floor (which will become the subfloor), as well as any rules if you’re living in an apartment since the sturdiness of floorboards may be rather noisy for your neighbours below.
Conclusion
Oak engineered timber flooring was formerly seen to be a poor replica of solid timber flooring, but advancements in product quality have changed that. Solid hardwood may have a little edge in prestige for certain individuals and remains a top option among experts for adding value and longevity, but engineered wood flooring has the advantage over others due to its cheaper cost and ease of installation. Additionally, engineered wood requires less hardwood, which appeals to ecologically aware customers.