If you’re thinking about a home renovation project, make sure you’re considering the advantages of engineered wood flooring. Offering all the same warmth and character of traditional hardwood, engineered wood flooring also boasts incredible durability and is one of the most sustainable flooring products on the market.
Here at Wood Flooring Ireland, we specialise in bespoke wood flooring, providing customers across the country with tailored designs that are exclusive to them. Using only the finest European Oak, we can design and produce engineered wood flooring that’s perfectly adapted to your home. Keep it simple with long planks in widths to suit your space or mix it up with timeless herringbone or chevron planks.
In addition to using quality oak from sustainable sources, we’re committed to using eco-friendly solutions throughout every step of the manufacturing process. Our high-quality finishes contain no harmful chemicals and will ensure your bespoke flooring will look its best for as long as possible.
What is Engineered Wood Flooring?
It is a hard-wearing and eco-friendly alternative to hardwood flooring. Unlike traditional flooring materials, engineered wood is made up of several layers, with robust plywood often used as a core. The top layer is usually made from new wood, giving each plank or tile an authentic grain finish.
Because engineered flooring features a top layer of wood, many people confuse it with veneer flooring. However, it is a different product entirely. The veneer layer of engineered wood flooring is relatively thick, with most veneer layers measuring more than 2 mm. The installation process of engineered wood also sets it apart from conventional hardwood floors. Engineered flooring doesn’t require complex installation and can be simply laid atop underlay material.
Engineered wood is becoming increasingly available and more affordable, making it a common fixture in many homes and commercial properties. One of the biggest benefits of engineered flooring is its durability. Because it copes particularly well with temperature extremes and moisture, it can withstand regular exposure to things like underfloor heating systems. The resilient nature of engineered wood also makes it a suitable choice for humid environments.
Key Benefits and Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring
Interested in overhauling your interiors with new flooring? Before you settle on hardwood products, you might want to consider the advantages of engineered wood flooring instead. Below are some of the main benefits this premium option provides.
1. A Sustainable Choice
More of us are looking for sustainable choices when it comes to furnishing our homes. One of the biggest advantages of engineered flooring is that it’s an incredibly environmentally friendly product. The plywood cores at the heart of engineered flooring can be made from recycled sources, while the veneer layer requires only a fraction of the wood required to produce traditional hardwood flooring.
It’s not just the wood itself that you need to consider when selecting sustainable flooring. Finishing oils and adhesives can contain harmful chemicals that significantly impact the air quality of your home. Wood Flooring Ireland is dedicated to providing environmentally and health-conscious products to its customers. Our engineered flooring is produced with wood that’s been sustainably sourced, while our UV oils are free of harmful formaldehyde and VOCs.
2. Hassle-Free Installation
One of the main advantages of engineered wood flooring is how easy it is to install. Unlike hardwood flooring, which needs to be sawn down to size and fixed in place, engineered wood flooring is a far more flexible solution. It’s easy to cut individual planks and panels to accommodate awkward room layouts. Floating installation is also possible, meaning you don’t have to risk damaging materials with carpentry nails or aggressive adhesives.
3. A Moisture Resistant Alternative
Engineered wood is the perfect choice of flooring material for moisture-rich environments. Many of us would love to introduce the character of hardwood into spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, and conservatories. However, these humid environments can quickly warp the surface of hardwood, rendering your flooring unfit for purpose. Thanks to a plywood core, engineered hardwood can cope with regular exposure to moisture, without you worrying about it warping. Because it’s so resilient, it can also cope with occasional leaks and minor flooding.
4. Durability
The overall lifespan is comparable to hardwood flooring, although longevity is determined by a few different factors. More basic products might only last you for around 10 years, while premium engineered wood flooring can hold up well for 30 or more years. This is one of our favourite benefits of wood flooring, as we know that our customers are getting premium products that will last them for decades.
To ensure you’re making a solid long-term investment, look for engineered wood flooring with a particularly thick top layer. A thicker veneer will not only prove more resilient against scratches and scuffs but also allow you to carry out occasional maintenance and refurbishment of your flooring. Ideally, you’ll want flooring with a veneer with a thickness of at least 2mm. If you plan on carrying out refinishing work on your flooring, consider that sanding can strip away around 0.5mm of surface material every time.
The most basic engineered flooring will have a three-ply construction, while more expensive options will boast a five-ply construction. Both are hard-wearing, with top layers that can cope with occasional sanding and refinishing. However, if you want something that will last you for decades, you’ll find plenty of engineered flooring with considerably more layers. These premium flooring panels are incredibly thick, with some measuring up to 0.75 inches. They also include a far thicker veneer and multiple finishing layers, meaning you can carry out sanding once every few years without shortening the lifespan of your flooring.
5. Varied Design Choices
Just because you’re choosing an eco-friendly flooring solution, doesn’t mean you have to make any sacrifices when it comes to style. In fact, it comes in a variety of classic styles, with plenty of eye-catching colour options to choose from.
Long Plank Wood Flooring
Long plank wood flooring is one of the most versatile options around. You’ll find oak wood flooring planks in a variety of size options, allowing you to pick the perfect style for your space. Long planks are ideal for larger spaces, while they’re also easy to trim down to fit more awkwardly proportioned rooms. What’s more, their stripped-back aesthetics make them easy to maintain and sand when the time comes.
Chevron Flooring
If you’re looking to inject some character into a space, chevron flooring is the way to go. Chevron flooring makes an instant impression thanks to its hallmark V-shaped pattern. This flooring style first came into fashion during the 1500s but remains a popular interior design choice. Chevron flooring is a great way to showcase the natural beauty of oak, while subtle variations in the grain can add bags of character to your interiors.
Herringbone Flooring
Herringbone flooring is another option to consider if you’re thinking about mixing things up with a hint of pattern. Although herringbone flooring has been around for centuries, it’s a timeless design choice that can look right at home in more contemporary spaces. Herringbone flooring is made up of individual rectangular panels that are meticulously aligned to produce a distinctive zigzag pattern.
Versailles Panels
Versailles panels are a stunning flooring choice for bedrooms and more luxurious spaces. A staple of many a French interior, these panels boast a framed border, with the interior of each panel sporting a woven design. Because of their intricate aesthetics, Versailles panels showcase the innate beauty of oak in all its glory.
6. Colour Matches for Every Interior
If you’re keen to add some colour to your interiors, you’ll be glad to know that you don’t have to settle for weathered wood finishes. At Wood Flooring Ireland, we offer an impressive array of engineered oak flooring in all manner of eye-catching colours. Looking for muted shades? You’ll find grey wood flooring in an assortment of inviting hues. Prefer a clean, crisper finish? White wood flooring makes the perfect addition to the more contemporary interior.
7. Traceability
If you’re looking to invest in wood flooring to improve your green credentials, make sure you’re buying products made from traceable materials. At Wood Flooring Ireland, all the wood we use is traceable to its source. We use wood harvested from mature oak trees that have been specially selected to produce the finest finish. Our commitment to traceability continues with every step of the manufacturing journey. Once the raw material has been cut to size, our expert teams take charge of all the finishing work to bring you a truly bespoke product.
Invest in Bespoke Hardwood Flooring Today
If you’re searching for an easy way to transform your interiors, investing in good wood flooring is a worthwhile investment. There are many advantages of engineered wood flooring that make it a much better option than traditional hardwood. For starters, it’s a cost-effective and eco-friendly option, helping you stay on budget while reducing your carbon footprint. Furthermore, you don’t have to settle for a second-rate selection of products. Here at Wood Flooring Ireland, we offer an exhaustive range of options, with everything from long plank flooring to premium Versailles panels. With an unbeatable colour palette to choose from, it’s also easy to find the perfect complement to your interiors.
Interested in exploring the benefits of bespoke engineered flooring? Send us a message via our online contact form or call us at 021 4629913. Our team will be happy to discuss your requirements in more detail and guide you through all the available options.
Learn from our guides
Wood Flooring Ireland write plenty of blogs and guides for our existing and potential customers. You can learn how to clean engineered wood floors, wood floor care tips, the differences between engineered and solid wood flooring or even the latest wood flooring trends. Why not give one read to learn more about the different types of wood flooring available or whether they are the right choice for you.