Interested in overhauling your interiors with new flooring? Before you settle on solid or laminate hardwood products, we encourage you to consider the advantages of engineered wood flooring instead. Offering all the same warmth and character of traditional solid hardwood, engineered wood flooring also boasts incredible quality and durability and is one of the most sustainable flooring products on the market.
So, what is the biggest benefit of engineered wood flooring? Is engineered a good choice? Let’s find out.
More than ever, we are looking for sustainable choices, especially 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 our engineered are made from recycled sources, while the veneer layer requires only a fraction of the wood required to produce traditional hardwood flooring.
And it’s not just the wood itself you need to consider when selecting sustainable flooring. Finishing oils, stain removers and adhesives can contain harmful chemicals that can significantly impact the air quality of your home. But Wood Flooring Ireland is committed to providing customers with eco and health-friendly products such as our maintenance oil that is free from VOCs.
Another advantage of engineered wood flooring is how easy it is to install. Unlike solid 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 to accommodate any awkward room layout.
Engineered wood is the perfect choice of flooring material for moisture-rich environments. Many of us would love to introduce the character of solid wood into spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, and conservatories. However, these humid environments can quickly warp the surface of solid 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.
The overall lifespan is comparable to solid hardwood flooring, although longevity is determined by a few different factors. More basic products might only last you for around ten years, while premium engineered oak wood flooring can hold up well for 30 or more years.
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.
Now, just because you’re choosing an eco-friendly flooring solution, it 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 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 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. So, if you’re looking to inject some character into a space, a chevron pattern is the way to go.
Herringbone flooring is another option to consider if you’re thinking about mixing things up with subtle yet distinctive 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.
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 light wood flooring in an assortment of inviting hues. Prefer a clean, crisper finish? Dark wood flooring makes the perfect addition to the more contemporary interior.
If you’re looking to invest in wood flooring to improve your green credentials, make sure you’re buying products made from traceable materials. With us, all the wood we use is traceable from the source with every timber piece being ethically sourced from trusted partners, ensuring a greener footprint.
As mentioned previously, 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 remains looking its best for as long as possible. We also ensure zero waste, thanks to our repurposing of excess into samples!
Why invest in a new floor unless you’re choosing premium designs and products made with the utmost skill? So don’t 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 to premium herringbone and chevron flooring. And with an unbeatable colour palette to choose from, it’s also easy to find the perfect complement to your interiors.
Browse our selection, order your free samples and visualise your room today!
