If you’re planning on renovating your interiors, you’ve likely found yourself considering ‘what are the different types of wood flooring available?‘. Wood flooring comes in many varieties, ranging from budget-friendly laminate to solid hardwood. However, engineered wood flooring is the way to go if you’re looking to shop sustainably and invest in a durable product. Engineered flooring is far more resilient to daily wear and tear, moisture damage, and temperature extremes than other materials. Furthermore, it’s available in a wide range of colour options and style ranges that can be readily adapted to any space.
At Wood Flooring Ireland, we produce an impressive selection of flooring products that can help transform any home. We’re committed to sustainability and traceability, designing and supplying premium flooring to customers across the country. We keep a close eye on every step of production, from ensuring the European Oak we use is harvested from sustainable sources, right until the application of our eco-friendly finishes. If you’re searching for a bespoke wood floor that’s tailored toward your exclusive design requirements, look no further than Wood Flooring Ireland.
What Are the Main Types of Wood Flooring Commonly Available?
If you’re thinking about resurfacing your interiors, you’ll need to first navigate the world of flooring materials. If you’re asking yourself ‘what are the different types of wood flooring?’, read on for our handy guide on the main varieties you can expect to encounter.
Engineered Wood Flooring
This eco-friendly product is made up of several distinct layers, with a plywood core providing exceptional levels of stability and durability. The outer layers of engineered flooring are made from high-quality wood, providing you with the rich aesthetics of conventional hardwood floors. The thickness of veneer layers vary between products, but most will allow you to sand your flooring 4 to 5 times should you need to refinish your floor.
Engineered wood flooring is also more versatile. Because the robust construction makes it hard-wearing and resistant to warping, you can install it in spaces that would normally wreak havoc on solid wood floors. If you’re eager to install oak wood flooring in a bathroom or kitchen but are worried about moisture, engineered wood flooring provides the perfect alternative to hardwood.
Solid Wood Flooring
If you’re looking for a rustic aesthetic, you’ve probably considered solid wood flooring. As the name suggests, this flooring is made entirely from wood, with oak, ash, and walnut being some of the most popular choices. Solid wood flooring tends to be sourced from a single piece of hardwood, producing a consistent grain and textured finish.
Provided it’s not exposed to temperature extremes and moisture, solid wood flooring can prove incredibly durable. Because of its solid construction, it can also be sanded many times should you need to apply new layers of finish. However, solid wood flooring isn’t the most eco-friendly option if the material comes from unsustainable sources. The raw materials are also expensive, making it an impractical choice for larger spaces.
Reclaimed Wood Flooring
Reclaimed wood flooring is a good compromise for those who want the aesthetic of solid wood floor, but don’t have a limitless budget to play with. Reclaimed flooring is usually made from repurposed timber that has been sourced from old structures and masonry. It can be hard to find sufficient reclaimed materials to resurface larger spaces, although many people are prepared to embrace this rustic and uneven aesthetic.
Reclaimed flooring often requires considerable resizing and refinishing. If you’re able to carry out this work yourself, you can cut down on manual labour costs. However, if you’re purchasing reclaimed flooring directly from a supplier, these costs will be factored into the overall price.
Overall, you have a great variety of different types of wood flooring. However assuming your budget can be stretched a little and you are looking for a durable yet sustainable option, engineered wood flooring is your number one choice. Why do we suggest this flooring? What exactly are the benefits?
The Benefits of Engineered Wood Flooring
Now that we’ve looked into the ‘what are the different types of wood flooring?’ question in more detail, it seems obvious that engineered wood flooring is the best choice for the majority of people. Engineered flooring is not only stylish but a hard-wearing option that excels when it comes to durability. Need more convincing? Read on for some more insights into why engineered wood is the way to go if you’re planning on re-flooring your interiors.
A Sustainable Product
Nowadays, more consumers are considering sustainability when making buying decisions. When choosing suitable flooring for your home, sustainability should be of paramount concern. Unlike solid hardwood flooring, engineered flooring has very little impact on the environment. Because of its multi-ply construction and plywood core, engineered flooring uses very little virgin wood. Only the veneer layer requires newly harvested wood, putting minimal strain on forests.
Wood Flooring Ireland is committed to sustainability and traceability. Unlike other suppliers, we know exactly where our European Oak comes from. Furthermore, we maintain a keen oversight of every step of the manufacturing process, before overseeing the final finishing stage ourselves to ensure our customers receive a truly bespoke product that exceeds expectations.
Superior Construction and Durable Design
The overall durability of engineered wood flooring is comparable to that of hardwood flooring. Although solid wood is often considered the most robust option for flooring, engineered wood can prove just as sturdy. Because of its multi-ply construction and dense plywood core, engineered wood flooring won’t warp when exposed to high temperatures. It also copes well with daily wear and tears. Eventually, you may decide that your flooring needs sanding and refinishing. When you invest in premium engineered wood flooring, you’re free to carry out this occasional maintenance without worrying about damaging the integrity of the material.
Resistant to Moisture
Moisture resistance is one area where engineered wood flooring excels. Even the best solid hardwoods can become damaged when exposed to water, making them unsuited to rooms like bathrooms and kitchens. With engineered wood, you can be confident that your flooring will cope with regular spills and occasional leaks. Premium engineered wood flooring can even withstand flood damage.
Countless Design Options
Even though engineered wood flooring is a relatively new product; you’re not limited when it comes to style and colour options. At Wood Flooring Ireland, you’ll find a complete range of engineered wood products available for your home.
Long plank wood flooring is the preferred choice for many people. Because planks can be purchased in a variety of widths, they can be used in just about any interior. Long planks are particularly good for larger spaces, creating clean lines and a minimal aesthetic.
If you’re looking to transform your interiors with a timeless touch of character, herringbone flooring is the way to go. This flooring style has been around for centuries but works equally well in a contemporary apartment or traditional country home. Herringbone flooring is made of many rectangular panels which are meticulously arranged to produce a distinctive zigzag pattern.
Chevron flooring is similar in style to herringbone flooring, but the key difference here is that planks are cut at a 45-degree angle. When installed, chevron flooring panels produce a V-shape or arrow-inspired motif.
Finally, there are Versailles panels. These square panels are ideal if you’re looking to introduce a sense of luxury to your interiors. Each square is made up of a selection of rectangular panels that are carefully bonded together to produce the illusion of an interwoven pattern. They can be used to great effect in smaller rooms but can also be incorporated into specific areas of large open-plan spaces.
Countless Colour Options
It’s easy to keep things simple when choosing oak wood flooring. However, you’re not exclusively limited to natural hues. Grey wood flooring is ideal if you’re keen to keep things muted in kitchens or more contemporary spaces. If you’re eager to maximise your square footage and give the illusion of space, white wood flooring is also worth considering. At Wood Flooring Ireland, you’ll find an impressive range of colour options across our herringbone, chevron, and plank flooring ranges.
Overhaul Your Interiors with Bespoke Wood Flooring
Rethinking your flooring is one of the easiest ways to instantly transform your home. If your existing floors are overdue an overhaul, it makes sense to replace them with engineered wood flooring. Premium engineered wood flooring is a long-lasting alternative to laminate and is also far more robust than many traditional hardwoods. If you’re looking to accent bathrooms or kitchens with the natural character of oak, a temperature and moisture-resistant engineered wood floor is certainly worth considering.
Here at Wood Ireland Flooring, we can help you realise your home renovation dreams. Our friendly team is on hand to answer questions about the different types of wood flooring we have available and more. Get in touch via our online contact form or call us on 021 4629913 to discuss your flooring needs in more detail today.