Why choose engineered wood flooring over solid wood flooring? We get asked this a lot. Solid wood flooring has its benefits, but in an eco-conscious era, the advantages of engineered wood flooring are hard to dismiss. Throughout this detailed article, you will learn why engineered wood flooring is the better choice for your new home whether you are replacing your outdated carpet, tiles or laminate.
At Wood Flooring Ireland, we understand how crucial bespoke flooring is to a home. The right flooring can enhance the existing ambience of a home or overhaul aesthetics when a more dramatic makeover is called for. For more than 15 years, we’ve been leading the way when it comes to premium flooring solutions. We have products to suit every taste and budget, from versatile plank flooring to elegant Versailles panels. No matter what you have planned, you’re bound to find a product that fits the bill, with colours and sizes to suit every space.
In 2019, we decided to reinvest in our bespoke wood flooring range and reinforce our commitment to quality materials and traceability. All our products are produced from the finest European Oak from sustainable sources. Furthermore, all our finishes are environmentally friendly, containing no formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds.
We are in no way doubting solid wood flooring but we know that engineered wood flooring is equally beautiful and even more robust. Engineered wood flooring includes a premium veneer layer that’s bonded to an incredibly durable plywood core. This provides exceptional levels of stability, while also making it a far more versatile alternative to traditional solid wood flooring.
Engineered wood flooring can cope with extreme temperatures and humidity, dramatically freeing up your installation options. Provided you carry out occasional maintenance, an engineered wood floor will serve you well for decades, in some instances well over 30 years.
Why Engineered Wood Flooring is a Better Choice Than Solid Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring has several benefits over conventional solid wood flooring. It is an increasingly popular flooring option for new builds but also makes the ideal choice if you’re looking to overhaul an existing interior.
Sustainably Produced with Eco-Friendly Materials
One of the main advantages of engineered wood flooring is that it relies far less on intensive harvesting of new wood. It’s the perfect choice of flooring material for eco-conscious consumers, with most engineered flooring products using only a fraction of the wood found in solid hardwood alternatives.
Engineered wood flooring boasts a multi-ply construction (3-ply and 5-ply). The inner core of engineered wood flooring planks and panels are made from durable plywood, which often comes from recycled sources. With only the external veneer being made from newly harvested material.
The manufacturing process of engineered wood flooring also uses far fewer chemicals than the production of solid wood flooring. Adhesives and finishing oils containing toxic chemicals aren’t commonly used, making it a better choice if you’re eager to maintain green credentials. With no harmful volatile organic compounds to worry about, it is the obvious choice if you’re looking to improve the indoor air quality of your home.
A Durable Flooring Choice
Many people make the mistake of assuming that engineered wood flooring is an inferior product to timber and oak wood flooring. However, the unique construction of it makes it an incredibly stable choice.
Due to its multiple layers, engineered wood flooring is very durable. Unlike solid hardwood flooring, it won’t warp when exposed to high or low temperatures. It also copes well when exposed to moisture, making it a good option for rooms exposed to regular humidity.
The robust nature of engineered flooring makes it suitable for rooms like kitchens and some bathrooms. It can also be used with underfloor heating systems, meaning you’re not limited to stone and tile flooring when resurfacing your interiors.
Easy Installation
Solid wood flooring may score highly when it comes to natural aesthetics, but individual planks and panels tend to suffer from rough edges and inconsistent profiles. This requires additional preparation before your flooring material is ready to install. Engineered wood flooring tends to be more uniform, allowing for fuss-free installation.
If you’re asking yourself ‘why choose engineered wood flooring?’, then easy installation may prove a deciding factor. Unlike solid wood flooring, which requires carpentry nails and expensive adhesives, engineered wood flooring is often suitable for floating installation. Provided you have an underlay in place, installing this flooring type is a breeze.
Minimal Waste
Why choose engineered wood flooring if you’re concerned about waste? Because engineered flooring products are far more uniform than solid wood alternatives. You won’t find yourself dealing with unusable panels. Solid hardwood flooring is certainly stylish, but even the most premium hardwoods are prone to aesthetic imperfections. In some instances, these imperfections can’t be sanded away. Large knots may render certain panels unusable.
No Need to Apply Finishes
Why choose engineered wood flooring over solid wood flooring when it comes to applying finishes? Well, for starters, many products come pre-finished. Many engineered wood flooring products are enhanced with hard-wearing lacquers and natural oil finishes, saving you the hassle of having to treat the veneer layer yourself.
Even the most robust solid hardwood flooring can become tarnished and scratched in transit, requiring you to sand and finish panels and planks before they’re ready to be installed. This can pile on additional costs to your flooring installation project and extend completion times of renovation projects.
Easy to Maintain and Refinish
Although engineered flooring isn’t made completely from solid wood, the best products can be treated in much the same way as hardwood flooring. Provided you’ve purchased engineered wood flooring with a thick enough veneer, you can carry out occasional sanding, refinishing, and restaining over time.
If you want the option of being able to sand and refinish your engineered wood flooring, take care when choosing products. It’s worth bearing in mind that any sanding job removes around 0.5mm of material every time. Choosing flooring with a veneer thickness of 2mm will provide you with plenty of flexibility when it comes to sanding and refinishing.
A thicker veneer will also ensure you have a more robust floor. The thicker the veneer, the more resilient it will be against scratches, scuffs, and general wear and tear.
Little Upkeep
Engineered wood flooring requires relatively little upkeep, but you’ll still want to stick to a basic maintenance schedule to ensure it looks its best for as long as possible.
Ideally, you should stick to a dry cleaning approach when maintaining an engineered wood floor. Avoid using mops and floor wipes whenever possible and stick to dry brushes and vacuum cleaners instead. Occasionally, you’ll need to tackle more significant stains and spillages. In these instances, use diluted floor cleaning solutions and damp mops.
You’ll need to think carefully about what kind of hardwood your veneers are made from when undertaking cleaning tasks. Certain materials, such as maple and beech, are incredibly sensitive to moisture. If your flooring veneers are made from these hardwoods, be sparing when applying cleaning agents and ensure mops are thoroughly wrung out before use. It’s also a good idea to go over a recently cleaned area with a dry cloth if moisture has been applied.
A Brilliant Choice for Tighter Budgets
Engineered flooring is less expensive in price to standard solid hardwood. Provided you take good care of your engineered wood floor, it will last just as long as solid wood. If you spend a premium on an engineered wood floor with a thick veneer layer, it can hold up well for over 30 years.
Engineered wood flooring is also far more versatile than solid wood. Because it’s more uniform and easier to cut to size, you’ll be dealing with almost zero waste. You can trim panels and planks to suitable lengths to accommodate your floor plans, without having to purchase significantly more material than you need.
Colour Options to Suit Any Space
Why choose engineered wood flooring when it comes to colours? Solid wood flooring is often limiting when it comes to colour options. In many cases, you’re restricted to natural hues, with stains and finishing oils only allowing you some variety.
You have a far broader palette to work with. In addition to natural shades, you can choose white wood flooring to complement minimalist interiors and open up a space. Grey wood flooring is another option for those looking for contemporary aesthetics for busier homes.
What Styles of Engineered Wood Flooring Are Available?
If you’re looking for different styles, you’ll be glad to hear that engineered flooring products offer the same variety as conventional solid wood alternatives.
Long plank wood flooring is the most flexible product available. You can find planks in a range of widths and lengths, making them suitable for just about any interior. Planks are particularly effective in open-plan interiors and effortlessly give the illusion of space.
If you want to add more elegance to your interiors, you may want to think about herringbone flooring. These rectangular panels are cut at a 90-degree angle and produce a dynamic zigzag pattern when laid out. It’s an effective choice for small and large rooms alike.
Chevron flooring is often confused with herringbone. However, chevron panels are easy to distinguish thanks to the 45-degree angle of panel edges. Once installed, chevron flooring produces a stunning V-shaped motif that will instantly transform any interior.
Sometimes, a more luxurious choice of flooring is required. This is where Versailles panels come in. Versailles panels take their name from the Palace of Versailles where they were first used, with each panel featuring an assortment of different shapes. Once completed, Versailles panels give the impression of interwoven wood.
Overhaul Your Home with Engineered Wood Flooring
If your interiors are long-overdue an image overhaul, engineered wood flooring is an obvious choice. The best-engineered wood flooring can last just as long as solid wood flooring and requires little maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Why choose engineered wood flooring when you can have solid oak or timber? Engineered wood flooring is quick and easy to install, helping you slash the time spent on renovation projects. It’s also far more versatile, with moisture-resistant properties making it a suitable fit for kitchens, conservatories, and other spaces prone to high levels of humidity. It offers many different styles, eco-friendly choices and in terms of pricing is much more affordable.
Eager to explore the potential of engineered wood flooring for your home? Wood Flooring Ireland offers an unbeatable range of engineered flooring products at prices to suit every budget. Visit our Cork showroom today to discover our range in person. Alternatively, get in touch with the team via the online contact form or call us on 021 4629913.