Present on the market for centuries, wood flooring have succeeded in maintaining their popularity in peoples choice due to the charm, elegance and warmth that cannot be rendered or even matched by any other flooring option. The sanding and refinishing options available for these products mean that a wood flooring, irrespective of its age, can be kept in good condition by still offering performance and good looks. The newer products available on todays market bring even more than older versions, as advanced technologies produce more durable finishes and recreate the details of true craftsmanship for more appealing designs.
There are many different species of wood used in the manufacturing of wood flooring, and whilst traditional choices such as oak, maple, cherry and walnut still remain the number one choice, other exotic wood essences, such as bamboo, teak and mahogany are also beginning to be considered a good option for residential improvements. In terms of appearance, wood flooring offer a wide palette of finishes, textures and designs to choose from, ranging from natural and lacquered to brushed and oiled tones, designed to complement available furniture and the overall decoration scheme.
There are several types of wood flooring available nowadays, which all come with different advantages and why not, disadvantages. The most classic type of wood flooring is the solid wood flooring, cut from single pieces of wood and milled in strip, block and plank formats. Whilst strip floors feature slim boards, plank floors offer narrow planks and the ones in block format come in small strips or other geometrical designs which once interconnected form various distinctive looking patterns, such as herringbone. In terms of installation, solid wood flooring must be nailed and glued down to the sub floor, resulting in a highly stable floor covering designed to offer life lasting performance.
Engineered floors, the other type of wood flooring available today, are manufactured from small strips of wood pressed together in a crisscross pattern and covered in a layer of real wood timber, to emulate in detail the look and feel of solid wood floors. This revolutionary manufacturing process makes engineered floors one of the strongest flooring options available, as unlike real wood floors, engineered ones can be safely integrated inside rooms with fluctuating temperatures and increased moisture conditions as the planks will not bend, shrink or lose shape. Another advantage brought by engineered floors lies in their floating floor character, meaning that engineered planks can be installed onto the sub floor without the use of glue, nails or other adhesives. In fact, the setup of engineered floors is very similar to the one employed by click laminate floors.
Offering a proper care is the key of the longevity of wood flooring. Although unlike other floor treatments, wood flooring can be sanded and refinished when desired, just following the manufacturers guidelines and instructions for cleaning will ensure that the floor will maintain its appearance and finish for the years to come.