Introduction to Wood Floors
There are two main types of wood floors available: Real wood flooring and engineered wood flooring. So what’s the difference? Real wood flooring is made from one solid piece of real wood. Whereas engineered wood flooring is made from pieces of real wood layered with pieces of plywood. At Flooring Hut, we offer engineered wood flooring.
Why Choose Engineered Wood Flooring Over Real Wood Flooring?
Engineered wood flooring is constructed from multiple layers of different woods each facing different directions, this creates a more stable floor. Real wood floors can be prone to warping due to excess heat, cold or moisture. Whilst engineered wood is still prone to warping, it is much less vulnerable than its real wood counterpart. Engineered wood floors also tend to be easier to install. Real wood requires a lot of sanding, staining, sealing and a potentially complex installation process involving nails. Whereas engineered wood flooring can be floated or glued down, which is much more DIY friendly.
Will Installing Real Wood Flooring Add Value to my Property?
This is an age-old question in the flooring world. The majority of estate agents agree that real wood flooring will add value to your property, though they disagree by how much. Some say as little as 1% whilst others say up to 10% or even more. One major advantage of wood flooring is that it can be re-sanded and re-sealed to create a brand-new looking floor. Engineered wood flooring can be treated like this 2-3 times and real wood flooring can be treated like this up to 10 times. Whether you are flipping property, renting property or doing your own home up for your enjoyment and potential resale down the line, wood flooring represents a very smart investment in your home.
Cost and Other Factors
It is no secret that wood flooring costs substantially more than its carpet, laminate and vinyl counterparts. However, the difference between real wood and engineered wood flooring in terms of price is very slight. Another consideration is looks, both real wood and engineered wood flooring look beautiful and can transform your home. However, real wood tends to have a slightly narrower plank width and engineered wood a slightly wider plank width. It is worth factoring in lifespan too. Real wood floors can outlast laminate, carpet and vinyl floors, as it can be re-sanded and re-sealed as previously mentioned. Finally, if we consider maintenance, both real wood and engineered woods are equally easy to maintain with regular sweeping and the occasional mopping with the correct cleaning product. Carpet is trickier to keep clean, laminate is a similar level of difficultly, but vinyl is easier to clean, so think about this when choosing your new floor.
Conclusion
Wood flooring represents an excellent investment in your home and your life, if you are willing to spend on the initial high cost. Compared to carpet, laminate and vinyl, wood flooring can outlast its rivals and add value to your property, which other types of flooring won’t do. In terms of battling each other, for many years real wood flooring was deemed superior, but with advancements in flooring technology engineered wood flooring is proving to be just as good, if not better in some areas, than original real wood. At Flooring Hut, we love wood floors and think they are stunning. We hope this brief guide will help sway you to consider wooden flooring for your home. Happy flooring!
