Why you should consider engineered wood for your next flooring project

Do you have wooden flooring anywhere in your home? It’s been a popular interiors trend for a long time now, and there’s a style and finish to suit pretty much every room scheme you could think of!

If you’re thinking about going for the wooden floor look, there are a number of different types of flooring available. Traditional hardwood flooring is made from solid planks of wood, laminate flooring has an image of wood attached to pressed wood board, engineered wood flooring has a solid hardwood top layer attached to a core of plywood, and vinyl tiles can be printed and cut to resemble wooden planks.

Now obviously, your budget will have a big influence on the type of wooden flooring you choose, but if you’re looking to achieve a really great finish that’s practical and durable, engineered wood is ideal. Here’s why.

It looks like the real thing

The top layer of engineered wood is real wood (unlike laminate and vinyl tiles, which have a wood image printed on them), so it looks just like a hardwood floor. You’d struggle to spot it’s not hardwood actually. Which brings me onto…

Value for money

Engineered wood flooring isn’t going to be the cheapest way to get that lovely wood effect, but it is absolutely a cheaper option than hardwood flooring. You can expect to pay around half as much for engineered wood compared to hardwood. Engineered wood is also going to look good for years to come, so think of it as an investment that will provide good value for money in the long term.

Durability

Engineered wood lasts! It’s tougher and more hardwearing than laminate, and easier to look after than hardwood. If you’re concerned about wear and tear in a busy family room, or have pets in the mix, it’s an ideal option. It copes well with changes in temperature and humidity too.

Wide range of designs

There’s a brilliantly wide range of engineered wood flooring available, with lots of different colours, plank dimensions and surface finishes. As well as the more traditional golden and natural woods, there’s aged, bleached, smoked and stained finishes, plus everything from large planks to parquet options. Surface finish options include lacquered, matte, oiled and distressed, all of which do a great job of mimicking the natural texture and ageing of real wood.

Compatibility with underfloor heating

Not all types of wooden flooring can be laid on top of underfloor heating, but engineered wood is an option that is compatible. If you’re considering other types of wooden flooring, it’s an absolute must to check compatibility before making your final decision, otherwise you could end up with a costly mistake.

Low maintenance

If you’re worried about a wooden floor being rather high maintenance, go for engineered wood. It’s tough and hard-wearing, and you won’t need to give it any special treatment to keep it looking good. Regular sweeping or vacuuming and a weekly mop is all you need to make time for. Do put felt pads on furniture legs though, as this will help avoid scratches.

Do you think engineered wood flooring could work well in your home?