So, you finally settled for wooden flooring, but you're unsure which one to go for - should you go for a solid or engineered wood flooring? Should you go for rustic or distressed wood flooring? Whether you’re renovating or moving into a new apartment, your choice of flooring is crucial to your interior aesthetic and one of the first elements visitors will notice when they arrive.

Here we explore the perfect wood flooring for your interior and the possible factors to consider before choosing.

1. Durability

Durability is simply the ability of a material to resist scratch, fatigue, trample, intense heat, moisture, humidity, etc. In this case, there are two types of wooden floor types to consider.

Solid Wood Flooring

A solid wooden floor is a thick plank of solid timber. The one you're likely conversant with, it's mostly used in traditional settings. This wooden floor is highly durable and expensive, since the premium wood runs throughout. For this reason, it’s also now considered not a great option for the environment since most of the wood below the surface is effectively wasted. It's known for its curable quality as you can refinish it whenever you feel like it. Solid wooden floors are highly trample proof making them suitable for an interior with high traffic.

The downside of solid wood flooring is that it expands and contracts during thermal heating (summer), making it warp. Also, they are prone to moisture and humidity, which could damage the plank.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood is a contemporary wood flooring constructed using layers of different types of wood. The layers are fused to form one solid wood plank, while the top layer comprises of premium finished hardwood, most commonly oak.

Engineered wood floors are highly resistant to expansion and contraction (due to the way it's built) and resistant to moisture and humidity, unlike solid wood flooring. This wooden floor is suitable for interiors with concrete subfloors as well as being robust and durable for interiors with higher traffic. It is the more popular wood flooring option today due to its sophisticated construction offering a stable base, as well as being the more environmentally friendly flooring option.

2. Species

After settling for either solid or engineered wood flooring, the next factor to look into is the wood species. It's an important factor to consider because it's the species that will determine the type of colour, grain pattern, durability, texture, and other wood qualities. There are lots of wood species, and each varies from one other.

Some species are very soft or hard; some are highly photosensitive (damaged when exposed to direct sunlight); some are very lustrous, while some are expensive or cheap; some are vulnerable to denting, scratching, trampling, and staining; some have a straight or irregular grain.

For instance, maple wood is recommended for those looking for highly durable wood. Oak is the most popular wood flooring choice today and comes in a range of different grades from rustic to clean and contemporary, depending on what style you're after. Oak floors will blend with any decor and looks at home in both modern and traditional settings. The most common species utilised are oak, maple, ash, walnut, cherry, and lots more.

3. Pre-finished or Unfinished

Wood flooring comes in two forms, either unfinished or pre-finished. Pre-finished wood flooring comes with a well-coated and finished top layer. The surface finish adds to the wood's durability and elegance. On the other hand, unfinished wood flooring comes uncoated leaving you or the installer to finish and apply the coat to the wood flooring.

However, it may require additional cost for the installer to finish and coat the wood, and also, it might place a halt to activities around that area since you have to wait for the coating to dry off.

At The Wood Flooring Co., we provide both lacquered and oiled finishes that add to the elegance of the wood grain and also give it a soft luster and protection from scratch and stain.

4. Style and Layout

The style and layout of your wood flooring are also important factors to consider when deciding on which wood floor to go for. Patterns and styles determine the look of your interior and inform you on which woods select because some patterns and styles do not work for some interiors.

For instance, parquet or herringbone wood flooring is best suited to open spaces and rectangular rooms. If you want something natural that will give you a sense of heritage and elegance, then Rustic and distressed wood floors are a great option.

Large format planks look best in large, open plan areas of the home, whereas more regular plank sizes are the best bet for smaller spaces such as utility areas and home office spaces.

Ultimately the final decision is yours, but if you are still at sea trying to make a perfect choice, contact us on 01905340238 or email us at sales@thewoodflooringco.com. We are available anytime from Monday – Friday from 9.30 am – 5 pm.

Image credit: Ideal Home