When talking about different wood grades, it’s not the quality of the flooring we’re referring to, but the appearance and surface texture of each individual plank. Wood is a natural material and therefore will always bring variation in colour and an uncontrollable uniqueness of knots and nuances with every plank. This means that no two engineered wood floors will ever be completely identical!

There are three main factors that the various wood grades differ by:

1.Size and number of knots

2.Colour variation

3.Amount of sap present in the wood

At The Wood Flooring Co, we sell three different grades of engineered wood flooring including Living, Rustic and Handcrafted.

Living

This grade is the cleanest of the three but still highlights the wood in its natural, raw form. You will still notice some knots and slight colour variations from plank to plank creating an overall effect of a more balanced and cohesive floor. Our Contemporary Collection is home to a range of living grade planks that embrace the organic grain of the wood whilst providing a clean and contemporary edge.

The Living grade of engineered wood flooring is certainly a popular choice for modern interiors where the aim is to create a calming and bucolic atmosphere in your home.

Rustic

The Rustic grade truly celebrates the innate beauty of Oak, highlighting the natural vibrance and characteristics of the wood.

If you love the organic aesthetic of wood, then this grade is for you. Synonymous with our Signature Collection this grade comes in variations of colour, grain patterns and character nuances, which are all part of its charm! Planks will incorporate knots, sap and grain variations – beautiful in both modern and contemporary settings creating a timeless interior which will never date.

Handcrafted

Manufacturing the Handcrafted Grade of our engineered wood floors is a true labour of love! These floors are scraped by hand using traditional artisan techniques to create deep surface grooves and textures that explore the natural qualities and organic appeal of beautifully sourced Oak wood from sustainably farmed forests. This grade is perfect if you’re looking for the appeal of a reclaimed wood floor with a weathered surface finish.

Homogeneity is impossible to achieve when handcrafting our engineered wood floors and therefore each individual plank is inimitable and completely unique. Browse our Heritage Collection for a range of aesthetic handcrafted and hand scraped surface textures. This collection looks particularly at home in all manner of period properties as well as ‘industrial style’ interiors.

Surface Finishes

The decision on surface finish is largely dependent on the plank design itself. Our expert team have been working with engineered wood floors for many years and have used their experience to pair the best choice of wood grade with the most complementary surface finish. The more textured and organic designs in our Handcrafted Collection work beautifully with a natural oil, thus maintaining its roughened and undulating surface. In contrast, the smoother Living Grades in our Contemporary Collection pair beautifully with a Matt Lacquer to prolong the life of your floor and protect against inevitable accidents that come with modern day life.

Matt Lacquer

A matt lacquer wood floor provides a no-shine smooth feel to the floor whilst also enhancing the natural grain and colour of the wood. Where a natural oil soaks into the wood’s surface, a lacquer sits on the top of the wood providing a protective layer making it more durable and requiring slightly less maintenance. Due to the nature of the matt lacquer creating a layer on top of the wood, it provides a somewhat waterproof membrane meaning that spills, if wiped up quickly, won’t seep into the body of the floor.

The perfect choice for a busy home where robustness is key but without compromising on beauty!

Natural Oil

A natural oil wood floor will produce a much more natural aesthetic and final appearance than a matt lacquer. It is applied carefully to the plank giving it time to seep deeper into the core of the wood, as a result it beautifully maintains the knots and natural wood grain whilst also preserving the textured handcrafted surface that is so desired.

The engineered wood floors in our Handcrafted Collection are beautifully finished with a natural oil that creates a rich finish that really accentuates the natural properties of the wood, whilst also providing protection all the way to the wood core. We love the natural oil finished planks because they are made using sustainably sourced natural resources and the application of the oil is not harmful to the environment when used. Further supporting our ethos to environmentally responsible business practices.