Solid Timber Versus Engineered Wood Flooring

There is nothing more appealing than the appearance of a beautiful timber floor. It is clean, streamlined, modern yet classic, and it does not date. In the past, a timber floor was solid timber, however with modern innovation and engineering, there is a far more affordable and in many ways superior option: engineered wood flooring.

What is engineered wood flooring?

Engineered wood flooring is becoming a very popular trend in home design throughout Australia and Europe. It is increasingly popular in commercial spaces and in homes Australia-wide due to its polished, striking aesthetic.

Engineered timber is the ideal alternative to solid timber flooring. It is comprised of a 4mm or 6mm top wear layer on a multiple timber ply substrate in which the grains are designed to run perpendicular to each other, making it near impossible to swell or shrink, providing ultimate stability.
It is a more affordable alternative to solid timber flooring both in the short- and long-term.

Engineered timber versus solid timber

Solid timber flooring is milled from solid lumber. It reacts to moisture, humidity, and extreme temperature changes, making it prone to expansion or shrinkage. It may be refinished and rejuvenated and is best located in living, dining, and hallway areas.

Engineered wood flooring combines a strong hardwood surface with either a Hevea core or a multiple timber ply substrate. The topmost layer is derived directly from the tree. This makes it near impossible to delineate from a solid timber floor in terms of its feel and appearance. It is durable and strong, and less inclined to gap, split, expand, or shrink than its solid hardwood cousin. It can be sanded up to two to three times and when installed, doesn’t add the height to the floor that solid timber can do.

All engineered floors are prefinished with either a UV-cured wear-resistant Premium German Klumpp Polyurethane coating or a water-based Robust UV Lacquer which gives excellent wear resistance.

Engineered timber flooring has another fabulous advantage as soon as it is installed you can walk on it! No need to wait up to 4 weeks after installation for the floor to be sanded and finished.

The benefits of engineered wood flooring

Engineered wood flooring looks just like authentic solid timber, right down to the natural grain effect. This is because engineered timber has a natural timber surface veneer. It provides the same feel underfoot as solid timber planks.

Engineered wood is an outstanding option when it comes to durability, strength, and scratch resistance. It will look sophisticated and new for many, many years, with a material warranty for our product at Impact Floors of twenty-five years and a limited lifetime structural warranty. It is also a far more environmentally-sustainable flooring option than carpet, ceramic tiles, or solid timber, and the engineered timber industry is carbon-positive.

Engineered flooring is easy to install. It requires no acclimatisation (which solid timber does) and it can be installed directly over subfloors. It is flexible, stable, and retains its characteristics long after installation. Impact Floors recommends professional installation for the best results, and this is a service that we are proud to offer.

You do need to understand, however, that due to its authentic timber veneer, engineered flooring can be sensitive to areas of high moisture. It is not the best option for bathrooms or laundries, and all spills need to be wiped up promptly in order to mitigate risks of staining or warping over time when water can seep into the grain.

When it is time to revamp your home or office and replace your flooring, consider engineered wood as your chosen medium.

Explore Impact Floors timber flooring range

Impact Floors is a locally-owned Sunshine Coast business that offers a wide range of flooring solutions to suit your needs. With some of the most experienced business owners across this industry, we offer flooring solutions ideal for the budget-conscious to the mid-range buyer.

We pride ourselves on putting you, the customer, first and we are very proud to offer the best engineered wood flooring which ensures lifetime enjoyment your solution is available today.

Call us on (07) 5443 1295 or visit our flooring showroom at 73-75 Wises Road, Maroochydore, Qld.