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Engineered wood flooring vs other popular flooring options

In our post today we’re going to be looking at flooring, more specifically engineered wood flooring vs other popular flooring options and why engineered wood flooring is such a great idea.

Engineered wood flooring vs Karndean

karndean wood flooring
Karndean flooring is available in many different colours and made of vinyl, but made to look like wood. Its premise is that it looks like wood and you get the look and feel of natural flooring but without the cost or the care involved with wood.

It’s easy to install and quite durable and you can also get a stone look as well as wood. It can also be used with an underfloor heating system. It’s popular with commercial as well as private properties, working as tile-based flooring as well as full flooring so you can change the individual tiles when you need to.

On the other hand, engineered wood flooring has great strength underneath so it gives better stability with a thick layer of oak for improved durability and longer life. The wear layer of oak is always thicker and should be so it can cope with foot traffic. The layer should be around 4mm and this guarantees better durability. Although Kardean is cheaper, it may not last as long.

Engineered wood flooring vs Tile

Tiles are known for being some of the longest lasting flooring, those in favour of tiles argue that it doesn’t have to be replaced as often as other types of flooring and will last a lifetime. There are no volatile organics used to make tiles so it’s therefore more environmentally friendly and it’s possible to use adhesives that are low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

However, engineered wooden flooring wins every time due to its versatility, durability and raw, rustic feel. There’s nothing to beat a wooden floor and we offer different finishes and stains in different varieties of timber, it’s strong enough to endure footfall and far easier to remove than tiles.

Engineered wood flooring vs vinyl

vinyl flooring
Vinyl is a versatile flooring popular for both kitchen and bathroom. It’s renowned for being tough, practical and easy to clean with designs which are realistic and modern. It can cleverly imitate tile wood and stone effects.

However, no matter how impressive it may look, there’s no getting away from the fact that vinyl is imitation wood or stone and as tough as it might be, it won’t last anywhere near as long as engineered wood.

Not only is engineered wood strong and durable, it’s also natural and what you get is a floor which will match any décor and flatter any room with a rustic strong and durable flooring.

Because of the way it’s made, it doesn’t expand and contract in the same way as solid wooden floors, and it can be easily installed over underfloor heating.

Engineered wood flooring vs Bamboo

Bamboo flooring is environmentally sourced from managed forests and has distinctive features that make it a perfect choice for many. It can be extremely strong and is made using steam and heat processes for anti-mildew and anti-insect, which are applied so that it avoids the reproduction of bacteria.

However, bamboo will scratch after a while especially if its prone to heavy footfall, so it isn’t an ideal choice for a busy part of the house. It can take nasty scratches which are almost impossible to remove.

Bamboo can become damaged due to moisture, warping it over time and perhaps even causing mold to grow on it. It’s a natural material so although it can be more resistant to water than other hardwoods, it is still susceptible to moisture.

Humidity can also damage bamboo by causing the planks to warp and plump, and in some case even shrink and eventually crack.

Engineered wooden flooring is resistant to this type of damage because of the way it’s made with multiple layers running in opposite directions. It’s also strong enough to withstand heavy footfall without becoming stratched or cracked.

Engineered wood flooring vs Laminate

engineered wood flooring
Laminate is easy to install needing no fasteners or glue to stick to the floor. It uses a click and lock method and can expand and contract with the temperature and humidity in your home.

However, laminate flooring it can swell and warp thus destroying the floor. If it’s been poorly laid it could affect the value of your property if you try to sell at a later time.

On the other hand, engineered wood flooring is more reliable and won’t change, warp or crack when the temperature or humidity changes. It is therefore a far more worthwhile investment in the long run.

Engineered wood flooring vs Solid hardwood

Hardwood flooring is a popular choice for buyers, it’s easy to maintain and clean and gives a room character. It could also add value to your property should you decide to sell at a later time.

However, hardwood flooring can be expensive and difficult to install which you’d need professionals to help with. So as well as the flooring itself, you’d also have to figure in the cost of installation.

If you have heavy foot traffic and pets, then it’s more than likely you’ll have to refinish the floor every now and again because it’ll become damaged over time.

Engineered wooden flooring is better all-round because the bottom layer isn’t made from timber, so it can handle moisture better than hardwood, so there’s no concerns about splitting, cracking or warping. It has a layer of real wood on the top of it supported with plywood beneath.

It comes pre-finished, so that’s something else you don’t have to worry about. They’re much easier to take care of and far less expensive than hardwood.

All in all engineered wood flooring delivers on so many levels that it makes it an easy choice for most homes. We offer no obligation free quotes so get in touch today and start to benefit from the advantages of engineered wooden flooring.

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Latest Work

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL NAVY  – Part of a £1.25m fit out of a major new exhibition for the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRM) at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Indigo Flooring were tasked with completing the complicated layout of some 1,500 m2 of Marmoleum flooring with a water jet cut world map inlaid into the floor and Jet cut map of Great Britain vertically installed onto two swing doors, with various hand cut contrasting inlays leading the public to important exhibits throughout.

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