Why Choose Engineered Wood Flooring?
When you’re looking for the perfect wood flooring, one of the first choices to think about is whether to select solid wood flooring or engineered wood flooring. Both options will create a beautiful floor, but there are some reasons why engineered planks could be a better choice. So, why should you choose engineered wood flooring?
Stability and Versatility
High-quality engineered floorboards are specifically designed to be structurally stable. Modern mills manufacture these versatile planks using state-of-the-art methods; they are made in a way that resists the natural expansion and contraction which occurs in timber.
Due to their stability, Chaunceys’ Bristol Tectonic® planks can be used in a wide variety of situations. They are suitable for use above underfloor heating systems, in kitchens, and even bathrooms. If there’s likely to be any excess moisture in the room, engineered planks are the only sensible wood flooring choice.
Engineered wood flooring can also be ‘floated’ over underlay, which isn’t possible with solid wood flooring.
Sustainability
If eco credentials are as important to you as they are to us, then you will want your wood flooring to be manufactured using timber that is sustainable and has a minimal impact on the environment.
Chaunceys are FSC® (FSC-C131323) certified and we are careful to source our timber from managed forests. We use the highest quality FSC® certified oak to create our Bristol Tectonic® planks. Producing the oak top layer for engineered boards uses much less of the slow-growing hardwood than solid oak boards. This means that we can create a large area of wood flooring from a much smaller harvest of oak trees.
Our mills use high-quality birch plywood to construct the core board of our engineered planks. Birch trees grow a lot faster than oak trees, making engineered wood flooring a more sustainable option.
If you have your heart set on solid wood flooring, but sustainability is an important consideration for you, our selection of reclaimed timber is another great option to look at.
Cost-Effective and Available in Greater Widths
Generally, engineered wood flooring is available in a greater range of widths than solid planks, which are usually narrower. Producing wider solid boards is a lot more expensive; choosing engineered oak boards is a cost-effective way to achieve that sought-after wide plank look.
At Chaunceys, we offer engineered flooring at a range of widths to suit all requirements, with extra-wide engineered planks available up to 300mm wide.
More Options for Wood Species
In general, other wood species such as extra-wide Douglas Fir, Elm, and Ash are more widely available in engineered planks. These options offer interesting alternatives to oak and, therefore, more design possibilities.
Ease of Installation
When it comes to fitting wood flooring, engineered wood flooring is easier to install than solid wood flooring. We always recommend that wood flooring should be fitted by an experienced professional floor fitter— this is even more important to ensure successful fitting of solid wood flooring. There are highly skilled fitting methods used and specific conditions must be met to ensure a long-lasting solid wood floor. Engineered wood flooring is a more flexible choice in terms of fitting methods, and this makes successful DIY installation more achievable.
Durability
If it is properly maintained, engineered wood flooring will remain a beautiful feature in your home for a very long time. High-end engineered planks have a thick oak top layer, so they can be sanded back and refinished multiple times if required.