If you have determined that engineered wood flooring is the appropriate choice for your needs, instead of solid wood, you’ll likely focus on the price next. Engineered wood flooring’s price varies depending on factors such as thickness, width, style, grade, colour, and species. In this guide, we will explore your options, ranging from cheap engineered wood flooring to their more expensive counterparts.
Cheap to Expensive Engineered Wood Flooring: Thickness
Thickness: 10mm Thick Engineered Wood Flooring with 2mm Wear Layer is The Most Affordable
Engineered wood flooring is available in various thicknesses, ranging from 10mm to 20mm. This total board size includes the man-made core (a combination of ply, MDF, and softwood) and a top layer veneer of real wood. The cheapest option is the 10mm engineered wood flooring made from a 2mm layer of real wood and an 8mm core. Conversely, the most expensive option is 20mm, with 5mm or 6mm layers of real wood, and the remaining 14mm or 15mm being the core. Prices for 10mm engineered wood flooring typically start around £27m² to £28m², while 20mm options begin at £45m².
- Cheap – 10mm thick engineered wood flooring with a 2mm wood top layer
- Expensive – 20mm thick engineered wood flooring with a 6mm wood top layer
- Middle Ground – 14mm thick engineered wood flooring with a 3mm wood top layer
Cheap to Expensive Engineered Wood Flooring: Width
Width: 150mm Wide Engineered Wood Flooring is The Most Affordable
Engineered wood flooring comes in widths ranging from 100mm (in herringbone or chevron styles) to 271mm (for plank style). Naturally, the wider the board, the more natural wood it contains in the real wood top layer, and thus the higher the price. Putting aside herringbone and chevron styles for a moment (we’ll address them further down), let’s discuss plank engineered wood flooring, which is more popular. Plank styles start at 150mm wide and £27m², while wider options, like the 271mm width, begin at £75m².
- Cheap – 150mm wide engineered wood flooring
- Expensive – 271mm wide engineered wood flooring
- Middle Ground – 180mm wide engineered wood flooring
Cheap to Expensive Engineered Wood Flooring: Style
Style: Plank Style Engineered Wood Flooring is The Most Affordable
Engineered wood flooring is available in plank and parquet styles (herringbone and chevron). The latter require more intricate work, and this cost is passed onto the consumer. The cheaper option is plank style, with prices from around £27m², while herringbone starts at £34/m² and chevron at £46/m².
- Cheap – Engineered plank flooring
- Expensive – Engineered herringbone flooring
Cheap to Expensive Engineered Wood Flooring: Grade
Grade: Rustic Grade Engineered Wood Flooring is The Most Affordable
The top real wood layer of engineered wood flooring is graded on four visual levels, not related to quality but aesthetics. The Rustic grade is the basic and cheapest, displaying colour variations, sap, and knots, whereas the Prime grade offers a uniform look with minimal variations and costs more. Rustic grade starts around £27m², while prime begins at £40/m².
- Cheap – Rustic grade engineered wood flooring
- Expensive – Prime grade engineered wood flooring
- Middle Ground – Natural grade engineered wood flooring
Cheap to Expensive Engineered Wood Flooring: Colour
Colour: Natural Brown Colour Engineered Wood Flooring is The Most Affordable
Most hardwoods are naturally brown. Coloured engineered wood flooring has become popular, with options in black, white, and grey. Achieving these colours involves staining, which can impact the price. Natural shade engineered wood flooring is the cheapest option, starting at £27m², while coloured options begin at £32/m².
- Cheap – Brown engineered wood flooring
- Expensive – Black, white, or grey coloured engineered wood flooring
- Middle Ground – Smoked and coffee oak engineered wood flooring
Cheap to Expensive Engineered Wood Flooring: Species
Species: Engineered Oak Flooring is The Most Affordable
The top layer of engineered wood flooring is made from natural hardwoods, and the species greatly affects the price. Common options like Oak and Walnut are more affordable, while exotic species like Wenge, Tigerwood, Rosewood, and Iroko are pricier. Engineered oak starts at £27/m², walnut at £54/m², and for exotic woods, the sky’s the limit.
- Cheap – Engineered oak flooring
- Expensive – Exotic engineered wood flooring
- Middle Ground – Engineered walnut flooring
Cheap to Expensive Side by Side
| Price Level | Cheap | Middle Ground | Expensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 10mm thick with a 2mm wood top layer | 14mm thick with a 3mm wood top layer | 20mm thick with a 6mm wood top layer |
| Width | 150mm wide | 180mm wide | 271mm wide |
| Style | Engineered plank flooring | – | Engineered herringbone and chevron flooring |
| Grade | Rustic grade | Natural grade | Prime grade |
| Colour | Brown engineered wood flooring | Smoked and coffee oak engineered wood flooring | Black, white, or grey coloured engineered wood flooring |
| Species | Engineered oak flooring | Engineered walnut flooring | Exotic engineered wood flooring (e.g., Wenge, Tigerwood) |
Conclusion
Finding cheap engineered wood flooring is manageable if you consider the various cost factors mentioned here. Of course, if your budget allows, there are also more expensive and exotic options available. Whether you are looking for something economical or luxurious, understanding these aspects can guide your decision-making and help you find the perfect fit for your home.
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FAQ
What factors influence the price of engineered wood flooring?
Engineered wood flooring’s price varies depending on several factors including thickness, width, style, grade, colour, and species. Depending on these characteristics, the flooring options can range from cheap to more expensive counterparts.
How does the thickness of engineered wood flooring affect its price?
Engineered wood flooring is available in various thicknesses, ranging from 10mm to 20mm. The total thickness includes the man-made core and a top layer veneer of real wood. The 10mm option, comprising a 2mm layer of real wood and an 8mm core, is the cheapest, while the 20mm option with 5mm or 6mm layers of real wood is the most expensive. Prices for 10mm start around £27m² to £28m², and 20mm begins at £45m².
What are the price implications of different engineered wood flooring styles?
Engineered wood flooring is available in plank and parquet styles (including herringbone and chevron). The intricate work required for herringbone and chevron makes them more expensive. The plank style starts around £27m², herringbone at £34/m², and chevron at £46/m².
How is the grade of the top real wood layer in engineered wood flooring categorised, and what are the corresponding prices?
The top real wood layer is graded on four visual levels, related to aesthetics and not quality. Rustic grade is the basic and cheapest option, displaying colour variations, sap, and knots, starting around £27m². The Prime grade, offering a uniform look, is more expensive, beginning at £40/m².
What are the options and pricing for different species of engineered wood flooring?
The species of the natural hardwood top layer significantly affects the price. Common options like Oak and Walnut are more affordable, starting at £27/m² and £54/m², respectively. Exotic species like Wenge, Tigerwood, Rosewood, and Iroko are considerably more expensive, with no definitive price limit.
