Barnwood flooring is a really hot trend right now. As the name suggests, barnwood flooring as a wood flooring option that originates from wood flooring that has actually been recovered or reclaimed from barns before they were either demolished or renovated. Typically, a rustic form of flooring that looks like it has had years and years of wear and tear, if you want a barnwood flooring option for your rustic interior you need look no further.
There are two key elements of barnwood flooring. First, it has a rustic look and second, it looks old and worn in. In reality, if you were to wait around until a reclaimed barnwood floor were to become available for your flooring project, you could wait a very long time. That said, if you’re so very specific about what you want, and you’re prepared to do that, then good and well. However, the reality is that even if you are prepared to wait the time it takes, you are still likely to face some challenges and some compromises along the way.
Traditional barnwood flooring is made from solid planks of wood and nothing else. Granted, that wood has already stood the test of time, so is likely to survive a few more decades to boot. However, are you prepared to invest the time and energy necessary to get the floor looking as you want it to before you install it? Or are you prepared to bring in the professionals to restore it to its former glory? Either way the cost could prove greater than you might imagine right now.
And, even if you do all that, what if you have under floor heating? What if you want to lay the reclaimed barn floor in a bathroom or kitchen? Are you sure it will work in these settings? If you’re uncertain or simply want an immediate solution that looks great, can be used with confidence throughout the home and, if you choose wisely, over under floor heating, then here are some engineered floor solutions that’ll give you the rustic, barnwood look you’re aiming for. Here are some we’d recommend:
Whenever you are choosing a new floor for your home or if you’re building a new home and are installing new floors throughout, you need to think about durability, practicality, value for money and convenience. When it comes to durability, then the chances are that a genuine, reclaimed barnwood floor will stand up to pretty much everything you want to throw at it. However, by making the right choice of engineered wood flooring the same can be said. From a practical point of view, which would you choose? Waiting months and maybe years for the right floor to come along, or knowing that you could order your floor and have it within a few days? Yes, we would prefer the latter too.
Continuing on practicality, what about having to finish your reclaimed floor before laying it or simply acclimatising your new floor and laying it complete with finish? Yes, us too. And then it comes to cleaning and day to day practicalities, engineered barnwood floor comes up trumps once again. Well fitted and without gaps and dust traps, your day to day maintenance will be as easy as a quick brush over and a light mopping. That mightn’t be the case with a one-hundred-year old floor that has been in a barn with cows and farm machinery all its life!
Take all of this one step further and look at the value for money and convenience and we rather suspect you’ll see exactly where we’re coming from.
If you want a barnwood look floor in your home and don’t want to wait an eternity, but at the same time are struggling to work out which solution’s best for you, why not get in touch? At Wood and Beyond we’re brimming with ideas for your interior and can’t wait to share them with you.