A question we often get asked at Wood and Beyond is why we only currently stock oak and walnut engineered wood flooring. The short answer to that is because both oak and walnut are hardwoods and as such originate from deciduous trees, that take a long time to grow and are typically (although not always) harder and more durable than softwood options. What’s more, these hardwoods have lower sap content, a closer grain and are heavy, with good fire resistance. In our professional view, this is all good news when it comes to flooring.
When you come to choose your engineered wood flooring, you’ll have several decisions to make, such as whether you buy online or off; what finish would work best and what thickness of board would be most appropriate for your project. These decisions are fairly fundamental, but what can be more challenging is deciding which lamella or top layer would be best for your particular needs.
What you need to ask yourself if you’re chasing a product that’s low price, is; is it ever a good idea to make do with a softwood, or would you be better opting for a hardwood but in a slightly lower grade? This can be a tough question to answer alone, which is why we’ve put together this article.
In order to explain the differences between the three woods listed here: oak, pine and maple, the best place to start is back in the forest where the trees that produce these woods grow in their natural state. Starting with oak, as a wood, it is recognised pretty much globally for its strength and durability. So much so, that the oak tree is often used as a company logo to suggest longevity and strength. A tree that takes decades to grow and mature, some of the oldest oak trees in the world are hundreds of years old. Coming mainly from Europe or America, oak comes in prime, select, natural and rustic grades and is commonly used in both solid and engineered wood flooring.
When you choose oak flooring you will be able to choose the grade of oak that suits your budget and the look you’re trying to achieve. Choosing oak also gives you the chance to choose a product that comes from close to home or further afield because you can choose from both American and European oak. When it comes to engineered wood flooring, there’s no getting away from the fact that options with an oak lamella or top layer are not only affordable but they look great and are extremely hardwearing too.
So why might someone choose pine or maple engineered wood flooring? Pine comes from evergreen trees that don’t lose their leaves in winter and are generally quick to grow, as well as being, generally speaking, softer and higher in sap than deciduous trees. So when you hear this, you could be forgiven for asking why anyone would choose pine if they could choose oak. The easy answer to this is price. There’s no getting away from the fact that pine is typically much cheaper than oak.
Maple on the other hand is a tree that confusingly produces both hard and soft wood. That said, maple softwood is still a hard option because the wood itself is so hard. In fact hard maple is so hard that it can be difficult to work with. Maple comes with a naturally straight grain, which makes it particularly stable. A bonus of maple is that it tends to be less expensive than the majority of the other hard woods, that said it’s not a wood that’s particularly easy to get your hands on.
Wood | Oak | Maple | Pine |
Soft/hard | Hard | Hard/soft | Soft |
Sap content | Low | Low | High |
Grain | Varied | Straight | Varied |
Stability | High | Very high | Low |
Price | Mid to high | Low to mid | Low |
If you’re struggling to decide which engineered wood flooring option might best suit your project, why not get in touch? At Wood and Beyond we’ll give you the benefit of our expertise in an impartial and professional way. Guaranteed.
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FAQ
1. Why does Wood and Beyond only stock oak and walnut engineered wood flooring?
Wood and Beyond primarily stock oak and walnut engineered wood flooring because both of these types originate from deciduous trees that take a long time to grow. These hardwoods are typically more durable than softwood options. They have lower sap content, a closer grain, and are heavier with good fire resistance, which makes them an excellent choice for flooring.
2. What should I consider when choosing engineered wood flooring?
When choosing engineered wood flooring, several factors need to be considered, such as whether to buy online or offline, the finish that would work best, and the thickness of the board most appropriate for your project. You also need to decide the type of lamella or top layer suitable for your particular needs.
3. How does oak fare as a material for engineered wood flooring?
Oak is recognized globally for its strength and durability. It comes in various grades – prime, select, natural, and rustic – and is commonly used in both solid and engineered wood flooring. Oak flooring options with a lamella or top layer are not only affordable but also look great and are extremely hardwearing.
4. Why might someone choose pine or maple for engineered wood flooring?
Pine and maple may be chosen for their cost-effectiveness. Pine, which comes from evergreen trees, is typically much cheaper than oak. Maple, despite producing both hard and soft wood, is hard and stable due to its naturally straight grain. It is also less expensive than most other hardwoods.
5. How do oak, maple, and pine compare in terms of hardness, sap content, grain, stability, and price?
Oak is a hard wood with low sap content, varied grain, high stability, and mid to high price. Maple can be both hard and soft, has low sap content, straight grain, very high stability, and is priced low to mid-range. Pine is a soft wood with high sap content, varied grain, low stability, and low price.