Engineered wood flooring, as any regular reader of this blog will know, is a really versatile and convenient flooring solution that’s particularly well suited to today’s lifestyle. Made up of layers of different woods that have been bonded together, the core board of engineered wood flooring is really stable and doesn’t expand and contract to the same extent as solid wood flooring. What this means is that this product can be used in environments where solid wood flooring would struggle, such as bathrooms and kitchens. What’s more, thanks to the solid oak top layer or lamella that’s added to the core boards of engineered wood flooring, this flooring solution looks just like solid wood can even be used where you have under floor heating (but see notes on board thickness below).
Engineered wood flooring grades
Like solid wood flooring, different engineered wood flooring types are categorised into grades. When wood is lumbered, it is grouped according to the number of knots it has visible, the size of those knots and its colour consistency, as well as the amount of sap that’s naturally present in the wood. Wood is grouped into four different grades: prime, select, natural and rustic.
The wood that is used for engineered wood flooring should always have its grading marked, enabling you to ascertain what to expect. If you want a highly consistent engineered wooden floor, then there’s no beating a prime grade option, which will sport only a very few, very small knots, as well as having an extremely consistent colouration and very little sap. If you plump for a grade towards the bottom of the list, for example rustic grade oak, you can expect a floor with lots of knots and colour differentiation and your flooring is also highly likely to contain a significant amount of sap. All of that said, rustic grade oak engineered wood flooring can still be highly appealing and is a really good budget option.
Fitting system
Engineered wood flooring boards are normally made to work with the tongue and groove system of fitting. What this means is that one side of each board (long and short) features a tongue that juts out of the board and the mirror side features a groove, into which the matching tongue fits. This fitting system means that boards fit snugly together and the risk of gaps developing over time is reduced. The tongue and groove fitting system is suited to all different types of installation, from nail and staple down to glue down and floating, but which fitting method you should choose will depend to a large extent on your sub-floor and whether or not you are opting for a professional fitter or a DIY installation.
Species
The vast majority of engineered wood flooring options are topped off with a solid oak lamella. What this means is that the finished board looks just like solid wood, but has all the underlying characteristics of engineered boards. The reason oak is used is because it is so very strong and hardwearing, hence engineered oak flooring.
Thickness
Engineered wood flooring solutions range from relatively fine boards of say 14/3 to thick boards of up to 20/6. What these measurements mean is that the boards themselves are a total of 14mm thick and that the top layer is 3mm thick in the first instance and in the second, the board is a total of 20mm thick with a 6mm top layer or lamella. Which thickness of board you choose will depend on your project, but one thing you should make sure of is that if you have under floor heating, you get the right thickness of board. For this, you should always check with the flooring manufacturer or supplier, but generally speaking it’s not recommended to fit a board thicker than 14/3 over under floor heating.
Width
When it comes to the width of board, the world really is your oyster and you can choose whatever best suits your personal taste. On this note, many people think that a small or narrow room always calls for a narrow board, and a big or wide room a broad board, but there’s nothing to say that you shouldn’t throw tradition to the wind and mix and match. Using a broad board in a small room can create a really interesting effect or even a narrow board in a cavernous room can give stunning appeal. In fact boards can be cleverly used to create an optical illusion, for example, in a long narrow room, you could lay wide boards across the narrow aspect of the room to give an illusion of width and space.
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FAQ
What are the different grades of engineered wood flooring?
Engineered wood flooring is grouped into four different grades: prime, select, natural, and rustic. The grades are determined by the number of knots visible in the wood, the size of those knots, its color consistency, and the amount of sap present in the wood. Prime grade offers a highly consistent floor with very few, small knots, and very little sap. In contrast, rustic grade oak flooring will have lots of knots, color differentiation, and possibly significant amounts of sap.
How is engineered wood flooring fitted?
Engineered wood flooring boards are usually designed to work with a tongue and groove system. This system ensures that boards fit snugly together, reducing the risk of gaps developing over time. It is suitable for all types of installation methods, including nail and staple down, glue down, and floating. The chosen fitting method should largely depend on your sub-floor and whether you’re opting for professional installation or a DIY approach.
What species of wood is typically used for engineered wood flooring?
Most engineered wood flooring options use a solid oak lamella, meaning the finished board looks like solid wood but retains the characteristics of engineered boards. Oak is typically chosen for its strength and durability.
What thickness should I choose for my engineered wood flooring?
Engineered wood flooring comes in a variety of thicknesses, from relatively fine boards of 14/3 to thicker boards of up to 20/6. The choice of thickness depends on your specific project. However, if you have underfloor heating, you should consult the flooring manufacturer or supplier to ensure you choose the right thickness. Generally, it is not recommended to fit a board thicker than 14/3 over underfloor heating.
How do I choose the width of my engineered wood flooring boards?
The choice of board width is largely a matter of personal preference. There is a common belief that narrow rooms require narrow boards and wide rooms require broad boards. However, you can experiment with different combinations for interesting effects. For instance, using wide boards in a narrow room can create an optical illusion of width and space.