Many people come to our showroom in search of walnut engineered hardwood flooring. In some cases, they specifically want walnut, and nothing else will do. In other cases, they come with an open mind and are happy to consider other solutions that might fit the bill. In this article we’ll share with you the journey that some of our walnut fanatics take that leads them to finally choosing an oak engineered wood floor and why.
Native to North America, walnut has a fairly regular grain but can, from time to time, feature a more complex grain pattern. Typically chosen to create a dark base colour, walnut engineered hard wood flooring has almost a hint of purple once it has been laid. Like all engineered wood flooring solutions, walnut engineered hardwood flooring can be installed in any room in the home. That said, a somewhat softer species than oak, walnut wood flooring isn’t particularly suited to rooms that have to put up with either high or heavy footfall.
Oak on the other hand comes in a broad array of colourways from very light to very dark and the great thing about modern-day oak, from any walnut lover’s point of view, is that it looks very close to walnut, particularly when it has been treated to either take on a reclaimed look or has been black tea oiled. As you’ll see in this article, not only is oak engineered hardwood flooring significantly cheaper than its walnut equivalent; it boasts superb looks, as well as a well-justified tough, hardwearing reputation and looks very similar.
Just take a look at these Bargain Basement, Middle of the Road and Top of the Range examples to find out why we think it’s a really close call between walnut and oak engineered flooring here at Wood and Beyond:
At only £25.15 per square meter including VAT, this Natural Engineered Oak Reclaim Black UV Oiled flooring is a hard one to beat. Very similar to walnut in its colouration, you would be hard pushed to detect that the species is oak and not walnut. Taking into consideration that a similar quality wood floor in walnut is likely to retail at about twice this price, we really do feel that unless you’re firmly on the walnut side of the fence, this oak solution is well worthy of consideration.
This Natural Engineered Oak Black Tea UV Oiled hardwood floor is a stunning example of a walnut look-a-like that pleases both the wallet and the interior. With a real depth of colour, this wood flooring is loved by oak purists and clients who came initially searching for walnut in equal measure. Currently retailing at under half price, you can pick up this top quality floor at well under £40 per square meter including VAT – something you could only dream of if you were firmly fixed on a walnut solution.
Top of the range in name, but still on offer at under £45 per square meter, this Natural Engineered Oak Jet Black Brushed UV Lacquered floor is slightly darker than most of the walnut options on the market but nonetheless provides the same level of style and charm. What’s more, it’s UV lacquered finish means that it’s tough and hardwearing as well as being well able to stand up to the tough effects of sunlight.
So the bottom line is that yes, there are walnut fanatics out there who simply must have walnut and nothing else, however if you have an open mind, there are other options available. As you have seen, these dark oak floors promise you the same cachet as walnut but at a fraction of the price. And when you add their durability into the equation, it really becomes a no-brainer (well for us anyway!).
If you’d like to come and have a close up look at both our range of walnut engineered hardwood flooring and the oak solutions we have in stock, we’d love to welcome you to our showroom to meet some of the team and even share a cuppa. If, however, like many of our clients you’re too far away to come to London, then you can always order a Free Sample on our site. Either way, we’re here to help and if you’d like help straight away, simply get in touch using Chat on the site, email or phone us and we’ll help you plan even the most complex wood flooring project with military precision.
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