The days of wood flooring being limited to a single type are well and truly over. As of 2024, there are more choices than ever, thanks to advances in technology and increasing environmental concerns. Your choice now spans from real wood flooring to wood-look alternatives. Here are the main types of wood flooring set to flourish in 2024.
Solid Wood Flooring – Real Wood Type
These are the traditional types of wood flooring that your parents, and their parents before them, likely installed if they had wood floors. Each floorboard is crafted from 100% real wood and comes in various thicknesses, ranging from 16mm to 20mm. While they make a striking impression once installed, the use of 100% real wood has significant disadvantages, such as incompatibility with underfloor heating, unsuitability in wet areas, and, of course, a hefty price tag of around £60/m2 to £80/m2.
Engineered Wood Flooring – Real Wood Type
Engineered wood flooring is also considered real wood flooring due to the presence of real wood in its top layer. Unlike solid wood flooring, the remainder of the floorboard (consisting of the core and backing) is made from ply, MDF, and softwood. When fully installed, engineered wood flooring looks identical to its solid counterpart, but with several notable advantages. These include a more affordable price, starting at around £30/m2, compatibility with underfloor heating, and suitability for wet areas in certain types.
Laminate Wood Flooring – Wood Effect Type
When fully installed, laminate flooring closely resembles real wood counterparts. This is thanks to the printed design layer that digitally mimics the appearance of natural wood. Like engineered wood flooring, its core and backing are not made from wood, but from HDF (High-Density Wood Fibre). Among the various types of wood flooring listed here, laminate flooring is the most budget-friendly, starting from £10/m2. However, it has the shortest lifespan of all real wood and wood effect types.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) – Wood Effect Type
Luxury vinyl flooring (LVT) shares many attributes with laminate flooring, especially the use of a printed design layer to mimic natural wood. However, unlike laminate, its core is made from more durable materials like PVC and WPC, with backing made from cork. The use of advanced materials positions luxury vinyl flooring midway between laminate and engineered wood flooring in terms of price, starting from £20/m2.
SPC Flooring – Wood Effect Type
Finally, there’s the latest innovation in vinyl flooring technology: SPC flooring. Similar to luxury vinyl flooring, SPC differs primarily in its core. Short for Stone Plastic Composite, SPC is far more robust than PVC and WPC cores and is better equipped to handle wet and damp conditions. This means it can be installed in every room of the house. SPC flooring is typically 20% to 30% more expensive than luxury vinyl flooring, with prices starting from £22/m2.
Pros and Cons of Wood Flooring Types
Type of Wood Flooring | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Solid Wood Flooring | – Timeless, classic appearance | – Not compatible with underfloor heating |
– High-quality, 100% real wood | – Not suitable for wet areas | |
– Adds value to the property | – Expensive, around £60/m2 to £80/m2 | |
Engineered Wood Flooring | – Real wood appearance | – Can be more expensive than synthetic options |
– More stable than solid wood | – Not as long-lasting as solid wood | |
– Compatible with underfloor heating and some wet areas | – Quality varies with price | |
Laminate Wood Flooring | – Budget-friendly, starting from £10/m2 | – Shortest lifespan among wood flooring types |
– Resembles real wood | – Not as durable as real wood or high-quality synthetics | |
– Easy to install and maintain | – Can be damaged by moisture and heavy use | |
Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) | – Mid-range pricing starting from £20/m2 | – Not as valuable as real wood flooring |
– Durable and suitable for heavy traffic areas | – Can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | |
– Mimics natural wood with a range of designs and styles | – Less environmentally friendly compared to real wood | |
SPC Flooring | – Highly durable, handles wet and damp conditions well | – More expensive than LVT, starting from £22/m2 |
– Suitable for all house areas | – Can feel harder and less warm underfoot compared to wood | |
– Typically more affordable than solid wood, with advanced features | – Limited natural wood feel compared to solid or engineered wood |
Important Notes
Each type of wood flooring mentioned is available in low, mid, and high-end options. Price differences often relate to the thickness of the floor, the type of fitting method, and additional features. For instance, both luxury vinyl and SPC flooring are available with or without an integrated underlay, which will affect the price.
Moreover, each wood flooring type is available in the traditional plank style, but you’ll also find tile, chevron, and herringbone styles, which are slightly more expensive.
Types Of Wood Flooring Popular in 2024
At Wood and Beyond, we are seeing an increasing number of customers opting for two distinct types of wood flooring. The first is engineered wood flooring, favoured for its realistic look and favourable pricing. The second is SPC flooring, celebrated for its versatility across all rooms in the house. We notice very little demand for solid wood flooring, given its limitations and price. Laminate remains popular for those seeking wood-look flooring on a budget. While luxury vinyl flooring is still a sought-after choice, many are opting to spend a bit more for its SPC alternative.
—
FAQ
What Are the Main Types of Wood Flooring Available in 2024?
In 2024, the variety of wood flooring has expanded significantly. The main types include traditional solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring, laminate wood flooring, luxury vinyl flooring (LVT), and the latest innovation, SPC flooring. Each offers unique benefits and fits different needs and budgets.
What Are the Key Differences Between Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring?
Solid wood flooring, crafted entirely from real wood, is known for its classic appeal but has limitations like incompatibility with underfloor heating and unsuitability for wet areas. Engineered wood flooring, while also having a real wood top layer, uses materials like ply, MDF, and softwood for the core and backing. It is more versatile, being suitable for underfloor heating and some wet areas, and is more affordable compared to solid wood.
How Does Laminate Wood Flooring Differ in Terms of Price and Durability?
Laminate wood flooring, designed to mimic real wood, is the most cost-effective option among the wood flooring types, with prices starting from £10/m2. However, it has the shortest lifespan compared to other real wood and wood effect flooring types.
What Advantages Does Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) Offer?
Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVT) combines the aesthetic appeal of natural wood with durability and affordability. Its core is made of robust materials like PVC and WPC, with cork backing, positioning it between laminate and engineered wood flooring in terms of price and durability.
Why is SPC Flooring Gaining Popularity?
SPC flooring, a more recent innovation in vinyl flooring, stands out for its Stone Plastic Composite core, making it extremely strong and suitable for all house areas, including wet and damp conditions. Its durability and versatility make it a popular choice, despite being slightly more expensive than luxury vinyl flooring.