Semi solid wood flooring is a highly versatile flooring option that enables you to avail of wood flooring solutions even in rooms where temperatures and moisture levels fluctuate. The reason for calling this flooring option semi solid is because of its construction. Solid wood flooring is made from solid wood and only that; that’s to say it is made of planks of your selected wood and nothing else. For example, if you choose solid oak flooring, each board will be cut from oak that has been lumbered and graded. Semi solid wood flooring is made up of a core board of layers and layers of ply that are bonded together to create a solid and stable base, upon which a layer of solid wood is fixed. The solid wood top layer is often called a lamella.
The core board of semi solid wood flooring is normally constructed by bonding together anything from 3 to as many as 12 layers of ply. This ply is either bonded together in sandwich style; one sheet on top of another or may be cross-layered. Whether you choose three ply or multi-ply semi solid wood flooring will depend to a large extent on your budget; the extent of temperature and moisture fluctuations in your room and whether or not you have under floor heating.
Generally speaking, a 3-ply semi solid wood flooring board will work out cheaper than a multi-ply board, simply because its production is less labour intensive. However, if you are planning to install your floor in a room that suffers significant moisture and temperature fluctuations, it’s probably worthwhile investing a bit more and plumping for a multi-ply board because it will be more stable. Likewise if you have under floor heating, a multi-ply solid wood board will withstand the passage of heat and the rise and fall of temperature more easily than a three ply board.
Thickness of board is also a factor and both three and multi-ply semi solid wood flooring is generally available in thicknesses of anything between 15 and 20mm. The solid wood top layer might be as fine as 3mm or as thick as up to 6mm and which you choose will depend on your budget.
Clearly a thicker top layer is normally more expensive and will affect how often you will be able to sand your floor in its lifetime. As a general rule of thumb most people would expect to sand and refinish a wood floor every ten years or so. This will enable anyone with an average amount of traffic and wear and tear to keep their wood floor looking good for a very long time. A semi solid wood floor will typically withstand two or three sandings in its lifespan, depending on the thickness of the solid wood lamella or top layer. So if you’re someone who’s obsessive about keeping your floor in pristine condition then you should make sure that you choose a semi solid wood flooring solution with a nice thick top layer.
Once you’ve decided on which structure of core board would work best for you, you then have the pleasure and excitement of choosing which finish you want on your board. Semi solid wood flooring comes in as many wood options as solid wood floor and you really can go to town when it comes to getting the right look. With a broad choice of species, grades and finishes, one of the greatest things about semi solid wood flooring is that you can choose a look that’s modern, traditional, aged or pristine – the world really is your oyster. What’s more, semi solid wood flooring has a significant number of advantages over wood flooring but looks just like the real thing. And that’s what we call win:win.
If you’d like help to choose the right wood flooring option for your project, why not get in touch. At Wood and Beyond we’re completely passionate about everything wood floor related and will be delighted to help you make the right decisions.
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FAQ
What is Semi Solid Wood Flooring?
Semi solid wood flooring is a versatile flooring solution made up of a core board of bonded layers of ply, on top of which a layer of solid wood, often called a lamella, is fixed. This construction makes it suitable for rooms where temperatures and moisture levels fluctuate.
How is the core board of semi solid wood flooring constructed?
The core board of semi solid wood flooring is typically constructed by bonding together 3 to 12 layers of ply in a sandwich style or a cross-layered style. The choice between three ply or multi-ply semi solid wood flooring will depend on your budget and the extent of temperature and moisture fluctuations in your room.
What thickness does semi solid wood flooring usually come in?
Both three and multi-ply semi solid wood flooring is generally available in thicknesses of between 15 and 20mm. The solid wood top layer can be as fine as 3mm or as thick as up to 6mm. The thickness you choose will depend on your budget and how often you plan to sand your floor.
How often can a semi solid wood floor be sanded?
Most people sand and refinish a wood floor every ten years or so to keep it looking good. A semi solid wood floor will typically withstand two or three sandings in its lifespan, depending on the thickness of the solid wood top layer.
What finishes are available for semi solid wood flooring?
Semi solid wood flooring comes in as many wood options as solid wood flooring, offering a broad choice of species, grades and finishes. You can choose a look that’s modern, traditional, aged or pristine.