What Is Structured Wood Flooring?

Structured wood flooring is another name for engineered wood flooring.  This type of flooring has become increasingly popular over recent years thanks to its versatility and authentic look.  Structured wood flooring is often put into the same category as laminate flooring and it’s important to make it clear that the two have absolutely nothing in common.  Laminate flooring is a synthetic flooring product that is made up by bonding multiple layers of man-made substances.   It is often topped off with an image of wood, which is effectively no more than a sophisticated photocopy.  Structured wood flooring on the other hand is made up of a range of layers of wood, which are bonded together to create a solid and resistant sub board, to which a layer of real wood is added as a finish.

The make up of structured wood flooring

Structured wood flooring is made by bonding together numerous layers of ply or high density fibreboard (HDF) to create a core board which acts at the centre of the final floor board.  Thereafter a layer of solid wood lamella is bonded on to the board to create the end product, which can then either be finished or left unfinished.  The solid wood lamella on structured wood flooring can be any species of wood, as well as coming in various thicknesses.  The thickness of the lamella is what will determine the number of times your floor can be sanded as well as, to some extent, the life expectancy of your floor.

The finish options

Like solid wood flooring, structured wood flooring comes in a whole range of finish options, from natural looking brushed and oiled at one end to lacquered at the other.  This flooring option is typically offered its unfinished state as well as finished, which means you can apply your own chosen finish once the floor has been laid.

The advantages of structured wood flooring

One of the major advantages of structured wood flooring is that you can use it in places where solid wood floor wouldn’t normally be recommended.  Wherever there is likely to be significant moisture or temperature fluctuations, such as in bathrooms, kitchens and basements, it is normally not ideal to install solid wood flooring.  This is where structured wood flooring really comes into its own.  Thanks to its clever make-up, structured wood flooring doesn’t expand and contract to the same extent as solid wood, which means you can install it without risk in these rooms in the home.

The other advantage of structured wood flooring is that it looks just like the real thing.  Thanks to its solid wood top layer, structured wood flooring and solid wood flooring appear the same.

So when it comes to choosing between solid and structured wood flooring, if you’re looking for a flooring solution for a room in your home where there’s likely to be moisture or temperature changes, there really is no downside to structured wood flooring.