The Rise Of Engineered Timber Flooring
While most of us could only dream of having hardwood timber floors in our abodes, engineered timber flooring presents an alternative at a fraction of the cost.
For many homeowners, authentic hardwood timber floors are often regarded as one of those staple luxuries that are simply out of reach. As this premium product can easily amount to over $200 per square metre for a quality timber with minimal defects, by the time you enlist a professional installer to see the project through, a new hardwood timber floor can easily add up to thousands of dollars.
In contrast, significant advancements in technology means that there is now an affordable alternative that replicates the look and feel of the real thing: engineered timber flooring. Once dismissed as a cousin of laminate flooring that would never be able to mimic authentic materials, engineered timber flooring is now widely embraced as one of the most popular flooring materials used across Australia.
Understanding The Appeal Of Engineered Timber
As a modern alternative to organic timber, engineered timber flooring has a top layer of natural hardwood beneath several layers of protective coatings, which gives it the same luxurious look and feel of the solid hardwood timber floorboards. When you choose prefinished flooring, all the sanding and finishing has already been done and the end result is a consistent and durable finish that requires very little maintenance once installed.
Although these types of products are partially made from real wood, they’re also strategically manufactured to optimise performance as a flooring material, with each plank wear layer usually combining the classic features and characteristics of the natural timbers bonded onto a plywood multi-layer core for enhanced in-service stability.
While most engineered timber flooring products have the same internal composition, homeowners have the luxury of choosing between a wide range of colours, tones and wood grains. Native Australian wood that engineered timber options source inspiration from spotted gums, blackbutts and blue gums, while European oak planks get their unique character from a natural, rustic one strip pattern, lively colour variations and random knots.
Aesthetics aside, engineered timber flooring products are also famously durable, making them the perfect choice for high foot traffic areas such as kitchens and living rooms. While traditional hardwood flooring is notorious for its demanding maintenance regime, engineered timber is much easier to clean, and even replace in the rare event that one of the plants becomes damaged.
The specific design of engineered timber means that it also offers a range of performance benefits over solid hardwood, such as stability and sustainability. From basic flooring to feature walls, joinery or even countertops, the great thing about engineered timber floorboards is that they can be incorporated into your home in exactly the same way as any other traditional hardwood.
While the materials themselves cost significantly less when compared to traditional hardwood floors, engineered timber flooring also gives DIY enthusiasts the chance to save on installation and labour costs as well.
Floating floors is a broad term used to describe flooring materials that don’t need to be nailed or glued to a subfloor. The term usually refers to the installation method, but is often used synonymously with laminate flooring. However, these days it also applies to a wide range of other floor systems, such as engineered timber flooring.
Although many renovators opt to go for laminate or hybrid plank products as the affordable and easy choice, a growing number are embracing engineered timber flooring as a means to boost the value of their properties. Given that it’s now cheaper, more sustainable and easier to install than hardwood floors, this really should come as no surprise.
For those debating giving their abode an in depth facelift, or are perhaps halfway through doing so, shopping for flooring materials can easily cause headaches. Mistakes in this arena can be costly, but to get the right advice the first time, the good news is that a visit to your local Tile Wizards outlet can provide all the answers and more.
Chat Flooring Materials With The Professionals
While your options for renovating on a budget are almost limitless, selecting the right type of flooring for your home renovation certainly isn’t an easy feat. With each space, comes a different preference or priority: are you chasing style, functionality, or simply want the most bang for your buck?
In operation for over 25 years, at Tile Wizards we pride ourselves on getting you more, for less. We pioneered the warehouse format, and our stores are purposefully designed to make your selection easier, and ultimately offer our customers quality, price and the right advice.
Even if you are just after some honest and friendly advice – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Tile Wizards today for a free quote. We pride ourselves on being able to work with you in order to bring your dream flooring solution to life.
