AD | One of the most traditional and most loved flooring choices for a home is a wooden floor. And there are plenty of different types to choose from, depending on the look you want to achieve, and your budget. When we were sourcing a wooden floor for our conservatory, we looked at solid hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, and finally engineered wood flooring. Each had their advantages and disadvantages, but here are my five key benefits of engineered wood flooring, and why we chose it for our home.
Contents
What is engineered wood flooring?
Solid hardwood flooring is beautiful and long-lasting, but it’s extremely expensive and needs plenty of maintenance. Laminate flooring (a veneered image of wood attached to boards) is much cheaper but it’s quite easy to scratch and spoil. Engineered wood flooring, on the other hand, has the same look as solid hardwood but it’s made up from lots of thin wooden layers rather than being just one plank. All the layers are compressed together to create an extremely stable and durable floorboard, with the highest quality top layer giving the floor its final appearance.
5 key benefits of engineered wood flooring for your home
When we were looking for a new floor for our conservatory, we had several key requirements. We wanted something budget-friendly, long lasting, easy to maintain, that would look good, and add value to our home.
Budget option to add value
It’s true that engineered wood floors are still more expensive than laminate, tile, or carpet. But you do get what you pay for. We are talking about real wood, after all. And they come with some easy installation options too, such as click-lock boards. If you’re a competent DIYer then you could save some money by laying your own floor. We aren’t – and never will be – so we paid a professional to lay ours. And, according to some real estate experts dealing with high-quality homes for sale that have these perks, the average ROI for installing wooden floors is about 70% to 80%. With wooden floors boosting the sales price of your home by as much as 2.5%. So look on it as an investment that adds value 🙂
Long lasting and sustainable
Engineered wood flooring can withstand changes in heat, unlike solid wood that shrinks and expands according to temperature. The way the boards are manufactured means their core integrity is far greater (stresses are distributed evenly rather than focusing on one single layer). So this makes them much more durable and better suited to heavy footfall or high traffic areas. A properly fitted and good quality engineered wood floor can last up to 30 years. It’s a great option to consider in a home extension such as a kitchen, for example. Something else to bear in mind too: as only the top layer of flooring is constructed from solid wood, there’s less waste during the manufacturing process. Making them more sustainable when they’re made, and after they’re laid.
Range of colours and finishes
You can choose from different woods (ash, oak, maple, and walnut), colours and designs. And depending on the look you’re aiming for, you can also specify board thickness, width, length, and even finish (brushed, lacquered, oiled, or distressed). If you’re a fan of minimalism and Scandi-chic, there’s no better way to get started than with a beautiful wooden floor. Tip: we also laid some foam insulation underneath the floor in our conservatory, which makes it sooooooo much quieter and warmer to play on (according to Flora).
Works with underfloor heating
We didn’t eventually install underfloor heating in our conservatory (those pesky budget constraints again). But engineered wood floors are perfect for houses with underfloor heating, which would damage solid wood alternatives. And although they’re not waterproof, they are moisture resistant, so they’d be good for a garden office where carpet wouldn’t work either.
Easy to maintain
I would like very much not to have to clean at all. So a floor that’s easy to look after will always find favour. And wooden floors are great for this – a quick hoover and an occasional damp mop is all they need to keep them clean. They’re great for allergy sufferers too, with less dust mites to contend with. It’s also worth noting that, if you do get the odd dent or scrape, you can sand the floor down and refinish it. Obviously how many times will depend on the thickness of the final wood layer (the veneer). But it’s possible to bring your wood floor back to life even some years after you’ve had it fitted. So it could be ideal for rental properties where you want to make the most of your buy-to-let investment without being stung for too many maintenance costs.
Choosing your engineered wood flooring
Obviously we’re talking about a not inconsiderable investment here. So you want to make sure you’re getting the best engineered wood flooring at a good price and from a reputable company. Most companies will send you free samples so you can see what your chosen flooring will look like in your own home and in the space where you want to install it. I’d strongly urge you to take advantage of this option. The flooring we ended up choosing was not the one we first fell in love with. True, it’s a little sun-faded (only to be expected) and we have some darker patches under the rugs. But I think it still looks as beautiful as the day it was laid. And we’d not hesitate to choose engineered wood flooring again the next time we’re looking at flooring for our home.
Do you like wooden floors? Have you ever thought about a wooden floor in your home? Did you realise how versatile engineered wood flooring can be?
* This is a sponsored post.
I love wooden floors, but you are right in saying they are expensive and cause so much grief when they scratch. I think the thing I love most about this post is the universal reminder that, when we want/need something, there is always an alternative solution out there that will let us reach our dreams.
Thanks for sharing!
Oh Jaya, what a lovely thing to say – such a poetic way of putting it!
I love wooden flooring! This sounds like a great alternative to laminate which I’m not really a fan of.
We’ve got Karndean floors which I love but I’d consider these if we ever get our kitchen sorted!!
It feels so good underfoot – but Karndean is super practical too!
I’d love to have wooden floors. I can’t wait for the day when I own a house that I can do this to. I’ll definitely bare in mind what you’ve mentioned in this post when I do get to choose.
You won’t regret it, I’m so tempted to rip up all our carpets now too 🙂
About 10 years ago, we decided to get rid of carpet on our main floor. We went with laminate which I find to be indestructible. Even with two kids, we’ve never had a scratch.
I think the biggest benefit of any of the “no carpet” options is less dust and less potential for mold.
Goodness, you’ve been lucky with your laminate. My parents had some and it definitely looked worse for wear in patches 🙂
I really want to get this kind of flooring in my house! I’ve got so many plans for renovation!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Exciting times ahead then – happy renovating!
We are lucky, when we moved into this house, 80% of the home still has the original hardwood floors. That being said, if I were to purchase flooring myself, I definitely would look at engineered wood flooring as my #1 option. I love that you can get the look and functionality of a hardwood floor without the price tag and upkeep that comes with solid wood.
Oh you were lucky, that’s great. But yes, it’s so good to be able to get the look without having to spend that kind of budget or worry about the maintenance!
All my house is carpeted, I would love wooden floors in some rooms of my house, like you said, wood floor is sustainable and easier to clean! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
It really is much easier to clean – especially if you have children and/or pets! x
We have engineered wood in our kitchen/dining room. I love it, as it really brightens the room and just looks beautiful. I love that it is easy enough to lay too (well ours was) and can be sanded back if needs be. Its also taken a few knocks, but has withstood them, which is fab!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Oh that’s fantastic, and it’s the perfect room for a wooden floor – yours sounds lovely, and great that it’s withstood a few dents too 🙂
When I finally get my own home (hopefully soon) I really want to have wooden flooring, there’s just something so traditional about it. Engineered wood flooring is certainly a great affordable alternative though. The fact that you get the same look and feel is also an added bonus!
How exciting to be looking forward to getting your own home – definitely do have a look at engineered hardwood, it’s a brilliant alternative to solid wood!
I love wooden flooring, I always have thought that they look really great!
I agree 🙂
This was a very insightful and informative post thank you! Myself and my partner are looking at houses at the moment and we did say if we needed to change the floor we would, so this is useful to know some options for wooden flooring thank you! 😊 x
You’re welcome, I’m so pleased it was helpful – and how exciting to be home hunting, good luck! x
Wow this really sounds like the way to go compared to hardwood! I love hardwood floors but like you said, it can get pretty pricey. It’s awesome to hear about different options!
Engineered hardwood is amazing, we’ve been so happy with ours 🙂
Thanks sharing, I have all carpets (apart from the kitchen & bathroom) at mine, but my parents hoilday home has wood all through the down stairs, it’s easier to clean when sand comes in!!
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
Oh yes, wood flooring would be perfect for a holiday home, so much easier to maintain!
Wooden flooring has always fascinated me and I have it in my living area and kitchen. But again as you said, seeing the scratches breaks my heart now. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea of engineered wooden flooring. 😊
But the good thing about wooden flooring is you can sand out any minor scratches, luckily! 🙂
I don’t have wooden floors yet as we are still renovating our house but I do plan to have them when it’s completed.
They look so wonderful and are easy to keep clean too 🙂