So you want a new wood flooring – the question is do you want engineered or solid wood?
Perhaps you are you looking for a real wood floor but not sure where to start? Or perhaps you want an engineered wood floor but aren’t really sure of the difference or benefits of one over the other. Here at First Floors we have advice on just how to make the right decision to ensure your home looks beautiful and maximises its value. One of the most popular products on the market today is an engineered wood floor. As time goes by, customers are choosing engineered boards as an option for their floors. So what are the benefits of an engineered wood floor? Well there are several reasons for choosing this over a solid wood. If you are considering to install under-floor heating, then an engineered board is the perfect choice. The very construction of the board allows the heat to penetrate through the board. A solid wood floor is just too thick. The construction of an engineered board is 3 layers of plywood with a veneer on the surface. How it is designed makes it extremely hard and therefore it will not expand and contract as much as a solid piece of wood. It is also ideal if your sub-floor is concrete as it can be floated. When we say floated we mean it will literally float above the existing floor. With this process you will need an underlay and if it is a concrete floor then a damp-proof underlay is recommended as cement tends to retain its moisture. An underlay will also have an acoustic effect and give your floor a beautiful feel underfoot. Engineered wood floor boards can be up to 1.9 long metres long if you are looking for that effect, whereas a solid wood is restricted in terms of plank length and width which is why it would cost a considerably more amount of money for this look in a solid wood floor. In addition, with an engineered board it is available in much bigger widths so you can start to see the benefits of an engineered board. Some of them are now available in a click version which makes for quick installation and easy to re-lift and repair if necessary! If you aren’t sure if you want Engineered or Solid Wood, it could be simply down to preference. Many of our customers simply want the look and feel of real wood but whilst knowing that their floor is solid wood through and through. Unless you have a particularly long or wide plank, you would never really know the difference, and both of these flooring options will last for generations. There many finishes and types of wood veneers available with an engineered wood board. Here at First Floors we have a beautiful range of engineered wood boards for you to choose from. Pop in and have a coffee and a chat and we will show you around our showroom at all the choices we have. We have an extensive range of laminates and solid wood floors for you to choose from as well. When you visit our showroom, some of the laminates and luxury vinyl options on show are so real and natural looking, you may find it hard to tell the difference between them and real wood. Pop into First Floors in Giffnock, we’re open seven days a week. Or call us for advice on 0141 638 0069 today.