23 Feb 2019

Engineered Oak Flooring – What you need to know

 

When it comes down to it, we all want to impress right? Whether it’s down to the car we drive, the clothes we wear or even the talents we possess. It’s appealing and entirely reasonable to want to show off something you have worked hard for. A common thing, ( most of us are guilty of ) we invest in things that have a short shelf life. By this, I mean items that look good for a while but date or depreciate quickly.

For example, I’m a sucker for buying expensive shoes. I will spend £80+ on footwear, then go out over a weekend and they will never look the same again. Also, cars. As soon as you leave the forecourt, that brand new BMW 3 series M-Sport has already depreciated thousands of pounds. We all know this, yet it means nothing. We still follow the same routine and make poor investments.

Now I’m not saying ‘don’t buy nice things’, I’m not saying that all. The message today is, invest wisely and look after your lovely things. Because if you do, those shoes could become collectables and that car could become a classic.

Engineered Oak Flooring is most certainly an investment. It should not be cheap, because anything which has been engineered with such technical precision will always reflective in the price tag. It’s crucial to know a few facts about Engineered Oak flooring when making a decision on whether it right for you or not. If the choice is made correctly, then you would have invested in something that is beautiful, long lasting and can increase the value of your home.

Engineered Oak Flooring comes in an abundance of forms. They each provide a unique look in your home. For those you who have open plan areas, why not consider an extra long and extra wide engineered oak flooring. These expansive boards provide chunky character and show off the beauty of the original oak tree. This style is available in a vast range of colours and finishes, there is sure to be something that matches your inner desires.

If you want to be a bit EXTRA.. why not opt for Engineered Oak flooring in a herringbone style. There are so many to choose from, and you can get them in both a click and tone and groove designs. (more on installation later) Herringbone is a classic masterpiece. Versatile enough, it looks equally fantastic in an old Victorian terrace as it does in a modern family home.

Suitability

• Living Room
• Dining Room
• Kitchen
• Hall
• Bedrooms
• Stairs & Landing
• Conservatories

Engineered Oak Flooring can be constructed in a few different ways with different core materials being used. The most popular and indeed the most structurally sound options are:

• HDF Construction
• Blockcore Construction
• Multi-Ply Construction

Each board will have a solid oak top layer, this can vary from 2.5mm up to 6mm. Anything under 2.5mm would not be recommended anything over 6mm would be unnecessary. The solid oak top layer should have multiple coats of high-quality lacquer or oil (depending on your preference) The reverse of the board should be a veneered, sanded pine or hardwood balancer.

Engineered Oak Flooring is now the go-to option when wanting a solid oak finish. This is because of the way the flooring produced. It’s much more stable than solid oak, meaning you can put in it areas like kitchens and conservatories without running the risk of cupping ( where the edges of the planks turn in), joint separation and damage caused by extreme expansion.

Installation

Installation of engineered oak flooring is easily achieved. The three primary systems are:

• Tong and Groove Floating Floor∗ ( Glued together )
• Tong and Groove Secret nailed ( Suitable plywood subfloor )
• Click Floating Floor∗∗

*A floating floor means that the planks are connected together but not physically fastened down to the subfloor.

Surface Finish

Choosing the correct surface finish is very important. Not just for the look you might be seeking but also the lifestyle that you lead. Below are the most popular finishes.

Brushed and Oiled Engineered Oak Flooring

This is an excellent all-around option. The brushed effect provides the board with the texture and embossed feel to each plank, bringing out the unique characteristics of the oak flooring. The oil contains the protection, repelling stains and controlling moisture that can damage the oak surface. The great thing about an oiled product is the ability to b able to re-treat the surface. So when life happens and marks appear on the flooring, you’re ready to lightly sand and real oil the surface.

Lacquered Engineered Oak Flooring

A lacquered surface provides you with a smooth, hardwearing finish that offers extra protection to your flooring. Lacquer is less porous than oil and will repel dirt and moister away from the surface. This leaves a cleaner finish for longer than an oiled product. However, unlike an oiled finished, it not as easy to fix marks and scratched. This is because the protective lacquer provides a slight sheen (although hard to mark) means it’s difficult to retreat to the factory finish.

Brushed and Lacquered Engineered Oak Flooring

This is a beautiful combination of two finishes and is become more and more popular. Having the brushed surface provides the life and character in the oak flooring, giving it the depths you expect from real wood. The lacquered then provides the extra protection to tackle the day to day wear and tear of life. This offers the best of both worlds, as the brushed surface has a great way of disguising marks and scratches if they managed to get through the durable lacquered finish.