A wood floor is not always a wood floor
Discover different flooring options for your home
A wood floor is not always a wood floor
Discover different flooring options for your home
Wood floors give your house a warm, cozy natural feeling and make it really feel like home. However, not every floor that appears to be made of wood is actually the real thing. While we at Bona feel passionate about wood floors, it may not necessarily be the best choice for your home. The floor you choose will depend on a number of things: your budget, the type of room it’s for, whether you have kids or pets and how easy it is to clean and maintain.
Let’s take a closer look at the different kinds of flooring on the market.
Solid real wood floors
This is the original timber floor and is what the name suggests. A single piece of wood from top to bottom. The pure naturalness of a real wood floor is one of its biggest pros. This high-quality, high-end type of flooring can increase a home's value and never goes out of fashion. It comes in a variety of colours, finishes and styles to fit your personality. And it can be refinished over and over again and will never need replacing. If you want to bring the outdoors in, natural real solid wood floors are a great choice.
Engineered wood floors
Engineered wood floors are made of real wood too but constructed in a different manner to provide a variety of benefits. Some benefits include better resistance to expansion and contraction, ability to know in advance the exact the color and texture of the floor and a better option for basement installations. They have a top layer of real natural wood, and a plywood base construction. Once installed it is difficult to tell them apart. As with solid wood floors they give you the same warmth and natural feel to any room. When considering an engineered wood floor, keep in mind the thickness of the top layer. This will determine how many times it can be sanded and refinished when needed. Today’s sanding machines, abrasives and surface treatments allow this to be done several times.
Wood effect laminate
Laminate flooring consists of 4 layers. High-Density Fiberboard (HDF)) as the main core layer which provides durability, with a balancing back layer on the base to protect against moisture and balance the floor. The top of the HDF is finished with a decorative paper or design layer (e.g. look of wood) and then laminated on top with a clear coating or wear layer. While it’s easy to clean, inexpensive and resistant to stains and scratches, laminate is particularly sensitive to moisture. A damaged laminate floor will most likely have to be replaced.
Wood effect ceramic tiles
Wood-look tiles are a good choice if you are looking for something durable, has a long lifespan and can deal with the issues of water. However, compared to real wood they have some downsides. Tiles have no bounce or give and can cause aches in your feet if standing for longer periods of time. They can also be hazardous if the surface is wet. Grooved or structured varieties provide a textured surface to prevent slipperiness. Tiles are known for being uncomfortably cold when walking on them barefoot can be a problem, especially in winter. However, if a waterproof core is of interest to you, wood effect ceramic tiles will stand up to the test.
Wood effect Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Luxury vinyl Tiles (LVT) can mimic natural surfaces, like wood and stone. It is composed of several layers that are fused together under heat and pressure – vinyl backing, vinyl core, printed design film and a protective polyurethane coating. It comes in planks, sheets or tiles and can be laid over existing floors. It is extremely durable, waterproof, low maintenance and a good option for low budgets. However, LVT flooring also comes with some drawbacks. While it’s warmer than ceramic tiles, it is hard and can be slippery. It is also sensitive to UV light and high levels of sunlight can discolour or fade the floor with time.