What’s the difference between solid and engineered wood floors?

A timeless flooring solution that offers an attractive yet exceptionally durable option for homeowners and enterprise operators alike, wood has much to offer. While providing an excellent return on the sizeable investment that a new floor entails, wood’s natural look and feel can add warmth to interiors and suits almost every décor.

Those looking to install a wood floor will have heard of two types readily available from flooring specialists – solid wood and engineered wood floors – and may be curious about the differences. In the following sections, we’ll explore the differences between these flooring options to help property owners select which product may be most suitable for their specific requirements.

The main difference

Solid wood floors are made from just wood. Typically produced from a hardwood genus of trees such as Walnut, Maple or Oak, solid wood floors offer the longest lasting floor choice as they can be sanded down and refinished to restore their natural beauty several times.

While on first inspection after fitting, engineered wood flooring may appear extremely similar to solid wood, it is constructed quite differently. Instead of a solid board comprising of one type of wood, engineered wood is created by taking a fairly thin layer of expensive hardwood and bonding it onto a less expensive, albeit high-quality, piece of plywood.

Longevity and cost

As a solid wood floor can be restored two or three times, it has the advantage of a longer lifespan than engineered flooring, which can typically be sanded down and refinished only once due to its thin solid wood layer. Whereas a solid wood floor will commonly last between 30 to 100 years depending on how it is used and cared for, an engineered floor has a much shorter life of between 20 to 30 years.

For those seeking a wood floor appearance where cost is a concern, an engineered option may be more suitable than solid wood, as due to the way it is constructed, it is the more affordable of the two solutions.

Appearance and choice of wood

Solid hardwood floorboards generally tend to be narrower than engineered wood alternatives, which are far broader by comparison. Solid wood flooring usually offers a wider range of colours and a choice between a finished or unfinished look and feel, whereas engineered options are nearly always pre-finished.

Installation of wood floors

Solid wood floors are fashioned from boards milled to feature a tongue and groove so they can interlock with one another. Solid wood flooring must be nailed to the subfloor, a process best tackled by a professional. Engineered wood flooring, on the other hand, is typically easier and far quicker to fit.

Whether you select a solid wood or engineered wood, unless you are DIY expert, enlisting the assistance of a professional floor fitter can be advantageous. Highly convenient, skilled installers can fit flooring options faster, causing you less disruption, and their extensive experience can ensure your floor is installed correctly, enhancing its appearance and adding to its longevity.

Solid wood flooring recommended for health

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many families to spend much more time at home. According to the Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB), many households do not realise how flooring affects health, and it has recommended wood flooring.

Clean floors are essential for keeping a family healthy and protecting them from viruses, and QWEB have recommended hardwood flooring as it reduces pollutants and allergens in the home. The smooth surface of wood means that it’s easy to sweep, scrub or vacuum to remove particles. Stains on the flooring can be removed with a microfibre mop, and quality wood flooring will have a polish or oil that prevents bacteria and moisture penetrating the wood.

QWEB’s mission is to develop overseas markets for wood products from the Quebec region. Its advice on wood flooring is designed to promote the sale of more wood flooring, but its claim that wood is hygienic is backed up by research. Sofa company SCS studied various floor coverings and concluded that wood is a healthy flooring as its solid surface doesn’t absorb dust and dirt.

There are cheaper floor coverings available, but they are not as long-lasting as solid wood. High-quality solid wood flooring can last over one hundred years. It is an eco-friendly material, recyclable and adds a natural look to any room.

Many people spending more time in their homes are thinking of installing new flooring. Solid wood flooring in Chester, Wrexham and North Wales homes is a great choice to protect household health.

Welsh nursery uses grant for mixed grass garden

The Learning Tree Nursery in Cardiff has opened a landscaped garden that was financed with a Government Capital Grant. The garden features both natural lawn and artificial grass areas.

The garden allows young children and babies to safely explore outdoors. The large garden is suitable for the “Bubble System” the nursery has adopted to keep children safe during the coronavirus crisis.

The work on the garden started in March 2020, but its completion was delayed by the coronavirus lockdown. Now that it has been completed, there has been an enthusiastic response to the garden from parents, staff and the more than 50 children who attend The Learning Tree. One parent said that it is important for her child to be able to play outside, and her daughter has enjoyed planting seeds, watering them and taking part in outdoor activities.

Chris Baker, the founder of the nursery, told Wales 247:

“The garden now has a mixture of real grass and artificial grass areas to allow different textural experiences. It gives us all year round use when combined with our separate covered outdoor area.”

Areas of artificial grass in Wrexham, Chester and North Wales nurseries and primary schools are suitable for children to play on all year round. The Learning Tree Nursery demonstrates that a mixture of artificial grass, natural grass and flower beds provides young children with a rich, multi-texture environment that is suitable for playing on whether the ground is wet or dry.

Natural hues to be 2021’s home decor trend

Next year's colour trends are predicted to move away from bright colours and move towards natural hues and soothing tones inspired by nature.

According to the website livingetc.com, home decor in 2021 will reflect the natural world, especially wood. The coronavirus pandemic has meant people are spending more time at home, and they want their homes to be comforting sanctuaries away from the virus threat. Soft, natural hues are soothing and provide a sense of comfort.

Natural decor starts with a wood floor. Livingetc forecasts that households will move away from dark wood stains to natural, clean finishes, and organic oils with white pigments will be used to lighten wood floors. Nick White, an expert on sustainable wood flooring, says:

"We are seeing a lot of neutral, natural wood colours being specified by the architects and designers that we work with."

Rooms with light wood floors and earthy neutral coloured walls create a naturally soothing environment. Pale shades of green, pink or yellow can emotionally uplift those spending a lot of time in a particular room.

Solid wood flooring in Wrexham and North Wales homes is often used to bring a touch of nature into the home. Homeowners considering installing a new floor covering should consider light solid wood flooring if they want to follow the forecasted colour palette trend. A less expensive alternative is engineered wood flooring, which has a natural wood top layer.

Whether you follow colour trends or not, new wood flooring can help to turn your home into a sanctuary.

Quarantined mother stencils floor

Mother of two, Vivienne Bowerbank, returned from a family holiday in Spain and was faced with having to quarantine. She decided to pass the time by painting and stencilling her kitchen and hall floors.

She already had some light-coloured paint, which she had used to renovate her kitchen units, and decided to use this on the kitchen and hall floors, combining the paint with a stencil for a geometric pattern. She explained to LatestDeals.co.uk:

“I did it each time my toddler went for his two-hour afternoon nap and sometimes a few stencils when he went to bed as it was impossible to do when he was awake. And there was plenty to do.”

She painted the floors with a small roller, and once it had dried, she used a brush and sponge with a stencil to create a geometric black pattern.

The floor renovations cost just £19, and she also claimed that it saved her mental sanity during the tedious lockdown.

Painting a floor does save money compared to installing a new floor, but it takes times and effort. A painted floor doesn’t wear well, so it won’t last a long time. Unlike wood stain, paint sits on top of the floor, and in heavily used areas will soon begin to peel and crack. It is likely that wear will be uneven, causing worn patches.

Installing new vinyl or wood flooring in Chester rooms is a much better long-term solution compared to painting a worn floor.