Choosing the Right Type of Oak Flooring for your Home
Different Types of Oak Flooring
Oak is an elegant flooring material. It is natural and has an authentic bold color that complements the décor of a room. Before installing oak flooring, it is advisable for one to understand the different types of oak floors that are available. The two main types are engineered oak and solid oak.
When people hear of engineered oak, they assume that it is of poor quality and not the real thing. However, engineered oak possesses the same properties as solid oak. In fact, the two types are hardly distinguishable to the untrained eye. To understand and successfully differentiate these two types of flooring materials, one has to physically handle them or read on them extensively. Since the first option is not always possible, most people result to the second one.
Solid Oak
Solid oak is a 100% natural product. It is made from the famous oak tree. This flooring material is considered to be one of the best in the market. Timber is normally affected by certain climatic conditions, such as humidity, moisture and heat. This is mainly attributed to its semi porous nature. Oak is no exception. It is also susceptible to those climatic conditions. It swells when it takes up moisture. This leads to an increase in the floor board's width and length. Therefore, it is advisable to allow an expansion gap around the outside perimeter of oak floors during installation. If no gap is left, the boards swell causing the floor to buckle in the center section. This raises the oak flooring, leaving a gap between it and the floor. When that happens, the oak floor becomes springy and less comfortable. Moreover, it loses its elegance.
Engineered Oak Floors
Engineered oak is a little bit different from solid oak, but just as attractive. It lasts as long as solid oak does and forms a structurally sound and stable floor. This gives it a slight edge over the solid oak. This type of flooring material is made of a layer of solid oak, which is glued onto multi-laminate plywood. It is the same qualities as the oak that is used in the solid oak boards. It also has natural grain and figuring, which gives it the same beauty that comes with natural oak. There are many reasons as to why some people prefer engineering oak to solid oak. To begin with, it is a very stable product and is structurally stronger than the solid oak. Therefore, it is able to maintain its form and beauty even when exposed to moisture. It is also preferred in homes that have under floor heating systems. This is because it is more stable and can withstand heat better. Moreover, engineered oak is environmental friendly. The underlying plywood is made from fast growing softwoods, thus reducing the use of the precious oak tree. There are many other advantages of using engineering oak flooring as well as solid oak. It is advisable that one checks them all out before making a choice on which type to go with. This way, he or she will be able to make the right decision.
When people hear of engineered oak, they assume that it is of poor quality and not the real thing. However, engineered oak possesses the same properties as solid oak. In fact, the two types are hardly distinguishable to the untrained eye. To understand and successfully differentiate these two types of flooring materials, one has to physically handle them or read on them extensively. Since the first option is not always possible, most people result to the second one.
Solid Oak
Solid oak is a 100% natural product. It is made from the famous oak tree. This flooring material is considered to be one of the best in the market. Timber is normally affected by certain climatic conditions, such as humidity, moisture and heat. This is mainly attributed to its semi porous nature. Oak is no exception. It is also susceptible to those climatic conditions. It swells when it takes up moisture. This leads to an increase in the floor board's width and length. Therefore, it is advisable to allow an expansion gap around the outside perimeter of oak floors during installation. If no gap is left, the boards swell causing the floor to buckle in the center section. This raises the oak flooring, leaving a gap between it and the floor. When that happens, the oak floor becomes springy and less comfortable. Moreover, it loses its elegance.
Engineered Oak Floors
Engineered oak is a little bit different from solid oak, but just as attractive. It lasts as long as solid oak does and forms a structurally sound and stable floor. This gives it a slight edge over the solid oak. This type of flooring material is made of a layer of solid oak, which is glued onto multi-laminate plywood. It is the same qualities as the oak that is used in the solid oak boards. It also has natural grain and figuring, which gives it the same beauty that comes with natural oak. There are many reasons as to why some people prefer engineering oak to solid oak. To begin with, it is a very stable product and is structurally stronger than the solid oak. Therefore, it is able to maintain its form and beauty even when exposed to moisture. It is also preferred in homes that have under floor heating systems. This is because it is more stable and can withstand heat better. Moreover, engineered oak is environmental friendly. The underlying plywood is made from fast growing softwoods, thus reducing the use of the precious oak tree. There are many other advantages of using engineering oak flooring as well as solid oak. It is advisable that one checks them all out before making a choice on which type to go with. This way, he or she will be able to make the right decision.
