10 Mar Your Guide to Choosing Timber Flooring
Do you love the warm, homely touch of timber flooring as much as we do? That regal, old time look still suits many homes today and can lift the interior of your home into the luxurious space you deserve.
But where to start? The team here at Deloraine Carpet are experts in flooring and helping you match the perfect wood floor to your home. So, let’s take you through the process.
Solid or Engineered Timber Flooring?
First up, you’ll need to decide if you want to go all in for solid timber flooring or if you’re happy to choose engineered timber floors. What’s the difference? Well, solid timber flooring is made completely from the one type of timber, while engineered timber uses a top layer of real hardwood while the rest of the plank is made of cheaper plywood.
While both look stunning, there are two main differences: price and longevity. Solid wood floors have a longer lifespan but do come at a cost. Engineered timber is cheaper, and while their lifespan is not as long, they are less likely to warp with temperature changes.
Solid Timber Floors
If choosing solid timber floors, you’ll have to start looking at what finish you’d like – such as picking up a prefinished product or choosing to use raw timber, which you will need to get sanded and coated. This is great if you want full control over the stain and finish of your flooring; however, it takes a lot longer to do.
Prefinished timber floorboards have been prepared in a factory, so they can be installed straight away. You can view them in our showroom to see the vast array of options available.
Engineered Timber Flooring
If you decided to go with Engineered Timber Flooring, then your planks will come prefinished – no sanding or staining required. Instead, your main decision is deciding on what the top timber layer will be. Luxury Oak Timber flooring has been on trend across Australia in recent years.
You could also consider looking at Australian native timbers such as Spotted Gum, or look further afield to walnut or bamboo. Also, consider the surface of your planks – do you want smooth or matte? As well as your plank size – do you want thin planks or larger ones?
While thin, glossy planks can help make small spaces look larger or wider, matte planks can show off more of the wood’s unique grain and texture. You can always come in and have a chat with our interior designer about what would work best for your space.
Timber Grades
Another thing to think about is grade. No, not your old school grades, but the wood grade or quality. Timber is graded from A to D, with A grade timber having less natural features while D Grade timber has more knots and colour variation. If you’re looking for a consistent coloured wooden floor, you’ll need to look at A grade timbers.
Installation
Once you are happy with your timber plank choice, it will be time to discuss installation. While solid timber needs to be installed by gluing and nailing, engineered timber also offers the option of floating floors. These interlock with each other and can be installed over your existing floor.
So, when choosing your preferred timber flooring, there is quite a lot to think about. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Come have a chat with our expert team. We may be called Deloraine Carpets, but we are also your local timber floor centre. We’ll be happy to discuss all the timber flooring options available from leading brands including Godfrey Hirst, Embelton Flooring and Heartridge. You can preview some of our range online here.