Timber flooring is always a great choice as it has a natural look that works well with traditional homes but coordinates with a modern style as well. It's also very durable and doesn't hold dust and allergens like carpeting so it may even be a healthier choice for your family. When you are ready to shop for timber flooring, note a few important reminders to keep in mind and discuss with your installer.
Shop local species
It can be good to shop for a local species of timber that is grown in your area or at least in your native country to reduce the fumes and emissions that are produced during the shipping process. As an example, you may have your heart set on a type of cedar that is usually grown in the northeast United States, but if you live in Australia, you might instead choose blackbutt timber flooring, which grows on the Australian coast. By choosing a local species like this, you are making a more eco-friendly choice and may even find that you save money since delivery costs are going to be lower for your floor's manufacturer.
Painting and staining are big jobs
One advantage of wood floors is that you can paint and stain them when you want a colour change, but remember that this is a big job. It usually involves sanding, applying your new paint or stain colour and adding a layer of varnish or sealant. Rather than go through this, be sure opt for a timber species that already has the colour tone you want. This is especially important if you choose a laminate floor, which is made from several types of composite wood that are pressed together under high heat. The image of hardwood is then pressed into the laminate surface. Laminate is very durable, but it can be very difficult to repaint it on your own if you should decide to change the look. The pressed material doesn't sand easily or hold a paint colour easily, so if you do choose laminate, you can always opt for a colour you'll be happy with for years to come.
Engineered hardwood is only so thick
Engineered hardwood refers to a thin layer of a type of wood that is glued over plywood or another very cheap material. This gives you the look and feel of a hardwood floor at a much lower cost than solid wood planks. However, you can only sand down that top layer so often before you sand right though to the plywood! In a home with kids, pets and other risks for high traffic and consistent damage to the floors, solid hardwood may be worth the extra cost.
Share14 December 2016
Our cafe has a funky and bright colour scheme. It's hard to find the right flooring option as we have a lot of foot traffic and bright colours can look dull when we have had a busy period. It also tends to fade when we have to use heavy strength cleaning chemicals on heavier messes. Recently we have started exploring some non-traditional flooring options such as flooring based on recycled plastics and rubber based plastics with poured patterns. It looks really good. This blog talks about some of the flooring options that are available for high traffic areas, including some of the newer and non-traditional materials you can use.
