Wooden floors are aesthetically pleasing, easy to lay, and consist of natural wood grain patterns that add an element of warmth and richness to the overall look of the interior. Because wood floors come in a wide variety of options, it is a good idea to study the characteristics of each wood floor type to determine which is best for your home.
Laminate floor
Laminate floors are synthetic flooring made by fusing several layers together, including an HDF core, a moisture-proof flooring layer and a photographic image of real wood with a protective layer. This type of flooring is very affordable – it looks like real wood and is easy to maintain. The main disadvantage of laminate floors, however, is that they have a limited lifespan and can swell in the presence of moisture. Once the laminate floor is damaged, it can no longer be repaired and must be replaced.
This type of flooring is easy to maintain. Photo credit: Curtis Adams / Pexels
Solid wood floors
Solid wood planks consist of a single piece of wood with a thickness of 18 to 20 mm. It has a classic look that never goes out of style, is durable and can be sanded and polished regularly to restore its original look. The downside is that it is very expensive, tending to swell in humid conditions and shrink in dry conditions. Some of the most popular types of wood used for hardwood floors are oak, maple, cherry, walnut, and mahogany.
Composite wood floor
Composite wood floors or wood-based material floors are extremely durable and offer good moisture and scratch resistance. This type of flooring is manufactured at the factory using chemical binders and protective surface coatings. Another benefit is that it has a top layer of real wood veneer and can be sanded and buffed regularly to maintain its look. Therefore, composite wood floors are a great alternative to solid wood floors as they are comparatively cheaper and easier to maintain.
Parquet floor
This is a decorative wooden floor that can be made of both solid hardwood and wood-based materials. It contains small strips of wood that are used to create floor patterns like wicker, herringbone, and other geometric patterns that effortlessly enhance the beauty of interiors.
Bamboo floor
Bamboo is a very sustainable material because it grows much faster than hardwood trees. Bamboo planks are made by compressing bamboo fibers under high temperature and pressure. This material is naturally moisture-resistant and thus inhibits the growth of mold and mildew. Although bamboo is a form of grass, the larger bamboos are known as bamboo trees because of their tree-like appearance.
Bamboo floors are a great eco-friendly option. Photo credit: Element Digital / Pexels
Cork floor
This consists of the bark of the cork oak and is made in the form of multilayer tiles, with the lower layer made of compressed cork, the middle layer made of MDF or HDF fibreboard and the upper layer made of high-quality cork. This flooring material has a soft underfoot, offers good heat and sound insulation and is a natural antimicrobial material that is resistant to mold, mildew and other pathogens. Cork floors are also environmentally friendly, extremely sustainable and biodegradable
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