Wood flooring is one of the most popular flooring on the current market, its beautiful design and impressive longevity and durability are one of the main reasons many choose to have this fitted in their home. In this blog we’re going to take you through the best options, and the best alternatives out there. In the Glastonbury CT area, interior designer, All About Interiors can help you choose the most viable option for your home.
Solid Hardwood
Solid and Engineered wood are the two main options, both have their advantages, and both have their disadvantages, first we’ll look at solid wood. As it sounds, it’s simply a solid plank of wood, and incredibly durable material, and one of the strongest available. Hardwood flooring comes with a number of different finishes ranging from lacquered, to brushed and oiled to unfinished. It damages easily if water is left to sit for too long. Therefore when it comes to water resistance, it’s not one of the best. On the other hand it is excellent under heavy footfall and high levels of traffic.
Engineered
Engineered flooring is another alternative for your home is engineered flooring. This type of wood flooring has a number of layers. The main section being layers and layers of ply and the secondary layer being a core board. On top is a wood finish. The main advantage of engineered over solid is its water resistance, but also the fact it can have underfloor heating fitted beneath it.
Vinyl
One of the best alternatives to hardwood is vinyl. Not only does vinyl look fantastic, it’s also incredibly reliable, and has just as many advantages as solid and engineered wood. Vinyl has excellent durability, and is a long term solution for any home. With many similar qualities, it’s far more cost effective than hardwood. Playrooms or basement areas are best fitted in vinyl. It’s brilliant design will make your room stand out and really impress any house guests.
Laminate
The final alternative to hardwood is the cheapest flooring out there, laminate. Not only is it an impressive price, similarly to vinyl it still holds all the same qualities as hardwood. It doesn’t have quite the same sleek finish as hardwood however, it is still impressively durable and can last you a long time. Laminate is recommended for kitchens or bathrooms. It’s far more water resistant than wood.
We hope our guide has helped you to see the benefits of hardwood and the alternatives on the market.
This post is a collaborative effort and may contain relative and relatable affiliate links. All opinions are our own and for informational purposes only.