What is the most common type of oak flooring?

22 Oct

Familiarity with the types of hardwood flooring is very useful especially when you are planning to buy one for your floor. Most people talk about hardwood flooring as a long piece of solid wood, which has 2 ¼"width and ¾" height. Although these planks look all the same, they are different from one another in terms of quality, method of fabrication, and physical appearance. So, how would you know which type best suits your needs?

1. 1. Engineered Hardwood Flooring

   This type of hardwood flooring is also known as multi-layered hardwood floor. It is fabricated with several layers. The top layer is called the wear layer. In between the wear layer are several layers of birch wood, which are perpendicularly glued so that the hardwood will have stable dimension. When it is exposed to high level of moisture or high level of heat, the layers will counter act each other. Thus, it will prevent the entire hardwood to shrink or expand.

   Engineered hardwood flooring is considered as the most versatile type of hardwood floor because it can be used in any type of floor installation. It can be installed using nail, wood adhesive, or stapler wires. It is also the most popular and most widely used type of hardwood flooring.

2. 2. Solid Hardwood Flooring

   The solid hardwood flooring is the most common type of hardwood floor. It is also known as single-layer hardwood flooring because it is basically made up of a single piece of wood, which either unfinished or pre-finished. Pre-finished solid hardwood floor is higher in quality than unfinished, but it is more expensive.

   There three types of solid hardwood flooring – the strip flooring, the plank flooring, and the parquet flooring. The strip flooring has fixed width, but varies in thickness while the plank flooring has set thickness, but varies in width. On the other hand, the parquet flooring is cut in different geometrical patterns.

   Solid hardwood flooring is not advisable for subfloors, which have a high level of heat or moisture. If it is exposed to changing weather condition, the wood plank will either expand or shrink. It can be fastened only in a wooden subfloor by using nails or wood adhesive.

3. 3. Acrylic-coated Hardwood Flooring

   The acrylic-coated hardwood flooring is often mistaken as laminated flooring. This is due to their very similar appearance, but laminated flooring is not made up of wood. It only imitates wood pattern, which gives it a very identical look as hardwood flooring. It is also similar with engineered hardwood flooring, but the acrylic-coated floor contains sealant in all its layers. The sealant, which is used in coating finished floors, is embedded in each layer of the acrylic-coated hardwood flooring. It is more durable and has higher resistant to scratches and temperature damages than engineered hardwood flooring. This type of hardwood is commonly used in industrial site and other commercial buildings.

4. 4. Long Strip Hardwood Flooring

   The long strip hardwood flooring is fabricated using softer wood materials in its core while several layers of thin, hard wood sheets are compiled to create an intact wood plank. It is very similar with engineered hardwood flooring, but it has softer wood materials in its sub layers. This type of flooring is for floating type of installation, but it can also be installed using nails and wood adhesive. Like engineered hardwood floors, it is also versatile to fasten to different types of subfloors such as wood and concrete.

Each type of hardwood floor has specific uses and installation compatibility. Thus, it is very important that you know which among these types of hardwood flooring is the most appropriate for your need.

Thursday, 15 June 2017 12:50:18 pm Australia/Sydney

What are the Different Types of Hardwood Species Used for Hardwood Floors? 

If you’ve been doing any research on hardwood flooring, you know that there are a wide variety of different hardwood species used to create the finished planks you see on a floor.

But unfortunately, there is very little information online detailing the benefits and features of each wood species.

Today, we’ll explain the difference in appearance and durability of the most common hardwood species used for flooring.

French Oak:

As one of the most popular types of hardwood, Oak timber is used around the world to create engineered and hardwood floors.

Take a look at the benefits of this species below:

Color: French oak features an incredibly soft tan-grey color composition that mixes well with any interior design style, from modern to rustic. 

Durability: Unlike American Oak, French Oak is incredibly durable and hard-wearing. Because of how durable it is, French Oak is a popular choice for families with pets, young children, and regular guests.

Source: French oak is a rare, highly sought after wood species sourced from the forests of France.

Added Benefit: Unlike most timber species, oak is naturally resistant to mildew, mold, and termites.

Iron Bark:

Ironbark floors are another popular hardwood flooring choice throughout the country.

The benefits of Ironbark floors include:

Color: Although commonly referred to as “Grey Ironbark,” this wood species has a calming medium-brown tone that varies slightly depending on the specific tree it was harvested from.

Durability: All types of Ironbark flooring are unusually durable. They are hard-wearing, long-lasting, and not prone to denting in the way softer hardwoods do.

Source: Australia

Added Benefits: Like the French Oak timber species mentioned above, Ironbark timber is also naturally resistant to termites and pests.

Fun Fact: In the past, it was used by indigenous Australians to craft spears and other instruments.

Grey Gum:

Also known as Eucalyptus, Grey Gum is an easy-to-stain timber species that holds color extremely well.

The features of Grey Gum floors include:

Color: Although the color of Grey Gum floors varies, they are most commonly found in tones of dark tan and medium-brown, with dark-brown grain patterns.

Durability: Another incredibly durable hardwood species, Grey Gum is neck-and-neck with the durability of Ironbark timber and is rated at 14 on the Janka Scale.  

Source: Australia

Solid Brushbox:

A classic timber choice for hardwood floors, Brushbox is an affordable but beautiful hardwood species.

The features of solid Brushbox floors include:

Color: Hallmarked by its unique combination of warm tan and brown shades in each plank, Brushbox is  a great way to improve the appearance of any home.

Durability: As one of the softer hardwood species available, Brushbox timber is rated as a 9.5 on the Janka hardness scale. This means Brushbox is more susceptible to dents, so be sure to protect the floor from heavy furniture with rugs and floor gliders.

Source: Australia

Understanding the benefits and features of each hardwood species is key to determining the type of hardwood floor you want to install.

To keep learning, stay tuned for the second half of this 2-post series!

What type of oak flooring is best?

What is the most common hardwood floor?

What is the most popular hardwood floor right now?

What is the most popular type of flooring right now?