Solid timber floorboards come in a huge variety of wood species, widths and grades. The right floorboard can be used to enhance virtually any room in the home, from the smallest living space through to a large formal dining room. The amount of space you have to work with is the first thing to take into consideration when purchasing your timber floorboard. Installation is also possible over most any dry wall or indoor subflooring.
Timber floors are traditionally made from oak, ash, birch and maple. Hardwood floors are made from a mixture of softwood species including walnut, pine, cedar and redwood. Vinyl timber floorboards are a relatively new timber flooring product which has grown in popularity in recent years. Vinyl timber floorboards look very much like hardwood floors, but are created from VCT, also known as vinyl composite material. The main benefit to using a vinyl floorboard is the ease of installation; however it is important to make sure your floorboard is treated with an anti-static agent.
With more homeowners taking a more environmental stance, more engineered hardwood floorboards have been manufactured in recent years. These engineered hardwood floorboards take into account the demands of our environment puts on our solid wood floors. For example, engineered hardwood flooring is designed to cope with rapid temperature changes and humidity. This means that even if you live in an area of high humidity, your engineered hardwood floorboards will not crack or break.
Timbers are generally classified as softwoods or hardwoods. Softwoods are much less dense and therefore have less mass, making them easier to handle. Hardwoods, on the other hand, are more dense and because of this, their weight makes them easier to handle. Hardwoods also have greater stability. They are far less likely to warp, stain or warp again after a period of time. As such many people prefer hardwood over softwoods when it comes to flooring.
Another factor that makes hardwood a popular option is the fact that they have multiple layers. This makes them more durable and long lasting than their laminate flooring counterparts. As such, if you want to have your timber floorboards for a very long time, then you would be well advised to buy engineered hardwood flooring. You can either get a single plywood plank, or a multiple layered timber board. If you have a large room to cover, then it is advisable to use a multiple-layered board as this will provide better insulation than just a single plywood plank.
Timber flooring differs to floating floors in other ways as well. Floating floors are normally made from either polyester resin or fiberglass. Although both of these materials are extremely effective at conducting heat, they cannot withstand the actual weight of a person walking on them. However, timber flooring is a soft, pliable, and durable substance that can withstand a lot of pressure.
When it comes to choosing the right floorboard for your house, you need to consider two main factors. First off, you need to make sure that it is a high traffic area such as a kitchen. If you are having a new home built, then it is best to choose solid wood floorboards so that there is no possibility of the boards collapsing. On the other hand, laminate flooring is highly recommended for low traffic areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms. Of course, if you are having a home built and already have an existing floor, then there is no harm in opting for vinyl flooring.
The type of flooring that you opt for will depend on a number of factors including the design of your floor, the amount of space available in your house, and your budget. Timber flooring, although more expensive than vinyl, can offer great value for your money as it is a long-lasting and strong material. Moreover, it is also very easy to install subfloor heating and additional insulation during the installation process. However, before you get the subflooring installed, make sure you get advice from a professional flooring installer to ensure that your floor is installed properly.