Solid Timber Floors Vs Engineered Timber Vs Timber Look Tiles

There are so many decisions to be made when deciding on your home renovations, a lot of these decision are based on what fixtures and fittings and materials to choose.
 
With advancements in technology the materials available for flooring is endless and when it comes to timber floors even that is mind blowing as the choices you have there are also endless.

 Where do you begin to start your analysis….. and when does it end!
Not until the renovation is over and you are living in your new home…..
 
If you are considering timber floors as part of your renovations, then keep reading.
 
Recently we have been installing different types of timber floors and we have become aware of the pros and cons of the different types available.
 
Let us start with the Real thing…. Naturally, that would be a great place to start.
 
Real timber floors or sometimes better known as solid timber floors are exactly that: They are a thick solid piece of timber that come in varying lengths and widths.

Solid Timber Pros:

• Looks great
• Can be sanded back numerous times
• Have that amazing natural look and feel
• Feel great under foot
• Contribute positively to the environment
• Add warmth to a space

Solid Timber Cons:
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• Can be expensive
• Must be installed and sanded on installation, so need to be out of the home while the timber floors are being laid (advised to)
• Can only go up to a certain width of board as they can warp over time if too wide, being natural timber
• Sometimes limited on colour choice
• Can easily scratch
• Do not want to spill too much water on them as they can warp 

Solid timber is not for everyone so the next best thing, in my opinion, or sometimes even a better option is to use Engineered timber floorboards. Engineered timber floorboards have a veneer of actual timber on top, the width of timber on top varies from product to product. Underneath the timber is a selected cheaper substrate timber such as ply which makes the floorboard stronger and allows for wider boards to be manufactured.  In most cases these boards are prefinished meaning they have already been sanded back and may have a coat of limewash or stain on top to get a desired colour.
 
Engineered Timber Pros:

• Can be sanded back a couple of times (not as many as solid)
• Have that amazing natural look and feel, if they have not changed from natural state significantly in finishing process
• Feel great under foot like solid timber
• Contribute positively to the environment
• Add warmth to a space
• Can come in wider boards up to 300mm wide
• Can be installed and live in the house at the same time- quicker installation
• In most cases cheaper than solid timber

 
Engineered Timber Cons:

• Can easily scratch just like solid
• Do not want to spill too much water on them as they can warp
• May not look AS natural as real solid timber
• Not as solid as timber

 
If you want the timber look but do not like that timber can scratch and think it is not durable enough then you can now look at installing a timber look tiles. Timber look tiles are simply tiles shaped in a timber board and have a timber look pattern on top. However, be mindful of the cons as they will never look AS good as the above two options if you really LOVE the timber look and feel
 
Timber look Tiles Pros:
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• Super durable extremely hard to scratch
• Can spill water on them and not stress too much about water damage
• Sometimes this is the cheapest option out of the above three options
• Can live in house while tiling takes place​

Timber look Tiles Cons:
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• Do not get the same warmth into the space as you do with real or engineered timber
• May look fake if you do not great good quality tile (check out Ceramic Tiles Supplies range of timber look tiles they are great quality and look great)
• The boards are shorter in length so again leads to the “not real look”

oThe options are endless for flooring namely timber flooring. It is always worth trying to see the exact timber floorboard or floor tiles you want down in a room, i.e. at a display home or in store so you can see what it looks like as appose to looking at one floorboard.

Whatever option you decide to go with make sure you consider what will be happening in that space, will you have dogs’ young kinds or will it just be yourself and a partner. Will you be cooking in that space will there be possible water spills…? All these things need to be considered and more when considering your floor choice.
 
Flooring is not the first choice to be replaced compared with most areas of your home such as the kitchen or bathroom as it is normally such a large space so be mindful of that and consider the timeliness of the product you select. Most timber or tiled floors will remain in the home for over 15-20 years, in some cases longer, like the older heritage homes in around Perth Metro.

With so many variables to consider when deciding on your timber floors and pros and cons to each side the choice is ultimately down to you and your lifestyle.
 
 If you want to know more have more questions Distinct Renovations are happy to help and here to discuss the cost differences of each when you are deciding on your home renovations with us.