Why Engineered Oak?
Engineered real wood flooring offers the luxury of a real wood finish with the ease of installation.
The top layer of oak provides natural warmth and character, while the plywood backing prevents shrinkage or distortion.
This flooring can be sanded and re-oiled or lacquered 3 to 5 times to last even longer.
It's a perfect solution that is resistant to swelling, warping or shrinkage, unlike solid wood floors.
More Benefits
Advantages of engineered flooring:
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Minimal shrinkage or warping;
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Very stable construction;
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Engineered wood floors are more dimensionally stable than solid wood floors;
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Suitable for use over under floor heating;
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Extended usage due to 4 or 6 mm oak wear layer;
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The best engineered floors have a Lifespan anywhere from 60 - 100 years;
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Using an engineered wood floor allows you to have a wood floor on any grade level;
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Engineered floors are very easy and fast to install
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Engineered hardwood flooring can be used on wood subfloors or dry concrete slabs;
Important Facts when buying your floor.
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Wood is a natural material and will have variations from board to board and even within the board, not only in the visual features but also in the mineral density and fibre density. This natural variation in the wood responds to the process reaction during any subsequent
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colouring process whereby the speed of the reactions (E.g. fuming reactivity) and/or stain absorption saturation point can give a rise to variation in hue and density of the observed colour. The result is a distribution or range of colours and tones around a central median
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colour. Subtle variation between individual trees and different parts of the same tree can
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result in different ranges of colour hue and density and also a difference in the median colour of a board exposed to the same production process. Any batch of flooring will in all probability be constituted from more than one tree. The full run of supplied flooring will not only have a wider distribution of colour hue and density than a limited selection shown in a sample panel, board or swatch, but may have multiple distributions of colour hue and density overlaid on a range of median colours.
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Indeed, a sample panel, being a sample will not exhibit the extremes or full range of the variation in the colour. Examples of how this might appear could be:
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Placing a board against the sample, the board may appear lighter, darker or have a different hue or density in colour. Two boards placed side by side could have a different median colour.
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With a board, the colour may vary (E.g. in the vicinity of a knot)
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This is the natural variation as expected from a natural material. The median colour of the sample will reside within the full colour range of the production batch.
Choosing your Floor
There are lots of reasons to love wood floors. Not only is wood beautiful, but it’s also soft and warm underfoot, easy to clean, and hypoallergenic.
No two pieces of hardwood are alike. Because of this, your particular item looks like no other in the world.
Wood is a living material and it brings life to the house. So preferred are wood floors, in fact, that just having them increases the value of a home.
The types of flooring you choose in your home will act as a backdrop for the rest of your interior decoration scheme.
The flooring you choose will be influenced by the room you fit it in.
The perfect living room flooring will not necessarily work in the kitchen, for instance. If you are adding flooring to a new home, you have complete autonomy to choose whatever you want, but in a period property, your decision is likely to be dictated by the style of the home, and trying to match what is already there.
You will also be led by your budget. Think not only about the flooring cost, but also the cost to install. Choose wood with knots and colour variations for a rustic feel or a prime grade offering a more contemporary look.
Style
Choosing the Right Plank Width for Your Living Space
When selecting oak flooring, the width of the planks can greatly influence the overall appearance and feel of the room. Planks typically range from 100mm to 300mm in width, and each width can have a different effect on your space.
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Wall-to-wall installation is the most common and well-known method of laying planks. This method works well in most settings.
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For smaller rooms, consider laying the boards parallel to the longest wall to create an illusion of more space. Conversely, for larger rooms, you might choose to lay the planks along the shorter side to make the room feel more intimate.
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Diagonal installation is another option that can give the impression of a larger or longer space, adding visual interest.
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Random-width planks can add unique character and texture to a room, making it stand out.
Overall, a straight pattern is a versatile and popular choice, suitable for any interior style—from sleek, modern designs to traditional, classic homes.
Herringbone is one of the most popular types of parquet flooring. Unlike the chevron pattern, where the short ends of the planks are cut at an angle, herringbone uses rectangular blocks with straight edges. These blocks are arranged in a zigzag formation, typically at a 45-degree angle, creating a distinctive and timeless look.
Each block is laid in alternating directions, which gives the floor its dynamic, interlocking design. Though herringbone is the most common, there are various other parquet patterns available, each offering its own unique and visually striking aesthetic.
Chevron flooring remains a popular choice in modern interior design, seamlessly blending with contemporary homes. Its elegant pattern adds a sense of luxury to spaces such as living rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens. Interior designers often use chevron flooring to make a bold statement in minimalist settings, while others incorporate it into eclectic designs to introduce a distinctive and stylish element to the overall aesthetic.
Basket or Mansion Weave
A weave pattern, such as Basket or Mansion Weave, is often selected for a standout area in the home to create a luxurious and eye-catching feature. It’s common to use this intricate pattern in one prominent space while keeping the rest of the house in the same wood color with simpler designs.
The weave pattern is particularly sophisticated, with the grain running in three different directions, offering a more complex and refined look compared to herringbone or chevron. This pattern adds depth and texture, making it an elegant choice for homeowners looking to elevate their interior design.
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Grading
Prime Grade:
These are among the highest grades of timber, making them the most expensive. The wood is carefully selected for its uniform patina and color, with minimal knotting. It features the straightest grain and has the fewest burrs or character marks, offering a harmonious structure with subtle color variations. The Prime grade is ideal for creating exceptionally elegant and refined floor surfaces.
Nature Grade:
Nature grade offers an expressive mid-range option, featuring gentle color variations, some knotting, and the tree's natural mineral streaks. It showcases a mix of wild grain, surface checks, burrs, and other character markings, adding a natural charm. This grade presents intricate grain patterns and decorative knots without being overly "knotty," ensuring broad appeal. Nature grade provides an excellent foundation for a floor design that feels both natural and visually striking.
Rustic Grade:
Rustic grade showcases a bold and character-rich appearance, featuring more pronounced color variations, larger knots, and visible character marks. It allows for natural mineral streaks and trace elements from the tree's original environment, with some filled areas and a wilder grain pattern. This grade offers a highly durable floor with abundant character and visual interest, displaying more color variation than the classic grade. Rustic grade stands out for its robust, vivid look, embracing the natural, knotty wood as it has grown on the tree trunk.
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