Engineered oak flooring is a bonding of real oak hardwood layer (wear layer) to a softwood layer (sub-structure) called multi-layer plywood.

The top layer (wear layer) is the wood that is visible when the flooring is installed, and is adhered to the core (or sub-structure) which provides the stability, thus making this bonding method idyllic for use in many conditions.

The wood grain of each ply runs perpendicular to the ply below it. Stability is attained from using thin layers of wood that have little to no reaction to climatic change. The wood is further stabilized due to equal pressure being exerted length-wise and width-wise from the plies running perpendicular to each other.

Engineered Flooring is supplied in two forms:

  • Unfinished
  • Pre-finished

Unfinished

Unfinished is simply a floor that has been sanded on the surface ready to receive its protective coat. This provides a great way to customise different colour stains and oils to create a bespoke floor.

Pre-Finished

Pre-finished flooring has been sanded and factory finished (stained and/or sealant coats) so it does not require any further treatment once it has been installed. Laminate and vinyl floors are often confused with engineered wood floors – laminate uses an image of wood on its surface and vinyl is a type of plastic formed to look like real wood.

Only engineered oak flooring has the same qualities as a solid oak floor and in many ways is better.

An engineered oak timber board is different in construction to a solid oak timber board, but just as attractive in appearance and has the same properties of hardness (provided you buy the right grade of material). An engineered board will impact significantly less on our environment and uses considerably less oak than a solid oak board – thereby far less bearing on our valuable oak trees.

Fast growing, renewable wood is used for the multi ply sub-structure (inner ply).

ADVANTAGES OF ENGINEERED OAK FLOORING:

  • Engineered wood floors are dimensionally more stable than solid wood floors
  • Stable construction resulting in minimal shrinkage or warping
  • Suitable for use over under floor heating
  • Engineered floors are very easy to install
  • Engineered flooring can be used on wood (baton) sub floors or dry concrete slabs
  • Can be nailed, glued or laid as a ‘floating floor’ on underlay
  • Engineered floors can be sanded and refinished if ever desired
  • Hardwood flooring increases the value of your home