While plenty of interior design trends will come, go, and come back around again, the look and feel of wood flooring will never find its way into the realm of passé design choices. Its ability to look perfectly suited to the ultra-modern, as well as the ultra-classical – to the casual, as well as the formal – is just one reason why wood is, inarguably, here to stay.
Still, wood floors have their downsides, and recent years have seen many interior designers and homeowners turned to an option that captures the look and feel of real wood floorboards, while avoiding some of those sticking points that made wood a slightly inconvenient choice for the home.
There are plenty of strong reasons to opt for engineered wood flooring, whether you’re on the hunt for a convincing alternative to real wood, or simply want to find something that is as durable and easy to maintain as it is beautiful.
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1. It’s Available in an Incredibly Wide Range of Styles, Sizes and Colors
Engineered wood flooring has grown highly popular, particularly in recent years. And, as with anything that finds high acclaim among interior designers and redecorators alike, manufacturers have responded by expanding their core ranges, and ensuring that a design is available for any aesthetic.
Whether you are looking at a retro parquet or herringbone design, a deep and luxurious oak, or an intricately crafted Versailles design, you will quickly find that the question is not, ‘Should I opt for engineered wood?’ but, ‘Which one should I choose?’
2. It Offers the Best of Both Worlds
Wood floor remains one of the most popular choices among homeowners. The look and feel of it offers a beautiful and versatile antidote to years of carpet, and it looks equally at-home in a contemporary, minimalist home as it does in the most artfully bohemian cottage.
Still, wood floors have their own setbacks. Not only are they on the higher end of most redecorators’ budgets, but they are also pretty vulnerable to moisture and heat, which means that summertime humidity – or the odd spilled drink – could begin to cause irreversible damage.
Thus, for those with pets or small children, engineered wood floors offer a highly appealing alternative. While the core is constructed from materials that are much for resistant to damaging temperatures and spills, the upper layer is still fashioned from real wood.
As a result, you can enjoy that real woodgrain and finish, without so much risk.
3. It’s Typically More Affordable than Wood Flooring
Wood flooring will always be an expensive option for homeowners – and this is part of the reason why engineered wood has proven so popular in recent years. It is, in general, a more affordable option, whether you’re considering the upfront cost, or the long-term cost benefits associated with this style.
Engineered wood is, as we mentioned above, pretty durable, and requires less maintenance than some flooring alternatives. While its uppermost layer still carried the same vulnerabilities as real wood, the core offers more resilience against damage from moisture and spills. As a result, it can prove to be a strong long-term investment into your home.
Finally, while some styles will require expert hands, some engineered wood floors require only basic DIY knowledge. So, provided you give yourself the time and space to get it right, you could end up saving yourself the cost of a skilled tradesperson by installing it yourself.