Types Of Timber Flooring for Your Home

Buying a new home or renovating is a highly rewarding task, and it all starts with choosing your flooring. The floor of your home sets the tone for the overall style of the house, and a great flooring choice can add to the aesthetics of any room. Timber flooring is one of the most sophisticated looks to feature in your home and can be enhanced with hundreds of different styles of throw rugs, hallway runners and floor mats. Timber flooring has become the pinnacle of style and is bang on-trend in the world of redecorating and architectural design. 

Types of Timber Flooring Available

There are three types of timber flooring options you can choose from, hardwood, softwood and engineered wood. Each one has its own costs and benefits, so it’s important to research which one is right for your home and climate. 

Hardwood is one of the most popular options of timber flooring, with around 600 beautiful species of timber used in its creation. The most popular options on the market today are Oak, Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Cyprus Pine and Jarrah (Mahogany). 

The grain in hardwood is intricate and distinctly unique in appearance. Most of these woods have elegant patterns more prominent than others such as Red Oak, which shows more consistent and bold patterns compared to White Oak, which offers a more subtle, clean look. The choice of which wood is the most beautiful really is in the eye of the beholder. 

Engineered or Manufactured Timber Flooring is the second most popular choice for homeowners who want the natural elegance of a hardwood floor, with a less expensive price tag. These flooring types are generally made up of three layers: The top layer is made from lacquered hardwood either in Oak, Larch or Walnut. The middle is made up of multiple layers of plywood, stuck together to make each piece stronger than an individual piece of solid wood. The bottom of each board is also made from layered plywood.  

Engineered wood is commonly used in commercial construction for its load-bearing capabilities and durability. It can be engineered for different purposes making it more ideal for building designers and home renovators to work with.

Softwood is the least popular option as it isn’t as durable as hardwood or engineered flooring. Different types of softwoods are chosen for feature rooms to add elements of rustic beauty and charm. Species such as Pine, Cedar and Spruce are among many that are chosen for that cosy, cottage feels that softwood floors bring. 

Pros and Cons of Having Timber Floors

There are many elements and factors you must think of when choosing the right timber floor to suit your interior design dreams. What style you want to achieve, what type of climate you live in and your budget, will all help determine which flooring is most suited.

Hardwood floors are the more sophisticated and therefore most expensive option of the three, as some choose wood from trees that take decades to grow. Hardwood floors are more stable in areas with high humidity levels, as they are less likely to absorb moisture due to the thickness of the grain. These types of wood are highly durable and are an elegant choice to enhance the décor, ambience and overall value of your home. Cleaning spills and accidents off hardwood floors is a breeze, and because of its strength, it can take a lot of foot traffic and wear before it will ever show. A good quality sealer and the stain should last around 7-10 years before you will need to refinish.   

The major downside of having hardwood floors is the cost. Some wood choices will be more expensive than others, for example, a Mahogany floor will cost more than the most used species of Oak. The other issue with having hardwood floors is the additional cost of installation as these floors can’t be laid down by anyone but a professional timber floor company like cbtimberfloors.com.au to deliver a premium finish.

If you live in a home with a lot of foot traffic, I wouldn’t suggest investing in any softwood floors. These woods can be easily dented and scratched because of the degree of softness, making it the least popular choice in timber flooring, yet still exuding natural charm and country warmth. These types of floors are more suited to feature rooms, or homes with less rowdy humans and animals damaging the surface. 

Engineered timber floors are the most popular styles for several reasons. Firstly they are just as aesthetically pleasing as hardwood floors, but at a fraction of the cost. Engineered wood is strong, and due to the layering of the core, is even more durable than its counterparts.

Most of the wood that makes up these pieces are grown quickly and are sourced from tree plantations. This makes them the most environmentally sustainable of all three choices, while still maintaining the beauty of the real deal. These styles of flooring can also be installed by the homeowners themselves, saving on huge installation prices and bringing the budget down even more!

Why Choose Timber Flooring?

Timber flooring overall is a modern and clean look for your home and is a much healthier option for allergy-prone individuals. Carpet expels microscopic fibres into the air and like lino, traps dirt and bacteria, affecting pre-existing health concerns like respiratory illness and skin conditions. Carpet and lino also wear out quicker than treated and sealed wood, so although they are the cheaper short-term options, in the long term they will need replacing. 

To get that stylish, elegant and clean edge to your home, consider timber flooring. With a huge variety of stains to choose from, there will be a wood grain to suit your individual style and overall feel of your home. Timber flooring adds modern sophistication to everyday living and ultimately increases the overall value of your home. With some expert advice from the professionals, your floors will be the envy of the neighbourhood and give you inspiration for future renovation dreams.