Types of Timber Flooring
If you have decided to go with timber flooring in your home in Perth, there are many options available. This can make it difficult to decide which is the best option for you. Whether you are building a new home or considering a renovation, you can choose hardwood floors, softwood floors, laminate floors, and engineered wood floors.
People choose timber flooring for their homes because of the timeless beauty that they offer. The type of timber that you choose would depend on your taste and the theme that you have chosen for your home. You should also choose the type that would best meet your requirements and your specific needs. Each type of floors has its own merits.
Types of Timber Flooring for your Perth Homes
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood is the most durable and the most sought-after type of timber flooring. Since each board is made from a single piece of wood, your floor can have individual markings and knots, making your floors completely unique and full of character.
You can use hardwood flooring in any room, even in the kitchen in the bathroom as long as you have it treated with a waterproofing finish. This type of flooring is hard wearing. It is one of the more expensive types of flooring and it can be difficult to fit.
Softwood Flooring
Softwood flooring is softer than hardwood flooring and it can add a rustic, warm look to the home. About 80 percent of all timber comes from softwood. This means that its uses vary. Softwood is like hardwood in that each board is cut from a single piece of wood, however, it is easier to work with than hardwood flooring.
Softwood is a great compromise if you want a real wood floor but you are working on a small budget. While it does damage easier than hardwood and it is more susceptible when it is installed in rooms that tend to be damp, it is much easier to work with.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring fits like laminate flooring, however, it has the thickness of real timber. Engineered wood is made up of either three or four layers of wood that is glued together at right angles. Typically, this flooring is about 14mm. The top coat is a wooden veneer and just like hardwood and softwood, you can sand it down to restore the finish if necessary.
Due to its construction, engineered wood handles moisture better than hardwood and softwood flooring can. Unfortunately, engineered wood won’t last as long as hardwood or softwood floors. Finally, the price of this flooring varies from expensive to very expensive.
Things To Consider
When you are trying to decide which type of flooring would be best for you, there are a few things that you should consider.
• Colour: What would look better in your Perth home, dark coloured timber or light coloured? Typically, lighter coloured wood would work better in Perth’s “beach” homes and darker timber would work better in modern style homes.
• Location of Your Home: If you live in one of the bushfire-prone areas in Perth, you should consider one of the 7 types of timber that are approved for homes in these areas, such as Blackbutt Timber Floors.
• Grain Appearance: Would you rather have flooring that has no imperfections or do you prefer flooring with imperfections and character? Do you want the floors in your home to just be floors or do you want them to be the focal point of the room?
• Cost: The cost of your flooring can vary depending on the type of flooring that you choose. If you want to keep the costs down, you should use different types of wood in different rooms.
• Maintenance: Some types of flooring are higher maintenance than others. You should also consider the amount of traffic in each of the rooms where you are installing the flooring. This will have a huge impact on the flooring that is best suited for these rooms.
Each type of flooring has its pros and cons. To make the most informed decision regarding your flooring, you should consider your budget, the style of your home, and which room the flooring will be installed in.
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