What Timber Flooring Suits You Best?
Knocking Wood
It’s probably 50 years ago that the most popular option for flooring in a house would be timber flooring. Maybe the reason for that, 50 years ago, was that there weren’t a lot of other options. Over time, synthetic flooring materials have been introduced and floors made of wood have taken a bit of a back seat. Tiles and carpets became super popular as both conservationists and cost relegated timber floors much lower on the desirable scale.
More recently though, timber flooring has been making a comeback and gaining favour with homeowners. Now, the problem is more one of choice and for consumers to decide what is the most appropriate product for their homes.
Different Types
Lots of different types of timber can be used for your floors and it’s a matter of personal preference. For example, oak flooring adds beauty to your home with its rich texture. But there are many choices such as blackbutt, jarrah, karri, Tassie oak, and even bamboo. Before making a final decision, you should at least look at all the options.
Installation
While your choice is very important, a badly installed timber floor would be a major disaster. If you opt for a floating floor installation, that is one which is placed over an existing floor that may be made of concrete (the house slab), or particle board and even tiles. You will need an underlay to help noise reduction in this case.
If you have structural timber flooring installed, then you really should leave this to the professionals. For example, if you opt for oak, it needs to be seasoned before being laid. This timber flooring is fixed to bearers and joists that form the structure of your home. All the boards will require to be nailed or screwed down.
The varying styles of timber flooring offer comparatively easy installations with methods including tongue and groove and adhesion to the existing floor. This means simply sticking the flooring straight onto the concrete slab.
Considerations
Your final choice will have a lot to do with the existing structure of your home. With so many types of timber flooring and so many methods of installation, it’s a no-brainer to recommend that prior to purchase you spend a bit of time on research. A visit to the supplier to see what is available and what it looks like in real life is also a good idea. Timber flooring can seem to change its appearance in different light, so what you see in the showroom may look a little different if, for example, the installation is in a darker, smaller room in your house.
The other big decision is whether you think you are adept enough to take on a timber floor installation or whether it’s best left to the professionals. Mistakes you might make will look obvious and fixing them will be an additional cost. While a floor is something you walk on, it’s also very noticeable and is a major feature in your home.
