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CHICHESTER BUILDERS
​Types of wood flooring
Our guide to different types of wood flooring, including laminate, engineered wood and solid wood. Chichester Builders can supply and all these wooden flooring types - call us for advice on 07802 430 360
Laminate flooring
This is a compressed fibreboard plank, covered with a photographic image of wood with a protective overlay. Quality can vary considerably, so it really pays to buy the best quality you can afford.The edges of some laminate flooring boards have a slight bevel to create a more realistic appearance. It also helps to avoid damage caused by moisture-induced swelling at the edges of laminate boards. Avoid laminate flooring with a chipboard core, because it expands and contracts a lot. Look for a fibreboard base with a plain-coloured underside – usually green or brown – which gives added protection against moisture.Laminate is well-suited to high traffic areas that need frequent cleaning, such as living rooms, studies and playrooms.
Engineered wood flooring
One of the pros of engineered wood flooring is that it is more stable than a piece of solid wood, and less prone to changes caused by temperature, and cheaper than comparable solid-wood planks. Each engineered wood floorboard consists of three or four layers of wood, glued together to create a plank around 14mm thick. It has a real-wood veneer of around 4mm thick on top, which means it can be sanded back and treated to restore the original finish if it becomes scuffed, worn or damaged. Engineered wood flooring is sometimes available with click-lock installation, which doesn't require any adhesive. Tongue-and-groove versions will need to be glued into place.
Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. While it's more resistant to warping than solid wood, it's still best avoided in places where it will be exposed to a lot of humidity, such as a bathroom.
Wood-effect tiles
Suitable in any room they will not rot or warp when they get wet and are easy to maintain. Combining the beauty of natural wood with the durability of ceramic tiles, wood effect flooring tiles are affordable and practical. You'll have a wide range of colours and styles to choose from.
Wood-effect tiles are waterproof and much more resistant to wear and tear than hardwood and laminate floors, so they're ideal in bathrooms, kitchens and high-traffic areas like hallways.
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