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Solid Wood vs. Engineered Wood |
Solid wood floors have been around for almost as long as kitchens have. Wood compliments a good number of kitchen decors and also makes for a durable and well priced alternative to vinyl, linoleum or tile. Engineered wood floors are becoming popular for their price point as well as there eco friendly construction. Solid wood flooring is still a great way to go though and there are a good number of options besides traditional oak.
Even today people are installing plank flooring in kitchens everywhere. Unfinished plank flooring is popular for its earthy style and performance. The finish on any floor will largely determine its longevity and durability. Oil based urethanes and varnish were the choice for a long time since technology in water based finishes just didn’t make the grade. Today, however, water based wood finishes are just as good as the older oil based ones and have less odor as well.
Engineered wood flooring is great alternative to solid wood. It uses a lot less trees in it’s manufacturing process and yet it is very durable and very nice looking as well. It is a very structurally stable material since it is made in layers and so it makes a good floor for temperature and humidity fluctuating environments or when using under floor heating. Most engineered panels are finished at the manufacture. This allows for a commercial grade finish that is better than one applied on site or by the end user.
Whether you go solid wood or engineered there are a goof number of options available for style. Oak being very traditional makes up most of peoples solid wood floor choice. Consider maple, ash, or even zebrawood or softwoods like pine. Engineered wood comes in just as many styles and is usually less expensive then solid wood.
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