Choosing Oak Wooden Flooring
Oak wood is highly attractive and sought after building material. It is particularly popular as a flooring material because of its strength and beauty.
Today oak flooring comes in a wide variety of products, styles, shades and finishes. You can choose from solid oak flooring, engineered oak flooring, laminate oak or vinyl oak flooring solutions. Solid oak flooring is likely to be the most expensive and ranges in colour from quite dark to white and is likely to include natural markings including bands, lines and knots. A selection of finishes and a choice of beveled edges and flat edges are available.
Engineered oak flooring consists of several wood layers glued to each other under high pressure resulting in higher strength and durability compared to solid oak whilst retaining the same look and character. In addition, whilst solid oak flooring can shrink and expand due to room humidity and moisture from the sub-floor, engineered oak is not subject to this. Oak laminate flooring combines oak with synthetic fibres to create a solid flooring surface that is less susceptible to wear and tear and is easier to maintain. Vinyl oak flooring mirrors the effect of solid oak flooring but is made from vinyl meaning that it is inexpensive, waterproof and much easier to maintain.
Vinyl offers more durability with the same striking appearance as a real oak floor and is a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms and other high traffic areas where spillages are a commonplace. Today, if you want the natural beauty and elegance of an oak floor, there are a multitude of styles, colours, stains, finishes and looks to choose from. Whether you want a traditional solid oak floor or one of the new technologically advanced oak-like flooring materials, there is a wide selection and variety of flooring that will complement any home or office.