![]() ![]() While hardwood can take anywhere from 20-120 years to mature enough to be used for flooring, bamboo takes only four to six, and is actually a type of grass.īamboo comes from a variety of sources, however, and some are greener than others. ‘It’s a quick growing renewable so it has a sustainable aspect to it,’ Christopher says. Floating floorboards sit on a rubber underlay and are installed simply by clicking the planks together – they can feel unnaturally bouncy to walk on.Įngineered oak flooring in ‘Georgia’, Woodcut.Ĭhristopher says bamboo is usually chosen for three reasons: its eco-credentials, its good looks and the cost. TIP: Although floating floorboards are available, Dominic prefers floorboards that are glued and nailed to the floor. If you buy engineered timber layered on solid pine, your floors will face the same challenges as with solid timber – they can crack, cup and gap. Unless you’re buying an investment property with the intention of doing it up cheaply and quickly flipping it, Christopher says a 6mm thickness is otherwise advisable.Įngineered timber is more stable than hardwood, which expands and contracts with temperature and moisture levels, but only when the substrate is multi-layered ply or similar. A 2mm layer can’t usually take any sanding at all. The real benefit of a 6mm layer is that you can do three sandings, meaning your floors are going to look great for about 30 years. ‘ The cost is not exponentially higher it’s money well spent,’ he says. If it’s your own home, Christopher strongly advises going for the 6mm option. The timber top layer can be 2, 4 or 6mm thick. ‘There used to be a stigma about veneers – they looked cheap – but those days are over now the thicker veneers are quite good.’ The remaining width is a filler known as substrate.Īrchitect Christopher Megowan says engineered timber that uses American and European oaks are becoming popular, and have come a long way in recent years. Engineered timber floorboards are a less expensive option than regular floorboards that can look just as beautiful, but only the top layer is timber.
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