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Pros and Cons of Solid, Engineered and Parquet Wood Flooring

From the standpoint of maintenance, wooden floors are easier to clean, unlike carpets that can harbor many forms of fleas, parasites, and dust mites. Wooden floors also make things easier on both pet owners and allergy sufferers. Likewise, they offer an extra bonus to the health of the planet since they are eco-friendly. So, which wooden floor should you choose to depend on your requirements and the specifications of them? Let’s discover the pros and cons of solid, engineered, and parquet wood flooring.

Solid Wood Flooring

Being a highly resistant material, a solid floor could last for many years, even in environments with high traffic of people. If barefoot is about, the solid floors are much more comfortable to step on, as they do not feel cold. Solid Wood is natural thermal insulation that protects your home from both heat and cold.

If you are allergic, solid floors will be your allies. Unlike other types of wood floors, they do not accumulate pollen, animal dander, mites or mold. Ease of cleaning: It does not take much effort to clean a solid floor. Just sweep it and wipe it with a moistened cloth so that it has an optimal appearance. Placing solid floors increases the value of the property, especially if it is kept in good condition.

In general, the disadvantages are that the floors of this material are more expensive than those of other materials, especially if it is solid wood. Placing a solid floor is not easy. It is a task that must be carried out by a professional because otherwise there could be badly adjusted tables.

Although it is a highly resistant material, bumps, scratches, moisture and sun exposure could damage it. Although many people do not bother, the wood creaks to receive the weight of a person. You can cushion it using carpets or rugs.

Parquet Wood Flooring

The advantages of parquet flooring can safely be attributed to reliability and durability. Of course, it depends on the subsequent care of the owners. Nevertheless, experience shows that a parquet floor can often last even more than a century.

Parquet is durable and resistant to mechanical damage. But even in case of damage, there is no need to worry about its safety - the parquet is easily restored with the help of restoration or polishing. It must be noted that the material from which the parquet is made is environmentally friendly.

It is also famous for its low heat and sound conduction. The parquet floor will be pleasantly cool in summer and will not be too cold in winter. At the same time, steps on it will be virtually silent.

There are also cons of parquet flooring, although they are much smaller than the advantages. First of all, it must be said that it is quite sensitive to moisture. Therefore, when wet cleaning should not use too much water. Of course, if you spill a small amount of liquid on the floor, the parquet will not deteriorate. But in the event of flooding, the plates may swell, and the flooring will no longer be recoverable.

The disadvantages of the parquet also include the mandatory thorough preparation of the base for laying and high cost of parquet floor fitting. However, in our time, parquet is more accessible than it was several decades ago.

Engineered Wood Flooring

When we speak of engineering wood floors, we refer to the way in which they are made. These floors are made by several layers of wood, resulting in a type of construction much stronger than a piece of solid wood. This results in engineered wood floors being much more stable and less susceptible to modification in adverse weather conditions.

In engineering wood floors, we can highlight a number of advantages. In terms of engineering wood floors can be used in both wet and dry areas. This type of wood flooring is made by alternating layers, which makes it resistant to expansion and contraction, which are usually the cause of the deformations suffered by wood.

Fundamentally, these wooden floors are designed for rooms that have radial heating, which will be a really good challenge to check their quality. It is very durable with respect to other products. The warranty usually ranges above 25 years; however, it depends on the manufacturer or if the floors are pre-finished. The hardwood engineering floors are lucky enough to have low maintenance because they do not need to be sanded. They may only need a refinishing a couple of times during their life. Engineered floor installation is usually done as floating with the use of click system, which allows for insulation fitting or underfloor heating systems.

Among the disadvantages are dangers of slipping: Engineered wood floors have a waterproof surface that natural hardwood does not have, which could cause the floor to be somewhat slippery. If the engineered wood floors were installed, by mistake, without a base, it could happen that it has a hollow sound, with the discomfort that this may imply.

Unlike hardwood, which can be sanded and varnished many times over its life, engineering could only be restoreda couple of times, even reducing its life.