What wood is used for flooring?

Wood flooring is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. It offers a stylish and cooler alternative to the traditional carpet. The advantages are easy to see. You don’t need a vacuum cleaner, so it uses less energy in the home. All that you need is a wet cloth and some floor polish or wood floor cleaner. Some Engineered Wood Flooring is one of the best options to go for. A Visit Irwin Tiles for engineered wood flooring should always be your first port of call when looking for one. The only question should be, what kind of wood is used for the flooring itself.

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The debate between hardwood and softwood options is probably the most considered. To be clear, a hardwood is not necessarily hard. For example, Balsa modelling wood is a hardwood, and totally unsuitable for flooring. Whereas Mahogany is a softwood and perfect. Hardwood simply refers to trees that shade their leaves in the Autumn and Winter (angiosperms to use their “science” name) whereas softwoods retain theirs all year round ( the scientific name for them is gymnosperms).

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Ultimately it all depends on price and longevity. Softwoods are a cheaper option, but they will wear quicker than the hardwood option. As a result, the hardwood variety is a bit more pricey, but you will know where that money has gone when it’s still in perfect condition some 20 years later. Oak and Walnut are generally considered to be the best of the hardwoods.