Oak trees are a common sight all around Europe and have been used as a material for building and flooring for many centuries. This familiarity and the famous warmth and sturdiness of the material make it not just a tried and tested substance, but one that carries a veneer of warmth and popularity as well as grandeur.
Engineered oak flooring is a more recent innovation, offering an alternative to solid oak flooring that can be used in almost any room in the house. It operates as a floating floor assembled above an underlay, of which different types are available depending on whether the underfloor is made of concrete or wood.
If you are keen to buy engineered oak flooring, the good news is that there are many products to choose between, made by several different companies. Every supplier used by UK Flooring Direct has been chosen because of the high quality of the floors they provide so they are ideal if you are looking for engineered flooring online.
It is possible to have treated oak that is so dark it is almost black flooring, there are also alternatives which are very pale white flooring, or various shades in between. Another difference is between oak floors with lots of markings, such as rings, knots and swirls and those which are relatively free of these.
There are also three strip flooring options, which means three small segments in a line in each plank, all differing slightly in appearance from each other to create a repeated pattern across your engineered floorboards.
As might be expected, there are many differences in the width and thickness of the planks. Widths vary from 90 mm to 190 mm, with numerous figures in between. There is also a variation in thicknesses between 8.5 mm and 22 mm, although most products are between standard thicknesses of 12 mm and 15 mm.
Most products have either a matt or satin lacquer, with some having a white lacquer that causes them to be very pale in colour. A few products are oiled or brushed and oiled instead, so there is a selection of finishes to decide between depending on personal preference.
One of the most significant variations in appearance is between those floors with smooth-edged planks and those that have bevelled edges. The former provides a smooth, even surface right across the room, while the latter gives a dynamic modern look by creating a more pronounced join to give the floor greater definition.
The warranties on this cheap engineered flooring varies, but all are strong and durable, as might be expected with oak flooring. As a result, the shortest warranty is 15 years, while most are 20, 25 or even 30 years, to provide you with peace of mind.
Installing engineered oak flooring is very simple, as the products come with either tongue and groove or click system installation. Both of these are designed to ensure the various pieces fit together like a jigsaw, in a way that is simple to do even for those inexperienced in laying floors and which does not involve any glue or adhesive.
So for those who want a floor that is easily installed, made of oak and offering just the style that suits their taste, there should be an engineered oak floor that fits with your design ideas.
