Tag Archives: hardwood floors

Hardwood Floors: Engineered VS. Solid Plank

Today, there are so many engineered hardwood floors that look and feel like solid wood, yet these floors are often more durable and cost effective than traditional solid hardwood floors.  Besides these obvious attributes, engineered floors imitate solid plank floors so well, even the savviest have a hard time telling the difference.  Can you tell which floor is Engineered Hardwood or Solid Hardwood in the images below?  Not that easy?  Well, image ‘A’ is the Engineered floor.

Image A

Image B

To clarify any misconception, engineered wood floors are actually genuine wood; solid hardwood floors are simply solid planks of genuine wood and engineered hardwood floors are made with a core of hardwood and topped with a layer of hardwood veneer attached to the surface.

While both types of floors are durable surfaces, the engineered woods tend to be slightly more water resistant due to its ability to expand and contract without lasting damage (for the most part).  The thick veneer on the surface of the engineered woods offer a reasonable amount of protection making them more stable.  However, like solid hardwoods, the floors cannot take standing moisture.  The advantage here is, unlike solid wood flooring, you can install engineered wood flooring in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms that encounter spills, steam and heat daily.

 

Meanwhile, advanced tongue-and-groove engineered systems that are popular today make instillation easy.  These floors lock into place instead of being nailed or glued in. These options are usually thinner wood and can be installed over an older floor, concrete, or cork underlay.

Additionally,  despite being new to the market, it is believed that the best engineered floors should last the test of time and perform as well as solid plank floors.  That said, if you are looking for your floors to last a life time, then buying high quality is the only way to go.

Finally, another factor in the quandary over solid vs. engineered flooring can be cost.  Typically, engineered floors are slightly more cost effective running anywhere from $3-$18 per square foot on average.

In the end, your wish list and budget will determine the best solution for your hardwood instillation.  The options for engineered wood floors available today are tremendous, from Barn French Oak to Maple,  grey wash, distressed, and even hand scraped; the possibilities are endless.

For more information about hardwood floors and the images used in this blog, please leave a comment.  Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the blog.

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Flooring Trends

Installing new flooring in your home or office is a big investment, and your choice of flooring is one you’ll have to live with for a long time.  So where do you start?  In this post we’ll explore some of today’s hottest trends in flooring to help you arrive at this big and often daunting decision.

Hardwood floors are timeless and will always be one of the most sought after flooring materials.  While the love of hardwood floors doesn’t change, the style does.  One trend we are seeing is standard hardwoods in a chevron or herringbone layout.  This vintage French style really dresses up the hardwoods and creates visual interest in the room.  The herringbone layout works well in all interior design styles from Rustic Modern to the Traditional home.

wavy wood

multi colored natural wood

More trends that we love are the unique finishes now being applied to hardwood flooring.  From standard hardwood layout to patterned layout, the new installations are being stained and scraped in alternative ways.  Washed grey stain is really dominating the hardwood scene right now.  Visually it’s subtle, refreshing and soothing.  The Jigsaw Designers also like seeing a lot of color variation in hardwood flooring, and using natural colors like walnut and pecan show this variation the best.

wood floors chev

washed floorThe method of instillation is also being varied to create a unique and custom look.  For example, board lengths can be varied from four inches to eight inches for a completely fresh look.  This keeps the floor from looking too manufactured or laminated, and instead creates a one-of-a-kind couture flooring.   An added bonus is requesting a variation in board lengths which can actually prove cost effective as a typical install will require a uniform look.

Custom tile work is not just for the bathroom and kitchen anymore.   Unlock your master bedrooms potential with gorgeous stylized tile flooring.  This chic look can complete the décor in a way carpet cannot.  In the images below, see how the black and white chevron floor is the building block for the style of the entire room.  The modern chevron flooring plus the black and white décor mixed with the rustic door create an original look that is timeless yet has a bit of edge.

blk wht chevron

Chevron Floors

One hot trend on the rise worth mentioning is the mixing of hardwoods and ceramic or porcelain tiles.  The vibe is highly artistic and you can be as creative as you want to be.   The Jigsaw Designers love mixing these two materials in a herringbone fashion for a dining room or bathroom.  Wrapping the tile floors up the wall is also a trend we are watching closely.  It is a great way to add architectural interest instead of using wanes coating or chair railing.  This look is a little unconventional, but it screams style.

Floor up wall

bath floor

Wood and tile mix 1

Wood and tile mix 2

Choosing the right flooring for your home can be fun and sometimes a little confusing.  We hope this post will inspire you to look at a variety of options when finding the perfect flooring to fit your lifestyle.

pale kitchen floor

For more information on flooring trends and resources visit the contact page on the Jigsaw Design Group website at www.jigsawdesigngroup.com.  Someone will quickly contact you with more information.  Please subscribe to the blog for more informative articles like these, and check out our Facebook page for more tips and images!  Be sure to ‘like us’ on Facebook!