Grey Wood Floor? Here's How To Get It Just Right...
Whether you’re updating an existing room, renovating your home, or looking to put your stamp on a new build, starting a new decorating project can be fun, exciting, and equally stressful at the same time.
It’s no different with your new flooring either. Preparation is key. If you don’t organize your project, it will quickly descend into chaos, over budget, over schedule, and potentially short on materials. However, if you get it right from the start then your project will be smooth sailing resulting in a beautifully fitted floor that you’re able to enjoy for years to come stress-free!
Wondering how to plan your perfect engineered grey wood flooring project? Don’t worry, our latest blog covers everything you’ll need to consider, so you can get it right the first time.
Before we get into the planning, let’s take a look at some of the basics of engineered grey wood flooring …
Is Engineered Grey Wood Flooring Popular?
Yes! Engineered grey wood flooring has become increasingly popular. Our grey wood floors are a popular choice and can complement any home and interior décor. Generally, our customers choose engineered wood flooring when they’re looking for a cheaper alternative to solid wood. It’s also easy to fit, as most come with a tongue & groove profile.
Still not sure whether our grey engineered wood flooring is right for you? Take a look at our some of our best sellers below.
Is Engineered Grey Wood Flooring the same as Laminate or Solid Wood?
Engineered wood flooring is a hybrid floor so it’s technically neither. However, engineered and laminate flooring share some structural similarities such as being made of multiple layers, which offers a high-quality finish. Engineered, Solid and Laminate floors can also all come in grey adding to their similarities.
Engineered wood floors have a solid wood top layer which means that, when laid, engineered wood flooring looks identical to solid wood flooring, at a fraction of the cost. Essentially, it offers the budget-friendly pricing of laminate, with the quality and finish of solid wood.
Thanks to its structural sub-layers, engineered flooring is often strong and more durable than other flooring types which makes it an ideal flooring option in most settings.
Things to consider
Budget
Although engineered wood floors are cheaper than solid wood floors, the prices do vary depending on the wood species and finish. It’s worth doing your research before you commit to one type of flooring.
The prices of engineered wood floors are generally affected by common factors, such as the type of wood (oak will generally be cheaper than walnut for example), the thickness of the boards, and how thick the wear layer is (the top layer of solid wood).
If you’re thinking of investing in an engineered grey wood floor, then the colour can affect the price. For example, because grey engineered wood is becoming more popular and in demand, it will be better value for money, as there’s a lot more of the floor being made. In a nutshell, the rarer the colour the more expensive it will be.
Footfall
Engineered wood flooring comes with a solid wood top layer that can be sanded down and refinished multiple times if it becomes scratched or damaged. Which means that it can withstand a high level of foot traffic. Usually, these wear layers range from 4-6mm, but some can be as thin as 1mm.
Ultimately, it comes down to your household and what room you want to install your engineered wood floor in. If the footfall in your home is high, then we would recommend a bigger wear layer, whereas lighter traffic areas will be fine with a thinner top layer.
Lifetime Use
Engineered wood flooring is extremely popular due to its long lifespan. The wood is made up of multiple layers of plywood that are bonded together and then topped off with a solid wood top layer. Due to it being made in this way means that the flooring is incredibly tough and long-lasting.
Engineered grey wood floors have become increasingly popular over the past few years and we can’t see it going out of style anytime soon. So, you’ll be able to enjoy your engineered grey wood floor for many years to come with the added bonus of it staying in style.
Underlay
When fitting your grey engineered wood floor, we recommend using an underlay. Underlay is a thin layer of cushioning material that is placed between the subfloor and the wood flooring. There are also a couple of advantages to installing underlay under your engineered wood floor. For example, it will give you an even sub-floor.
Underfloor Heating
If you’re planning on fitting your engineered wood floor with underfloor heating, then there are a few things to consider; the thickness of your flooring and the underlay you use. We recommend using boards around 14-16mm thick, as a thinner board will help dissipate heat more effectively.
At Flooring365 we recommend using water-based underfloor heating only. Electric heating can cause heat spikes; areas of rapidly changing temperatures that can cause damage to the boards.
Installation Method
When it comes to installing your engineered grey wood floor there’s no need to panic! Our engineered wood floors are relatively easy to install. You can choose between the tongue & groove method or the Click Lok system.
Installation methods explained:
Tongue & Groove: Tongue and groove flooring (a popular option with engineered wood) usually has a simple profiled edge, where two pieces of flooring simply ‘push together’, PVA glue is used to hold everything in place.
Click Lok System: A glue-free option that has two interlocking ends that ‘hook’ together.
Planning your wood flooring project
Consider Fitting
Before investing in your dream floor, it is important to consider who will be fitting it. Fitting your floor yourself will save you money but can be a hassle, especially if you’re new to floor installation. Alternatively, you could hire a professional fitter who will ensure that your floor is installed right and looks perfect while saving you the stress of having to do it yourself!
Delivery
Flooring can be bulky, heavy, and awkward to deliver, so it’s worth keeping in mind that you’ll probably need to set some time aside for your delivery.
Whilst most delivery companies will accommodate your requests as much as possible, they’ll usually specify a ‘kerbside drop’ which means they’ll unload your flooring on a pallet at the roadside. With this in mind, be sure to have at least one person at your home on delivery day that’s willing to get stuck in, moving your new flooring indoors.
Before your delivery day, think about where you’re going to store your flooring, in the short term, before your installation. Ideally, somewhere clean, dry, and easy to access. It goes without saying that, to make things easier on delivery day, make sure you clear your path of any obstructions or hazards, remember, you may struggle to see your step when you’re carrying flooring!
Alternatively, you could collect your flooring directly. Engineered wood flooring usually comes in packs under 2 meters, which means they’ll be pretty easy to pack in your car or van but keep in mind they will be heavy in larger quantities.
Acclimatise your flooring
We recommend acclimating engineered wood floors so that they can become used to the conditions of your home before it is installed. Even though engineered wood is more susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity as opposed to solid wood floors, it is still best practice to let them acclimate before installation. We recommend letting them acclimatise for a minimum of 48 hours between receiving your floor and installing it.
Remove Furniture
Although it can be a pain, we recommend removing all furniture from the room where you want to install your engineered wood floor. Not only will it save you time by not having to constantly re-arrange your furniture, but it could also minimize the risk of damaging your new floor.
Floating Floor (Sub Floor)
Engineered wood floors are laid using the ‘floating floor’ method, essentially sitting on top of an existing subfloor, without any adhesion.
Although installing over a subfloor is much easier (than on a fixed floor, where gluing to a base is required), you will need to prep before fitting.
Ensure your subfloor is level, clean, and dry, free from any lumps or bumps. If you need to, be sure to use an underlay that will overcome any major discrepancies. Remember, the better your subfloor, the easier your floor will be to fit.
Conclusion
Engineered grey wood flooring looks great, is easy to fit, and won’t break the bank. What’s not to like?
If you're unsure about anything at all, get in touch with our team. We'd be more than happy to talk you through the flooring options available as well as any installation queries.
As with anything, preparation is key to getting a professional and stunning finish, which if done right will leave you with a gorgeous floor that will last a lifetime.
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