Engineered Wood Flooring FAQ's
What is Distressed Engineered Wood Flooring?
Engineered wood flooring consists of boards that feature a real piece of solid wood attached to several layers of plywood to provide additional durability. Due to its composition, it has the added benefits of higher resistance to temperature and humidity changes, making it a fantastic alternative to traditional solid wood floors. Once fitted, you won’t be able to tell the difference thanks to the top layer of Oak or Walnut. Our distressed wooden floors take this one step further, celebrating and emphasising the natural variations that exist in wood. The end result? An aged, well-loved appearance that will add warmth and character to any home without sacrificing the lifespan of the floor.
Floors can be made distressed in several ways using different techniques and tools which is why each distressed floor is so unique. Not only that, but the wood species will make a difference too, as some take to being distressed easier than others. For example, Walnut is hardier than Oak which means either tougher tools will need to be used or the floor will look less aged than others. Even small changes like the angle of any scrapes and the sharpness of the blade used will all influence the overall finished look. Some of our distressed floors have been smoked as well to add to the antique appearance.
For an example of how your flooring will look, we suggest ordering a sample. However, bear in mind that the grains, knots, and textures will all vary from board to board.
Does Engineered Wood Flooring Scratch Easily?
Any wood floor can be susceptible to scratches but will withstand daily use, even in busy households. As leading flooring experts, we often find that a lot of customers opt for distressed wooden floors to help hide any scuffs or damage for longer. This makes distressed floors ideal for homes with pets or children where damage is likely.
However, if you do manage to damage your flooring badly, you can always sand down the wear layer and refinish your flooring. For more information on how to do this, please visit our maintenance guides. Thankfully, the distressed look can help hide any damage that would otherwise show. Therefore, refinishing your floors shouldn't be necessary for a very long time. Hence why it is often a popular choice in restaurants and other commercial areas where damage is likely to occur.
If you would like your distressed floor to have some additional durability for peace of mind, then we suggest choosing an oiled and distressed floor. Oils seep deep into the wood grain, offering a deeper level of coverage and protection than lacquers. This deeper protection provides more long-term protection against damage and scuffs, but it doesn’t protect as well against spills, as there’s no barrier on the surface for liquids to sit on; meaning they too will seep into wood grain if not quickly dealt with. Oiled floors also offer the opportunity for you to sand and refinish a smaller area if damage does occur.
Is Engineered Wood Flooring Waterproof?
No, none of our engineered wood floors are waterproof. If you are looking for waterproof flooring, then check out our LVT range. All of our vinyl floors are 100% waterproof due to their plastic composition whereas wood cannot be waterproof. To avoid damaging your distressed wooden floors, you should clean any spillages up quickly, or within 2-3 hours at least.
How Long Does Engineered Wood Flooring Need to Acclimatise?
To get the most from your installation, and avoid any issues occurring in the future, it’s vital that you prepare for installation correctly by acclimatising your flooring. We recommend that you leave your floorboards laid flat in the room where you plan to install them. You should do this for a minimum of 48 hours before proceeding to installation. This will allow enough time for your floor to adjust to the temperature and humidity conditions of your home.