The Benefits of Timber Flooring

Written by: Peter Harrison

Category: General

Published: May 21, 2024

A beautiful and classic flooring option, timber is a natural product with an organic texture. It is timeless and can be sanded and re-coated many times over to change its appearance and to add new colours. It is also durable and easy to maintain with regular sweeping, vacuuming and mopping. Timber floors are very easy to clean and dust particles do not hold onto the surface, this is excellent news for people with allergies or asthma. Timber flooring also feels great underfoot and offers a warm, cosy feel to any room.

Unlike carpets, timber flooring is a natural, eco-friendly product that doesn’t release harmful gases into the air like synthetic materials. It is also much warmer underfoot and can reduce the amount of energy used in heating a home. Depending on the type of timber and finish, timber is an extremely durable and long-lasting floor that can be expected to last for 30 years or more.

There are two main types of timber flooring: Solid and Engineered. Solid Timber flooring is made from a single piece of timber that is laid in its entirety and is the most traditional and authentic form of timber flooring. It is a heavier, more robust and harder wearing floor than softwoods. It is ideally suited to areas where there is a high level of humidity and can be prone to changes in temperature that cause expansion and contraction.

Engineered timber flooring malaysia – Resilient Timber Flooring is made up of layers of ply or high-density fibreboard HDF bonded together with a solid wood lamella or top layer. It is a more cost-effective, easier to install and longer-lasting flooring option than Solid Timber flooring. It is also a more sustainable choice as it uses less hardwood an often limited and endangered resource and recycled timber can be used in the core layer to create a stronger, more hardwearing board.

It is important to check the subfloor prior to timber flooring installation. This is to ensure that it is level and free from moisture, rotting or other damage. It is also a good idea to insulate between the joists to cut down on the movement of air and help with energy efficiency.

If the subfloor is not ready for timber flooring, the installer will need to repair it before beginning the installation. Typically this involves removing any nails or screws that have protruded through the boards, smoothing the surface and then applying an underlay to insulate and protect the floor.

Once the underlay has been installed, the installer can then begin installing the floorboards. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely for the installation, particularly regarding moisture levels in the home. A moisture meter should be used to test the level of humidity in the home and the floorboards must be allowed to acclimate before installing.

It is also a good idea to insulate the home prior to timber flooring installation to help with energy efficiency. This can be done with a mineral wool insulation that is installed between the floor joists, cutting down on energy costs and helping to keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer.