Engineered timber, laminate or vinyl flooring?

Wooden floors bring warmth to a home, but solid hardwood is expensive and moves with changes in humidity. Today, most “wood” floors in South African homes are engineered timber, laminate or vinyl. They can look similar in a showroom but behave very differently in a home.

Engineered timber

Engineered timber has a top layer of real hardwood bonded to a stable core of plywood or softwood layers.

• Look and feel: it is real wood. It looks, feels and ages like timber.
• Stability: much more stable than solid wood, so it can be used over underfloor heating (with suitable products) and on concrete slabs.
• Durability: can be sanded and refinished, depending on the thickness of the top layer. Scratches and dents still happen.
• Water: not suitable for bathrooms or areas that get wet often. Spills should be wiped up.
• Cost: the most expensive of the three, especially in wide boards and patterns such as herringbone.

Laminate

Laminate is a photographic image of wood on a dense fibreboard core with a hard, clear wear layer.

• Look and feel: good-quality laminate looks convincing, but it sounds and feels harder and more hollow than real wood.
• Durability: very scratch-resistant, good for pets and children.
• Water: the fibreboard core swells if water gets into the joints. Not suitable for bathrooms or kitchens with frequent spills.
• Repair: cannot be sanded. Damaged boards have to be replaced.
• Cost: affordable.

Luxury vinyl (LVT and SPC)

Luxury vinyl tiles and planks, including rigid-core SPC products, are made from vinyl with a printed wood or stone pattern.

• Look and feel: good imitation of wood, softer and warmer underfoot than tiles.
• Water: highly water-resistant, so suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
• Durability: good, but can be dented by heavy furniture and scratched by grit.
• Repair: boards can be replaced, but not refinished.
• Cost: moderate.

Installation matters

All three need a flat, dry, level subfloor. On concrete slabs, moisture in the slab is a common cause of failure, especially in new screeds that have not dried out. The slab should be tested for moisture and a damp-proof membrane used where needed.

Floating floors need expansion gaps at the edges, hidden by skirtings. Glued-down engineered floors give a more solid feel and are often preferred in high-end projects.

Herringbone and patterns

Patterned floors such as herringbone and chevron are a beautiful choice, but take more time and skill to install, and there is more waste. At Pembroke on the V&A Waterfront, a herringbone oak floor runs through the apartment and sets the tone for the whole renovation.

Which one?

• For living areas and bedrooms where you want the real thing: engineered timber
• For busy family homes and rental properties on a budget: laminate or vinyl
• For kitchens, bathrooms and wet areas: vinyl or tiles

If you are choosing flooring for a renovation, talk to us about the subfloor and the options before you buy.