Engineered flooring is multi-layered in construction, with a hardwood timber wear surface, a middle core layer and a bottom layer of veneer, to provide greater stability. The wear layer of these differs marginally between brands, with an average of 4mm. The boards are 100% timber and are finished in 5 or 6 coats of high quality UV hardened lacquer (available in matt and satin) – or oil. These surface coatings are applied in dust-free conditions and are baked on to provide a flawless finish. Precision made, each joint matches perfectly.
We supply and install high quality brands of engineered flooring, predominantly produced in Europe. These come in plank or three strip.
Engineered Flooring
A number of different timber species are available and these come in a variety of finishes from whitewashed or stained, to antiqued, hand-scraped, beaten or with bevelled edges. Additionally there are a number of different grades within a species, some have wood knots giving a more rustic appearance, while others have fewer of the features naturally found in wood, commonly known as Prime or Clear.
Some of the more unusual engineered timbers are only available intermittently; they are subject to timber availability, supply and demand. In addition to those listed, Swinard Wooden Floors will attempt to source specific engineered timbers especially for you, providing they are available from sustainably managed forests.
Engineered Timber Species Gallery
Photo and Sample Disclaimer: The photos on this website and samples lent to you by Swinard Wooden Floors are provided as a guide only. Please remember that photographic colour may vary from the actual wood due to translation and reproduction limitations. As a floor is made up of many pieces of timber there will be more variations in grain and colour than can be shown in either a photograph or sample; wood is a natural product and no two pieces are the same. Character variations are to be expected.
Plank Size
The standard size of planks is approximately 140mm x 1900mm x 14mm, unless otherwise stated. However, longer and wider boards are available in most timbers. Please discuss your plank size preferences when requesting a quote.
V Jointed/Micro-Bevelled Timber
A chamfer (sloping edge) is machined on each board creating a groove between the floorboards. This can be of different depth/widths – V-jointed is deeper than micro-bevelled – for example a 1.5mm chamfer will create a 3mm wide groove. Originally these types of joints were used in oiled floors with the expectation, that with regular topping up of the oil and careful maintenance, it would never need to be re-sanded. Nowadays they are being manufactured prefinished in polyurethane. Should they need to be sanded and have new polyurethane applied (when worn or scratched) we would have to sand back to below the groove, as it is not possible to keep the grooves even during the sanding process. Not only would you lose the ‘look” of the V-joint but a substantial amount of the board thickness.
V-jointed boards
Micro-bevelled boards
While these look good and are currently on-trend, please be aware of their limitations. The life span of a V-jointed floor is about half that of flooring without. You may be able to get one sand with a V-jointed board, two with a micro-bevelled board, as opposed to three or four with a straight edged board.
Further Product Information
Engineered flooring can be installed floating over underlay, glued over underlay or direct-fix to an existing subfloor. Please see Methods of Installation for further details.
Engineered boards are less prone to expansion and contraction, however some manufacturers will not guarantee their product for use in areas of high moisture content, such as bathrooms and laundries. It is important to discuss and consider your requirements and product choice during the quotation process.
For every square metre of solid wood, four square metres of engineered flooring can be produced. If you are choosing a prefinished product, the final floor is likely to be extremely close to your initial choice. Prefinished engineered flooring is ready to walk on immediately after installation, though it does need to be protected from other tradespeople until the building process has been completed
