ᐅ Requesting advice on flooring options, specifically tile versus hardwood flooring
Created on: 24 Feb 2016 11:00
S
sirhc
Hello everyone,
we are currently considering options for floor coverings.
Especially on the ground floor, we are undecided and torn between tiles and hardwood flooring.
Hardwood flooring seems to be a more complex topic for me than tiles.
There appear to be types suitable for underfloor heating and others that are not. Until now, I have only had laminate flooring, and I always thought of hardwood flooring as "real wood." However, my research has mostly led me to products with a 3 mm (1/8 inch) wear layer of real wood. Basically, we really like wide plank floors. Is it common to have a thin wear layer, while the majority of the plank consists of something other than solid wood?
A large open-plan living and kitchen area is planned on the ground floor. With hardwood flooring, the issue of transitions arises. We don’t find hardwood flooring very fitting in the kitchen area. Tiles would have the advantage of being able to be laid throughout (hallway, bathroom, living and kitchen area). Also, the stove in the living room wouldn’t need to be placed on a glass plate.
How have you solved this with an open kitchen area when you still want hardwood flooring?
How thick can or should planks be that are compatible with underfloor heating?
Thanks and best regards
we are currently considering options for floor coverings.
Especially on the ground floor, we are undecided and torn between tiles and hardwood flooring.
Hardwood flooring seems to be a more complex topic for me than tiles.
There appear to be types suitable for underfloor heating and others that are not. Until now, I have only had laminate flooring, and I always thought of hardwood flooring as "real wood." However, my research has mostly led me to products with a 3 mm (1/8 inch) wear layer of real wood. Basically, we really like wide plank floors. Is it common to have a thin wear layer, while the majority of the plank consists of something other than solid wood?
A large open-plan living and kitchen area is planned on the ground floor. With hardwood flooring, the issue of transitions arises. We don’t find hardwood flooring very fitting in the kitchen area. Tiles would have the advantage of being able to be laid throughout (hallway, bathroom, living and kitchen area). Also, the stove in the living room wouldn’t need to be placed on a glass plate.
How have you solved this with an open kitchen area when you still want hardwood flooring?
How thick can or should planks be that are compatible with underfloor heating?
Thanks and best regards
S
Sebastian7924 Feb 2016 12:55White baseboards are a must for me – we previously had wood-colored baseboards in a newly built rental apartment: grandma style to the extreme.
@Sebastian79
I would like to disagree with you here when it comes to engineered wood flooring. The wear layer of engineered wood ranges from 2.5 to 5.5mm (0.1 to 0.22 inches), depending on quality. The average is about 3.5mm (0.14 inches), which can generally be sanded at most twice, depending on its condition. To be safe, I would say it’s only sandable once. Sanding machines do remove a considerable amount.
@sirhc
I would recommend a 2-layer engineered wood floor with a wear layer of 5.5mm (0.22 inches), which, due to its construction, must be glued down. This type of flooring has the significant advantage of being more dimensionally stable regarding swelling and shrinking compared to solid wood planks. When it comes to transition strips, there are many different options available.
I would like to disagree with you here when it comes to engineered wood flooring. The wear layer of engineered wood ranges from 2.5 to 5.5mm (0.1 to 0.22 inches), depending on quality. The average is about 3.5mm (0.14 inches), which can generally be sanded at most twice, depending on its condition. To be safe, I would say it’s only sandable once. Sanding machines do remove a considerable amount.
@sirhc
I would recommend a 2-layer engineered wood floor with a wear layer of 5.5mm (0.22 inches), which, due to its construction, must be glued down. This type of flooring has the significant advantage of being more dimensionally stable regarding swelling and shrinking compared to solid wood planks. When it comes to transition strips, there are many different options available.
sirhc schrieb:
Thanks, it looks good, including the combination with the white baseboards But then stick the white baseboards on... screwing or nailing them looks unattractive.... at least in my opinion.
Masipulami24 Feb 2016 13:19It wasn’t finished yet at that point. All the joints are sealed, nothing could open anymore, and you only really notice the “staples” if you pay close attention.
And yes:
Definitely glue it. It feels much better when walking on it. The wear layer in our case is also 5.5cm (2.2 inches).
And yes:
Definitely glue it. It feels much better when walking on it. The wear layer in our case is also 5.5cm (2.2 inches).
S
Sebastian7924 Feb 2016 13:31Wear layer in our case (Kährs Artisan Collection) is 3.5mm (1/8 inch) – according to Kährs, it can be sanded 2-3 times, which means we should normally be able to keep it for a lifetime.
And 3-layer hardwood flooring – I just requested a price quote again and am really looking forward to the installation.
And 3-layer hardwood flooring – I just requested a price quote again and am really looking forward to the installation.
Sebastian79 schrieb:
According to Kährs, it can be sanded 2-3 times Very optimistic
Sebastian79 schrieb:
And 3-layer parquet That’s of course possible too. Do you know the reasoning behind recommending the 3-layer? I don’t quite understand it, especially since 3-layer is somewhat more expensive and a counterbalance isn’t necessary with fixed glue installation.
3-layer is usually designed mainly as a click system and intended for floating installation.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing the decision, just asking out of interest.
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