Source: Square Foot

Which 'Wood' You Choose?

Solid or engineered wood are the best options in wooden flooring for homes. Solid wood is available in the range of 13 mm to 20 mm thickness. Engineered wood, on the other hand, is not more than 14 mm thick.

Ideally, engineered wood is the way to go. It is much lighter than solid wood as it is made from a combination of hardwood (upper layer) and  soft wood (lower layer). This is perfect for if you live in a heritage building where there are restrictions with regard to the flooring weight.

Also, engineered wood suits our Indian climate best as expansion due to moisture is controlled up to 30 percent more than that of solid wood.

Take Your Pick

Always choose the shade of wood depending on the size and location of your room. Choose light grained woods for small rooms. Pick from beech, oak, maple and cherry. Dark grained woods tend to make your room look smaller.

However, if your room well lit, then go with dark wood. The daylight makes the wood look at least two shades lighter. You could choose from walnut, merbau, kempas and teak.

Fit to a T

Wooden flooring comes in strips or planks  The best way to install these planks is by interlocking them with each other. Avoid nailing or gluing the strips to the floor as this doesn't leave any room for the wood to breathe and expand during the monsoons. As a result, the strips tend to get warped with the moisture.

Since you are spending almost Rs.300 to Rs.800 per sq. ft., you may as well have an expert fit it in for you. Most manufacturers will set up the flooring for free.

In for the Long Run

And don't stress too much over the durability of wooden flooring. Most manufacturers give you about a five-year warrantee and readily replace your strips with any kind of manufacturing defect. But mind you, this does not include damages.

Want to know how to Maintain Those Floors? Click here.