Building a house, or making a major home renovation? Your choice of flooring will be crucial to achieving your desired effect. Whether formal or relaxed, elegant or casual, modern or contemporary or classical, your floor will create, complement or detract from the look and feel you want, and thus impact your home enjoyment. There are many factors to consider for flooring materials, of which high on the list should be personal preferences, and not least should be the cost and the enduring beauty of your floor.
Let's say you've made the decision to use wood. For many, wood is the default choice for bedrooms, family rooms, and where present, a second floor which is mostly exclusive to the family. There is a certain elegance and class to using wood, a natural and organic building material. There is also that subtle softness and warmth to the feet that are virtually imperceptible to the young and the uninitiated, but are well appreciated by mature tastes.
Photo of wood floor from the Matimco product catalog.
Wood building materials vary greatly, from manufactured hard laminated wood to natural solid wood, sizes, colors, performance and prices can be poles apart. And it's difficult to find objective comparisons of the materials. Needing to make my own decision on what wood floor to use, I've thus conducted my own tests and am here sharing the results.
These are the test samples I've obtained. Descriptions are from the company product catalog, where available. Prices are indicative only.
1. Matimco Matwood Solid wood - Brazilian Cherry Jojoba, unfinished. Double-vaccum treated, pre-sealed, Tongue & groove profile. Plank size: 1 inch x 6 inches x 10' or 12'. Price > Typical pricing is at PhP 6.6k per sqm.
2. Matimco Luxe HD. Made of a wood plastic composite (WPC) base topped with a high definition vinyl plank with a fine raised grain detail and finished with a heavy duty UV coat. Waterproof, scratchproof and highly resistant to flame. Designed for heavy duty with luxury. T9.5 mm x W141 mm x L902 mm. Price is about PhP 2.5k per sqm.
3. PCW Vera Floor Engineered wood. Made of 0.6 mm natural hardwood veneer laminated to a 11.4 mm multi-layered real wood backboard base and finished with layers of extremeley durable UV coating. Water and scratch resistant. Pre-finished.
T12 mm x W128 mm x L910 mm. Price is about PhP 1.8k to PhP 2.4k per sqm.
4. PCW Lamina Floor Laminated wood. Made of 0.13 mm decorative layer laminated on a 8.17 mm quality HDF and finished with a durable protective overlay. Water and scratch resistant. T8.3 mm x W196 mm x L1215 mm. Price is about PhP 600 per sqm.
5. Muzu Bamboo floors - Horizontal T&G. Made of machine pressed solid horizontal bamboo strips providing that traditional bamboo look and finished with a high performance top coat for added strength and durability. Extremely environment friendly, sustainable and easy to install. Best for low traffic areas.
T9 mm x W96 mm x L1000 mm.
6. MUZU Bamboo Floors - Strandwoven Click System. Made of 100% machine pressed fine bamboo strands that provides an interesting grain orientation and superior strength. Finished with high performance top coat for added durability. Extremely environment friendly, sustainable and easy to install. Best for high traffic areas. T15mm x W138mm x L1830mm. Price is about PhP 3k per sqm.
7. Parador Classic 1050 laminated wood. Available with a V-cut on edges to compensate for potential edge lifting while creating a more natural wood plank look. A high-end wood laminate manufactured in Germany, with very impressive company product brochures and technical specifications. 8 mm plank thickness. Format:1285 mm ×194 mm. Price is about P1,800 per sqm, but can vary significantly according to specific models and grades, from P1,400 per sqm to much higher.
Laminated floors can be artistic or classic. Parador in particular has a very broad range of choices. Image is from the Parador product catalog.
8. Steiger laminated wood, made in China with German technology. Plank size is 12 mm x 168 mm x 1215 mm. Price is about P1k per sqm.
9. Primafloor laminated wood, is a German-made entry level laminated wood. Price is about PhP 600 per sqm.
If appearance is a key factor for you, then colors, visual patterns, textures and plank size should be considered. Colors shouldn't be an issue since wide-enough choices are typically available per brand. Having a natural, organic and asymmetric look should be a plus, to avoid the precise repeated patterns typical in manufactured wood floors (but not in all). Textured wood grain is also a pretty feature that is not exclusive to the expensive choices. So aesthetics is a factor, but for me this is second to overall performance, while price would be the third.
These are the home tests I've done. These should not be taken as conclusive as these are unofficial tests, but they do give me a gage of what to expect from these flooring materials.
A. Drop test with a sharp object, a long nose pliers dropped head first from a 40 cm height. The solid wood Cherry Jojoba and the Matwood Luxe HD wood fared best. The Muzu Strandwoven Bamboo wood which looks very solid, didn't fare as well. I thought the laminated woods which feel and look very dense would be quite resistant, but it turns out they can't withstand sharp punctures. All damages noted on the laminated and engineered wood break the surface, but to me are no big deal. Check out my comments after retouching.
Results from the drop test using a sharp object. (1) Matimco Solid wood and (2) Matimco Luxe HD fared best.
B. Resistance to a heavy weight - a heavy wooden chair foot with me on it! Then slid and swayed back and forth. I expected the less dense samples to suffer, but they all fared well. The smooth chair foot made a big difference in protecting all the samples.
C. Acoustics via Coin Drop Test. The best here were again the solid wood and the Luxe HD in that they produced a muted sound in contrast to the others that had a loud sound that gave the impression of a very synthetic, hard plastic material. Not a factor for noise when walking, but imagine keys dropping on the floor late at night and waking up light sleepers. And in case you're wondering, I used common coins from eight different countries, so coin types were considered!
D. Drop test with coin - appearance integrity. I noticed that after several coin drops, mars or indentations started appearing on the surface of both the Muzu Bamboo wood samples. A bit surprising but shouldn't be a big factor, just something to know so you won't be surprised when such marks start appearing on your newly installed floors. These marks should be considered part of the natural aging and use of wood.
Mars started appearing on the bamboo wood samples after the coin drop test.
E. Scratch resistance and edge integrity against a rough weight, the raw edge of an iron dumbbell totaling 20 pounds. The Matimco Luxe HD and the Parafloor Laminated Wood fared best. The worst were the PCW laminated wood and the bamboo wood. However, note the results of retouching.
Results of scratch resistance test and edge integrity against a rough weight. But note that after retouching, all samples were substantially restored in appearance.
F. Retouched look. For all the samples here, I applied antique wood wax to the scratched and punctured surfaces and hand polished them, then each one appeared much better afterwards. So unless damages are severe, a bit of hard work for the floors isn't too bad and all the samples performed pretty well.
Some wood floors have a second life. Solid wood in particular can be re-sanded and re-finished, even to a new color. Same with some engineered wood having thick hardwood layers (3 mm or more, but not the one tested here which has a 0.6 mm layer). So if the surface damage is not deep, refinishing can reproduce a brand new look.
Here is a summary of my relative assessment on the floors.
Now what about water damage? Did I do testing with water? For those in the know, this is potentially the big differentiator. And the answer is YES, I did conduct tests.
Thinking of these tests made me reflect on God's words in the Bible. First, God has given different skills and abilities to people.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: (Exodus 31:1-6 NIV)
Indeed we see in these tests that not all samples perform the same as some are more skillfully made, even among those of the same type like laminated wood. It is also notable that some of these floor materials are ingenious works of design, craftsmanship and manufacturing. The Luxe HD is a high-tech product with many innovative features. Laminated wood and engineered wood were not previously available, but they are modern creations to simulate the look and feel of solid wood, which is now rather expensive and not as extensively available as in the past.
Second, God warns us that people and their works will be tested. There is a coming judgement for people!
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11, 12, 15 NIV)
The way to escape the Great White Throne Judgement and the second death, the lake of fire, is to hear, believe and receive Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord. This is an invitation open to everybody!
Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24 NIV)
For those who have believed and received Jesus, the redeemed ones, there is a future judgement of our works, not to determine eternal destiny, but to determine rewards! This is potentially a great day of celebrations!
Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (I Corinthians 3:13-15 NKJV)
Now back to the water test of our flooring samples.
Each type was partially immersed in 2 cm of water, then observed at different periods. The samples had various rates of water absorption, some minimal (the WPC appeared to have none at all), while others became wet all the way to the other end that wasn't even dipped in water, becoming wet as a sponge. Some retained their shape very well, while others had warping at their edges, and still others swelled and thickened substantially.
Appearance after 105 minutes of partial immersion. Note the darkening of the color due to water absorption. Note also that the scratch marks are still evident as the tests were conducted prior to refinishing.
Here are the comparative ratings I've given for the water tests.
The general trend from the water testing is that the Matimco Luxe HD, Matimco solid wood and the Muzu Strandwoven Bamboo fared best. The engineered wood and the Muzu Horizontal T&G retained shape and appearance very well even when wet and having absorbed much water. They also dried well. Laminated wood performance varied significantly, but Parador had a slight advantage in resisting early water damage, and also had the least visual damage after being dried. The PCW Lamina laminated wood absorbed much water and swelled noticeably, took a longer time to dry, and had noticeable bulge marks after drying. The Steiger laminated wood didn't absorb as much water, but similarly had bulge marks and thickening even after drying.
Overall results all things considered.
The Matimco solid wood Brazilian Cherry Jojoba, unsurprisingly, comes through with a very good if not the best overall performance. Solid wood ages well when cared for, as you'd observe from centuries-old wood plank floors and antique furnitures (you'll see these if you visit the Taal Heritage town). And so solid wood and especially hardwoods command a high price; Matimco charges about. PhP 6.6k per sqm. There's a more affordable brand in the market - Elsen Wald, about PhP 3k per sqm, but since I didn't test this, we'd have to just guess what it's performance would be like.
The Matimco Luxe HD Plastic Wood Composite quite pleasantly lives up to its claim as a high tech material that is durable and water proof (not just water resistant). Also, only the PWC is stated to be fire resistant, which is a general reminder that all the other products are going to be fuel for a fire. It's look and feel, I find are very appealing. And it's performance quite closely matches or betters solid wood. And it comes with a 10-year warranty. So this comes out as a worry-free yet elegant solution, at a good cost. This material comes out at P2500 per sqm. And as one who appreciates technology, I'll make sure to incorporate this into my flooring.
Engineered wood and Bamboo wood have very good integrity despite water immersion, but are more prone to scratches and impact dents. This looks like an adequate long-term investment, but needs more caring than solid wood and the Luxe HD, specifically they need protection from strong mechanical damage and wear and also protection from long exposure to water. Engineered and Bamboo woods have the added claim of having less environmental impact as compared to solid hardwoods. And if you have a fascination or attachment to bamboo, this wood tells a nice story. These wood floors are very popular today because of their mid-range blend of price, high visual elegance, and claim to being an all-natural material. Price range would be from about P1,700 to P3k.
Among the engineered woods and bamboo woods, the Muzu Strandwoven Click System ranks a cut above the rest as it looks, feels and performs like a solid hardwood. Indeed this is the premium version designed to withstand high traffic areas and provide the elegance of solid wood at a more competitive price-value proposition. It is priced at the higher end of the range. I also find this material particularly interesting.
Laminated woods will have generally good performance against scratching and moderate mechanical wear, but suffer significantly in water immersion, even in as little as 30 minutes, depending on the brand. After longer exposure to water, edge lifting and material thickening become apparent. So laminated woods are a good approach to achieve the beauty and warmth of a wood floor at a compelling value proposition, but just be conscious to protect against water damage (even drips from an air conditioning unit!).
With laminated wood, the performance varies significantly across brands, so I cannot make comments on brands not tested here, e.g. Hornitex, Kronotex, Kent, Pergo or others. With the low price of laminated wood however, as low as P600 - P1,000 per sqm, this could be a good option worth managing, as the total replacement cost will not be too high. Although even at this price, laminated woods are still significantly more expensive than other floor options available in the market, so they are not to be taken lightly. If one can make the additional investment, Parador laminated wood gives somewhat better performance but at a higher cost of about P1,300 to P1,700 per sqm or even more. Personally, I find Parador laminated woods quite interesting.
So that's my compendium on wood floor options. Which one will I use? I plan to use a combination of floors from among the ones I like as I shared above.
I hope you find this article informative. Are you building, or have recently built? What wood floor have you used? What was your experience? I've heard horror stories about people's experiences with wood floors - insufficient kiln drying leading to severe shrinkage or warping, close calls with water damage, warping even without water exposure... Share your experience so we can all benefit.
All the best!
P.S. If you haven't received Christ as personal Savior and Lord, then get that right first. It's more important than your choice of floor! Read the gospel of John. Your eternal destiny is at stake! Then once you've settled the issue, go ahead and rejoice and then choose the wood floor you'd enjoy the most :)
New blog entry on Hornitex, Kronotex, Allure Locking and Vohringer. I was able to get samples for testing, and here are my results.
Interesting new laminate - Inovar Floor by Daiken, and Kronotex with v-cuts, tested here.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Let's say you've made the decision to use wood. For many, wood is the default choice for bedrooms, family rooms, and where present, a second floor which is mostly exclusive to the family. There is a certain elegance and class to using wood, a natural and organic building material. There is also that subtle softness and warmth to the feet that are virtually imperceptible to the young and the uninitiated, but are well appreciated by mature tastes.
Photo of wood floor from the Matimco product catalog.
Wood building materials vary greatly, from manufactured hard laminated wood to natural solid wood, sizes, colors, performance and prices can be poles apart. And it's difficult to find objective comparisons of the materials. Needing to make my own decision on what wood floor to use, I've thus conducted my own tests and am here sharing the results.
These are the test samples I've obtained. Descriptions are from the company product catalog, where available. Prices are indicative only.
1. Matimco Matwood Solid wood - Brazilian Cherry Jojoba, unfinished. Double-vaccum treated, pre-sealed, Tongue & groove profile. Plank size: 1 inch x 6 inches x 10' or 12'. Price > Typical pricing is at PhP 6.6k per sqm.
2. Matimco Luxe HD. Made of a wood plastic composite (WPC) base topped with a high definition vinyl plank with a fine raised grain detail and finished with a heavy duty UV coat. Waterproof, scratchproof and highly resistant to flame. Designed for heavy duty with luxury. T9.5 mm x W141 mm x L902 mm. Price is about PhP 2.5k per sqm.
3. PCW Vera Floor Engineered wood. Made of 0.6 mm natural hardwood veneer laminated to a 11.4 mm multi-layered real wood backboard base and finished with layers of extremeley durable UV coating. Water and scratch resistant. Pre-finished.
T12 mm x W128 mm x L910 mm. Price is about PhP 1.8k to PhP 2.4k per sqm.
4. PCW Lamina Floor Laminated wood. Made of 0.13 mm decorative layer laminated on a 8.17 mm quality HDF and finished with a durable protective overlay. Water and scratch resistant. T8.3 mm x W196 mm x L1215 mm. Price is about PhP 600 per sqm.
5. Muzu Bamboo floors - Horizontal T&G. Made of machine pressed solid horizontal bamboo strips providing that traditional bamboo look and finished with a high performance top coat for added strength and durability. Extremely environment friendly, sustainable and easy to install. Best for low traffic areas.
T9 mm x W96 mm x L1000 mm.
6. MUZU Bamboo Floors - Strandwoven Click System. Made of 100% machine pressed fine bamboo strands that provides an interesting grain orientation and superior strength. Finished with high performance top coat for added durability. Extremely environment friendly, sustainable and easy to install. Best for high traffic areas. T15mm x W138mm x L1830mm. Price is about PhP 3k per sqm.
7. Parador Classic 1050 laminated wood. Available with a V-cut on edges to compensate for potential edge lifting while creating a more natural wood plank look. A high-end wood laminate manufactured in Germany, with very impressive company product brochures and technical specifications. 8 mm plank thickness. Format:1285 mm ×194 mm. Price is about P1,800 per sqm, but can vary significantly according to specific models and grades, from P1,400 per sqm to much higher.
Laminated floors can be artistic or classic. Parador in particular has a very broad range of choices. Image is from the Parador product catalog.
8. Steiger laminated wood, made in China with German technology. Plank size is 12 mm x 168 mm x 1215 mm. Price is about P1k per sqm.
9. Primafloor laminated wood, is a German-made entry level laminated wood. Price is about PhP 600 per sqm.
If appearance is a key factor for you, then colors, visual patterns, textures and plank size should be considered. Colors shouldn't be an issue since wide-enough choices are typically available per brand. Having a natural, organic and asymmetric look should be a plus, to avoid the precise repeated patterns typical in manufactured wood floors (but not in all). Textured wood grain is also a pretty feature that is not exclusive to the expensive choices. So aesthetics is a factor, but for me this is second to overall performance, while price would be the third.
These are the home tests I've done. These should not be taken as conclusive as these are unofficial tests, but they do give me a gage of what to expect from these flooring materials.
A. Drop test with a sharp object, a long nose pliers dropped head first from a 40 cm height. The solid wood Cherry Jojoba and the Matwood Luxe HD wood fared best. The Muzu Strandwoven Bamboo wood which looks very solid, didn't fare as well. I thought the laminated woods which feel and look very dense would be quite resistant, but it turns out they can't withstand sharp punctures. All damages noted on the laminated and engineered wood break the surface, but to me are no big deal. Check out my comments after retouching.
Results from the drop test using a sharp object. (1) Matimco Solid wood and (2) Matimco Luxe HD fared best.
B. Resistance to a heavy weight - a heavy wooden chair foot with me on it! Then slid and swayed back and forth. I expected the less dense samples to suffer, but they all fared well. The smooth chair foot made a big difference in protecting all the samples.
C. Acoustics via Coin Drop Test. The best here were again the solid wood and the Luxe HD in that they produced a muted sound in contrast to the others that had a loud sound that gave the impression of a very synthetic, hard plastic material. Not a factor for noise when walking, but imagine keys dropping on the floor late at night and waking up light sleepers. And in case you're wondering, I used common coins from eight different countries, so coin types were considered!
D. Drop test with coin - appearance integrity. I noticed that after several coin drops, mars or indentations started appearing on the surface of both the Muzu Bamboo wood samples. A bit surprising but shouldn't be a big factor, just something to know so you won't be surprised when such marks start appearing on your newly installed floors. These marks should be considered part of the natural aging and use of wood.
Mars started appearing on the bamboo wood samples after the coin drop test.
E. Scratch resistance and edge integrity against a rough weight, the raw edge of an iron dumbbell totaling 20 pounds. The Matimco Luxe HD and the Parafloor Laminated Wood fared best. The worst were the PCW laminated wood and the bamboo wood. However, note the results of retouching.
Results of scratch resistance test and edge integrity against a rough weight. But note that after retouching, all samples were substantially restored in appearance.
F. Retouched look. For all the samples here, I applied antique wood wax to the scratched and punctured surfaces and hand polished them, then each one appeared much better afterwards. So unless damages are severe, a bit of hard work for the floors isn't too bad and all the samples performed pretty well.
Some wood floors have a second life. Solid wood in particular can be re-sanded and re-finished, even to a new color. Same with some engineered wood having thick hardwood layers (3 mm or more, but not the one tested here which has a 0.6 mm layer). So if the surface damage is not deep, refinishing can reproduce a brand new look.
Here is a summary of my relative assessment on the floors.
Now what about water damage? Did I do testing with water? For those in the know, this is potentially the big differentiator. And the answer is YES, I did conduct tests.
Thinking of these tests made me reflect on God's words in the Bible. First, God has given different skills and abilities to people.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: (Exodus 31:1-6 NIV)
Indeed we see in these tests that not all samples perform the same as some are more skillfully made, even among those of the same type like laminated wood. It is also notable that some of these floor materials are ingenious works of design, craftsmanship and manufacturing. The Luxe HD is a high-tech product with many innovative features. Laminated wood and engineered wood were not previously available, but they are modern creations to simulate the look and feel of solid wood, which is now rather expensive and not as extensively available as in the past.
Second, God warns us that people and their works will be tested. There is a coming judgement for people!
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11, 12, 15 NIV)
The way to escape the Great White Throne Judgement and the second death, the lake of fire, is to hear, believe and receive Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord. This is an invitation open to everybody!
Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24 NIV)
For those who have believed and received Jesus, the redeemed ones, there is a future judgement of our works, not to determine eternal destiny, but to determine rewards! This is potentially a great day of celebrations!
Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (I Corinthians 3:13-15 NKJV)
Now back to the water test of our flooring samples.
Each type was partially immersed in 2 cm of water, then observed at different periods. The samples had various rates of water absorption, some minimal (the WPC appeared to have none at all), while others became wet all the way to the other end that wasn't even dipped in water, becoming wet as a sponge. Some retained their shape very well, while others had warping at their edges, and still others swelled and thickened substantially.
Appearance after 105 minutes of partial immersion. Note the darkening of the color due to water absorption. Note also that the scratch marks are still evident as the tests were conducted prior to refinishing.
Here are the comparative ratings I've given for the water tests.
The general trend from the water testing is that the Matimco Luxe HD, Matimco solid wood and the Muzu Strandwoven Bamboo fared best. The engineered wood and the Muzu Horizontal T&G retained shape and appearance very well even when wet and having absorbed much water. They also dried well. Laminated wood performance varied significantly, but Parador had a slight advantage in resisting early water damage, and also had the least visual damage after being dried. The PCW Lamina laminated wood absorbed much water and swelled noticeably, took a longer time to dry, and had noticeable bulge marks after drying. The Steiger laminated wood didn't absorb as much water, but similarly had bulge marks and thickening even after drying.
Overall results all things considered.
The Matimco solid wood Brazilian Cherry Jojoba, unsurprisingly, comes through with a very good if not the best overall performance. Solid wood ages well when cared for, as you'd observe from centuries-old wood plank floors and antique furnitures (you'll see these if you visit the Taal Heritage town). And so solid wood and especially hardwoods command a high price; Matimco charges about. PhP 6.6k per sqm. There's a more affordable brand in the market - Elsen Wald, about PhP 3k per sqm, but since I didn't test this, we'd have to just guess what it's performance would be like.
The Matimco Luxe HD Plastic Wood Composite quite pleasantly lives up to its claim as a high tech material that is durable and water proof (not just water resistant). Also, only the PWC is stated to be fire resistant, which is a general reminder that all the other products are going to be fuel for a fire. It's look and feel, I find are very appealing. And it's performance quite closely matches or betters solid wood. And it comes with a 10-year warranty. So this comes out as a worry-free yet elegant solution, at a good cost. This material comes out at P2500 per sqm. And as one who appreciates technology, I'll make sure to incorporate this into my flooring.
Engineered wood and Bamboo wood have very good integrity despite water immersion, but are more prone to scratches and impact dents. This looks like an adequate long-term investment, but needs more caring than solid wood and the Luxe HD, specifically they need protection from strong mechanical damage and wear and also protection from long exposure to water. Engineered and Bamboo woods have the added claim of having less environmental impact as compared to solid hardwoods. And if you have a fascination or attachment to bamboo, this wood tells a nice story. These wood floors are very popular today because of their mid-range blend of price, high visual elegance, and claim to being an all-natural material. Price range would be from about P1,700 to P3k.
Among the engineered woods and bamboo woods, the Muzu Strandwoven Click System ranks a cut above the rest as it looks, feels and performs like a solid hardwood. Indeed this is the premium version designed to withstand high traffic areas and provide the elegance of solid wood at a more competitive price-value proposition. It is priced at the higher end of the range. I also find this material particularly interesting.
Laminated woods will have generally good performance against scratching and moderate mechanical wear, but suffer significantly in water immersion, even in as little as 30 minutes, depending on the brand. After longer exposure to water, edge lifting and material thickening become apparent. So laminated woods are a good approach to achieve the beauty and warmth of a wood floor at a compelling value proposition, but just be conscious to protect against water damage (even drips from an air conditioning unit!).
With laminated wood, the performance varies significantly across brands, so I cannot make comments on brands not tested here, e.g. Hornitex, Kronotex, Kent, Pergo or others. With the low price of laminated wood however, as low as P600 - P1,000 per sqm, this could be a good option worth managing, as the total replacement cost will not be too high. Although even at this price, laminated woods are still significantly more expensive than other floor options available in the market, so they are not to be taken lightly. If one can make the additional investment, Parador laminated wood gives somewhat better performance but at a higher cost of about P1,300 to P1,700 per sqm or even more. Personally, I find Parador laminated woods quite interesting.
So that's my compendium on wood floor options. Which one will I use? I plan to use a combination of floors from among the ones I like as I shared above.
I hope you find this article informative. Are you building, or have recently built? What wood floor have you used? What was your experience? I've heard horror stories about people's experiences with wood floors - insufficient kiln drying leading to severe shrinkage or warping, close calls with water damage, warping even without water exposure... Share your experience so we can all benefit.
All the best!
P.S. If you haven't received Christ as personal Savior and Lord, then get that right first. It's more important than your choice of floor! Read the gospel of John. Your eternal destiny is at stake! Then once you've settled the issue, go ahead and rejoice and then choose the wood floor you'd enjoy the most :)
New blog entry on Hornitex, Kronotex, Allure Locking and Vohringer. I was able to get samples for testing, and here are my results.
Interesting new laminate - Inovar Floor by Daiken, and Kronotex with v-cuts, tested here.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
This is very helpful ;)
ReplyDeletebut the prices here are not updated. Even so more importantly is the tests done to the different wood flooring.
By the way, We have used parador and kronotex before. They could be in line with the matimco solid wood performance and have so many selections.
Glad you found this helpful. Prices were as of earlier part of 2014 and will give you comparative values, though actual pricing can vary based on deals and promotions. Agree that Parador and Kronotex are good options on performance and have extensive product ranges. Prices will also vary per model within these brands. And base prices of these two brands are very different! If you are in the market for new laminated flooring, be sure to check out my two articles on the Inovar flooring. Worth looking into! Thanks for the comments!
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ReplyDeleteAwesome blog!
In fact your blog is a must visit!
Thank you so much for sharing this blog.
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