Which type of wood should I choose?

With so many different types of wood to pick from, how do you know which type is best for your flooring?

Simply put – each wood has different characteristics and can make your home feel completely different.

Walnut planks, for example, are typically much darker in colour and have tones that vary from dark brown to light brown and even reddish brown. They feature long and full grains with the irregular swirls and curves. Beech is another popular choice of timber flooring as it is lightweight, durable and has a contemporary and clean finish.

But among all types of timber flooring, oak is one of the most popular choices, and is highly recommended for its strength and its versatility.

• Original oak flooring is light in colour, and therefore special surface treatments can modify the colour from light to medium to dark with different hues.
• It has a more prominent grain with both brushed and hand scraped surfaces available
• Accentuates the clean, minimal Nordic interior style
• A precious material. Our oak flooring is made from trees often >100 years in age
• High density and hardness with good stability for underfloor heating
• Sourced from sustainable forests. FSC can be provided
• Wider (300-350mm) and longer (5000mm) boards can be made

At Equal HK, we have one of the most extensive selections of premium timber flooring in Hong Kong.

Why is engineered flooring the preferred choice over solid wood flooring?

The defining difference between solid and engineered flooring is the number of layers. Our engineered board has up to 9 layers of plywood backing. Each layer is glued at a 90-degree angle to the adjoining layer. The surface layer of a precious hardwood is then glued on top. In comparison, solid wood flooring is made from a single solid piece of hardwood. Therefore, engineered wooden floors are a much more efficient use of precious hardwoods than in a solid wood floor.

Solid boards have in the past been the primary choice for wood flooring. Unfortunately, they are not suitable in environments like Hong Kong with high humidity or with under floor heating. Solid wood flooring must also be fixed to the sub floor with nails or screws. All of this makes solid wood flooring much more complicated and expensive to install and maintain.

The biggest reason why we recommend engineered wooden flooring over solid wood is the stability and durability of engineered wooden flooring. Engineered wood differs from that of solid wood because the layers are laid cross-directionally and pressed together. This construction causes the wood grains to run in opposite directions and counter-balances wood’s natural tendency to expand or contract due to changes in moisture or weather.

The distinct construction of engineered wooden flooring forms a rigid structure that does not gap, buckle, or respond to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Hence, engineered flooring is more structurally stable and reliable compared to solid wood floors, especially beneficial in the sub-tropical climate of Hong Kong.

We source wood flooring from leading European producers

We source our wood flooring from only the highest quality European wood flooring manufacturers. Our engineered wooden flooring is a perfect addition to any designer projects, as well as a great addition of comfort and nature to your home.

As the exclusive Hong Kong and Macau agents for Boen, Adler, Mafi, and STP among other wood flooring producers in Europe, we can help you get exactly what you had in mind.

Contact us today

Why settle for anything other than the best when you’ll be walking on it every day? Get in touch with us today, or stop by our showroom to see our comprehensive collection of European wood flooring in Hong Kong.