Urban myths seem to arise about almost anything. These are the things someone says with complete confidence in a bar or has read from some ‘fake news’ site on the internet. The myths gain credence simply by repetition, even if they usually bear little or no relation to the truth.
This is certainly true when the subject turns to Grand Provincial or engineered oak flooring. So, here are four ‘truths’ people have heard about this terrific product which actually aren’t true…
‘The finished surface doesn’t look as good if it’s engineered’
The truth is that, as described below, the surface layer is constructed of genuine oak hardwood, giving exactly the stylish appearance you would expect from an oak product. In fact, most folk would look at the finished floor and simply not know the difference. They would be admiring a terrific product though!
‘They don’t use real hardwood for engineered oak flooring’
This often leads to a belief that all of the floorboard is constructed using engineered materials. That is the case only for the inner core, which is made of high-density wood layers. However, the veneer that tops the finished product is genuine premium oak hardwood.
‘An engineered floor won’t last as long as solid wood’
The construction process, as mentioned above, combines the durable hardwood real oak veneer with an engineered timber core featuring multiple layers. This process means that engineered oak flooring is recognised as being more stable and better able to withstand moisture than if you were simply to use a single piece of hardwood. As a customer once cheerfully said of their new engineered flooring: ‘Well it’ll certainly last longer than me’.
‘I won’t be able to sand an engineered surface when I want to’
The newly-installed floor should put this thought way at the back of anyone’s mind. However, as the years’ pass, if such a process is considered, then the truth of this statement is certainly open to question. In fact, a quality engineered oak floor will have delivered enough thickness in the surface layer for this to be able to be sanded back and then refinished on more than one occasion if you wish. And that’s surely a fair number of years into the future.
So many people across Australia now hugely appreciate the resilience and style of engineered and Grand Provincial oak flooring. Yet, sadly, some of those myths still hang desperately on. At least, now, you know better!