Timber Flooring Basics: Solid Timber, Engineered and Laminate

Solid timber flooring

Solid timber flooring is 100% solid timber, all the way through

Engineered timber flooring

A multi-layered product made up of a solid timber wear layer (aka lamella), adhered to a backing of more readily available timber such as ply, pine or hevea. It is designed to minimize the use of slower-growing hardwoods whist offering superior stability over solid timber flooring. Once installed it gives the same appearance as a solid timber floor. 

Laminate flooring

Often confused with engineered timber flooring, however laminate contains no real solid timber at all. Laminate flooring is an entirely man-made product with a surface that imitates the look of timber.