What Type of Wood Floor Lasts the Longest?

Are you choosing new wood flooring for your home or business? If so, you may want flooring that will provide long-term benefits and high levels of durability. Let’s explore whether these different types of wood flooring will stand the test of time. 

Laminate Flooring

It’s worth noting that laminate – while often considered a type of wood flooring – is not made from wood. Instead, it is made from fiberboard planks. The top layer uses a photographic wood-effect image which imitates the aesthetic of real wood flooring. Laminate flooring is also susceptible to various issues and may become damaged far more easily compared to other alternative options. For instance, laminate flooring is susceptible to water damage. This is why it shouldn’t be used in the kitchen. 

If laminate flooring is damaged, eventually, you will have no choice but to replace it. Unlike real wood flooring options, it can not be sanded down. Laminate flooring should last about 10 or 15 years. With the right material and a high-quality installation, this can expand to up to 30 years as long as it doesn’t get wet. 

Parquet Wood Flooring

Parquet wood flooring is another popular choice for homes. It is particularly common in new build homes and specifically used as a kitchen flooring solution. Parquet flooring is made up of small blocks of timber and these are usually fitted in a herringbone design. This is quite an expensive choice due to the labour required to lay down the wood and fit it as part of your home. 

Parquet flooring will last for between ten and fifteen years. With the right maintenance, it can last a little longer than this. However, that will depend on the level of foot traffic and the care provided. Similar to other types of flooring, this is susceptible to scratches and chipping from sharp or small objects. This is always going to be a key consideration if you are choosing flooring like this for your kitchen. 

Reclaimed Wood Flooring

Reclaimed wood flooring is a type of timber that has already been used in another older property. It has then been salvaged to be reused in another home as an eco-friendly alternative to new flooring. It is by far one of the most environmentally friendly wood flooring options. It can also provide a wonderful vintage aesthetic to any home and is highly durable. However, you do need to be careful of issues including woodworm which will significantly impact the structure of the wood. 

If it is in good condition, reclaimed wood flooring can last for hundreds of years. This is similar to hardwood flooring. 

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood does last longer than the other options on this list. However, it will only last as long as the thin veneer on top of the surface remains in the right condition. In general, with the right care and maintenance, engineered wood floors will last approximately fifty years. They can be sanded down but not as regularly as other varieties of wood. So eventually, after significant damage, you will have no choice but to replace it. 

Engineered wood is also more likely to be damaged due to high levels of foot traffic or pets in the home. As such, unlike similar alternatives, it is important to take steps to protect the flooring using rugs and runners in areas with the heaviest foot traffic. 

Solid Hardwood 

Solid hardwood is widely considered to be one of the longest-lasting types of wood flooring. The reason for this is simple. Hardwood – unlike other types – can be restored to a perfect condition and look like new – even after it has been damaged. 

This doesn’t mean that hardwood won’t scratch. Even the toughest hardwood will scratch over time. However, when this does happen you have two choices. Accept it has a rugged part of the natural beauty of the wood. Or, sand it down using a tool such as a drum sander. After a couple of passes, your flooring will look as good as new and have a smooth appearance. You can even re-stain the wood to ensure that it looks like it did when it was first installed. 

Solid hardwood may last up to 100 years, depending on aspects such as maintenance and the specific material that is used. 

We hope this helps you understand which wood flooring will last the longest when installed on your property. If you are interested in adding high-quality wood flooring to your property in Ottawa, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We will be happy to assist you further.