The process of exploring timber flooring options offered by numerous brands in the market is a time-consuming process that can be mind-boggling as well. Sorting through marketing-speak from practical, functional features of the products offered and having the right expectations in terms of functionality, durability and warranty takes time and effort.

How to Choose?

Two common approaches homeowners take in making their purchase decisions— apart from choosing what is aesthetically attractive to them—would be to select the ‘best deal’ or from the most expensive product range. While there is nothing inherently wrong with either approach, these approaches may not always serve them in the best way possible.

For one, there isn’t really such a thing as the ‘best deal’—not when you are comparing across brands, anyway, because even if the raw material content used for the production for a certain category of flooring are generally the same, their quality and composition may not be. This also means that while both brands in question may have similar features, such as water- and scratch-resistant capabilities, they may not be equal in performance. How then do you determine what the ‘best deal’ is?

As for the second approach in choosing a floorboard among the most expensive product range—this is not fool-proof either. Although top-of-the-range products of a particular brand are usually the best in terms of quality among the brand’s products, again this strategy may not apply if you are comparing across brands.

Perhaps, considering what sort of flooring features are most important to you and why would be a better place to start than line-by-line technical or specification comparisons, which can be exhaustive and confusing. That said, once your needs have been established, certifications, laboratory results and product warranties are good references, since they are indicative of good product quality control and performance.

Another thing to consider is product performance at actual sites, which may vary from laboratory test results, since they are derived from tests conducted in a controlled, consistent environment. As such, it would be beneficial to consult your flooring contractor when making your purchase decision. 

Which Material is Right for Me?

Price range, durability and maintenance are factors to consider when choosing a material suited to your lifestyle needs. Firstly, how much are you willing to spend? Are you willing to allocate time and money for periodic maintenance of your timber flooring (in the case of solid wood flooring) or would you prefer one that requires no maintenance? The latter option usually means that maintenance of the floorboards is not possible and that deep scratches on the floorboards cannot be sanded down.

In Summary

Trying to find the ‘best’ among the product offerings in the market can be self-defeating. While being open to and having options is a good thing, having too many can be self-defeating and cause you to lose sight on the most important consideration—your needs. Hence, consider your needs and lifestyle first and foremost, then find a product that meet those needs.