With the appearance of solid wood but easier to install, Engineered Wood has become a fashionable choice for many homes. What makes Engineered Wood unique is its internal structure – whilst solid wood flooring is one plank of wood, Engineered Wood flooring is a veneer layer of solid wood with a plywood filling. The benefits of this is a durable, cost-effective and low-maintenance floor that looks as beautiful as solid wood. It’s no surprise that Engineered Wood flooring is so popular!

So, what do we mean by grades?

When we refer to the grade of Engineered Wood, we aren’t talking about the quality; it’s a reference to the appearance of the planks and their surface markings. Because wood is a natural, living material, no one is the same and each plank can have very different characteristics. These wide variations come in the number and size of knots, the amount of sap present in the wood and the colour differences.

To address this, an industry recognised grading system was created to allow buyers and sellers to understand a common point of reference when describing the type of wooden floor they wanted.

At Carpet and Flooring Online, we sell four grades of engineered wood from quality German manufacturers Parador.

Select

This is the cleanest grade of engineered wood flooring. You’ll see a strong consistency of colour and pattern, so variations from plank to plank are less obvious. This is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a refined and clean finish to your home.

Nature

This is still on the ‘cleaner’ spectrum with less nuances and colour variation than you’ll find in more rustic planks. In fact, this grade in the Parador flooring range is more comparable to the Select grade from other manufacturers since the quality is so high.However, you will find some subtle colour variation, knots and waves in this range – perfect if you want a cleaner wood grade whilst still showcasing the natural beauty of wood. A very popular choice.

Living

This grade is where you really begin to see the wood in its natural, raw form. You will notice considerably more knots and colour differences in each plank, but this only emphasises the earthy character of the wood. Whilst not as pronounced as the rustic grade, you will certainly create a very natural and bucolic atmosphere in your home.

Rustic

The Rustic grade is the most vibrant and characteristic of the four. If you love the natural and gnarled aesthetic of wood then this grade is for you. This grade comes in all variations of colour, grain patterns and character defects, but it is all part of its charm! It’s important to note that planks will vary wildly from each other and will incorporate knots, sap and grain variations – beautiful in both modern and contemporary settings.