DIY Hardwood Floor Blog

9 Examples of Seamless Wooden Flooring Texture 0

Why are more interior designers and homeowners looking for a seamless, textured floor? It’s an entirely distinctive look from the standard smooth, high gloss finish you see in most homes. It feels different too. It’s not as slippery. 

While engineered floors have come a long way in matching wood’s look and texture, there are limits to the pattern. At some point, the pattern repeats, showing the seams where the grains repeat. For a seamless textured wood floor, you need genuine solid hardwood. No two boards are alike.

In this blog, we’ll unveil the beauty of textured wood, the types you can find, and how they make them.

What is a Seamless Wooden Flooring Texture?

When designers talk about a seamless floor, they mean placing the flooring so that there are no unsightly or obvious seams. The floor flows smoothly without repetition, unlike a parquet floor.

One of the greatest challenges of laying floors is to achieve a seamless look. Have you ever seen an engineered wood floor where the grain pattern begins to repeat itself? That’s one reason natural wood is so popular because each board is different, and it looks interesting.

Transitions from one room to another or matching new wood flooring to old can be a challenge. The idea is to place flooring in such a way as not to notice a boundary. One way to obscure it is with texture and finishes. 

For a unique look and feel of your new space, consider the different textures, finishes, and techniques available to create a rustic or industrial ambiance.

9 Examples of Wooden Flooring Textures

In this post, we discuss nine of the most popular wood flooring textures used to achieve a seamless look.

1 - Traditional Smooth Finished Wood

Smooth floors are the most popular choice that you see in almost every home. The top of the board becomes perfectly smooth to the touch after milling or sanding. Multiple finish coats provide an elegant, clean look for any room.

A smooth finish brings a luxurious, sophisticated look to larger areas, especially with dark stains combined with a glossy finish. Smooth finished hardwood floors come in three categories, including classic, matte, and high gloss.

The higher the gloss, the more they show every scratch, scuff mark, or speck of dust. They are high maintenance compared to textured wood finishes. Reserve this style of the floor for low traffic areas and elegant dining rooms.

2 – Lightly Hand-Scraped

Before power tools and belt sanders, hand scraping was the only way to make a board smooth. For designers looking for a more antique look, hand-scraped planks offer boards with slight imperfections that create interest and uniqueness. Most modern flooring manufacturers use milling machines with sanding or gouging wheels set at various heights to create a small wear pattern simulating the look of old worn flooring. Artisans can use hand tools to create an authentic look for each board so that no pattern repeats itself throughout the room. 

Hand-scraped floors create contrast in modern rooms, and they are the perfect choice for a vintage look.

3 - Deep or Heavy Scraped Planks

Deep scraping is one technique to create distressed hardwood flooring. The idea behind the heavily scrapped boards is to make the flooring appear genuinely vintage. It’s an excellent choice for homes or rooms that endure heavy foot traffic, such as large families with multiple pets. Scrapping helps to camouflage scratches and dents from daily use.

If you’re curious about how to create a hand scrape floor, watch this 3-minute video, “Distressing Hardwood Floors - DIY Hand Scraping.” Warning: It’s hard to watch them beat up a perfectly good, beautiful red oak floor.

With deep scraping, you’ll see more wear, dings, and nicks than with the light scrape. This is the floor you want if you are going for an antique look.

4 – Wire Brushed Texturing

Sometimes called the European look, wire brushing removes the softer wood grains on the surface of the board. Wire brushed flooring is a texture between smooth and hand-scraped flooring. To create it, artisans or machines use long strokes with a wire brush down the length of the board. The technique results in a more highlighted wood grain with a matte finish. It’s useful for hiding or blending in blemishes of lower grade boards. 

Oak is wood that responds well to the wire brush process. It highlights the naturally occurring grains already within the wood. It’s a softer, weathered look. You won’t need to maintain it as much as a smooth, high-gloss floor. 

This video lists the tools that professionals use and shows you the wire brushing technique.

5 – The Distressed Wood Look

Hand-distressed floors have become popular across the country for a rustic and casual look. They work well with antique furniture, cabinets, or themes. Distressed wood transforms new lumber into boards that look 100-years old. While reclaimed wood is naturally rustic, manufacturers purposely create distressed wood using machines and handheld tools.

Do you have a busy family and lots of pets, but don’t want to bother maintaining a shiny floor? Distressed floors are an obvious choice. Every new scratch and stain just adds to the ambiance and character. 

Distressed wood floors are a popular choice for commercial, industrial, and vintage applications too. They add uniqueness with the added benefit of needing minimal maintenance.

If you want to make DIY distressed floors from scratch (no pun intended), here is a brief article on How to Make Distressed Wood Floors.

6- Reclaimed Wood Floors

Reclaimed wood comes from salvaging floors and wood from old buildings and homes. Designers and DIYers then reinstall it into a new living space. It’s both an aesthetic and an ecological choice to use reclaimed wood for renovations. 

Although the wood might be decades old, it’s usually well preserved and maintained. You’ll see natural wear, nicks, and gouges that give the room a unique look and feel. Why pay someone to create damaged floors when you can get them ready-made from salvage? 

Plus, if you know what building the wood came from, you may have a delightful story to tell. Reclaimed wood floors are eco-friendly because you don’t need to cut new trees. 

This video shows the process of reclaiming wood from an old barn, milling it, and some beautiful projects that took advantage of this unique material. If you are a DIYer with the time and equipment to mill wood for your projects, this time-lapse video will give you some ideas for reclaiming wood for floors and other projects. Reclaiming wood is a smart way to obtain wood flooring.

7 – The French Bleed Technique

A French Bleed refers to a technique that focuses on the edges of the floorboards to make the floor appear antique. Have you ever been inside an old home and see how dirt collects in the seams of the floor? The seams are darker than the rest of the board. 

The French Bleed technique recreates that look by darkening the seams between the boards using stain. You’ll find it mostly in flooring with beveled edges, and it’s typically used with hand scraping to make a uniform antique look. It helps to highlight the width of the boards and adds depth to the floor space. 

To see how it looks in both engineered and hardwood floors, take a peek at this video about French Bleed Style Flooring.

8 - Saw Marking Textures

Another technique for creating old looking floors is with saw marking. New boards go into a machine that creates saw marks on the face of the board. It replicates the marks made by large circular saws as they cut the length of the board from a large piece of timber. It’s a unique way of adding character to the wood.

Take a look at this 15-second video of a saw mark machine. Watch it transform a new board into an antique. The board looks like it came from an old sawmill. 

The number of saw marks can vary from just 5% coverage on the top of the board up to 90%.

9 - Reactive Stain Flooring

Reactive staining or chemical stained floors have been around since the 1900s. They are making a resurgence due to the popularity of antique building restoration projects. Reactive staining has more to do with color than texture, but we mention it here because of the exciting and varied looks you can get using this technique. 

A reactive stain is not an actual stain with pigments. Instead, it’s a water-based chemical solution that reacts with the wood’s tannic acid. Depending on the formula, the wood may become lighter or darker. Iron oxides make the wood look darker and much older than it is, while lye and bleach will turn the wood gray or white. 

Tannic acid is a compound found in many types of wood, primarily in oak. As oak ages, it gets darker due to chemical changes in the tannic acid. If you think you want to try it for yourself, this article, “All About Stain Reactive Flooring,” has some recipes. They use some very harsh chemicals, so be careful. You’re better off purchasing a pre-finished floor to avoid the fumes, mess, and hazards.

Benefits of Wooden Flooring Texture

Textured floors provide a distinctive look to any space, residential, or commercial. Texturing brings out the appearance and wood grains inherent in every board. If you want an antique look, a textured floor adds an authenticity that a smooth, highly polished floor cannot. 

It’s much easier to obtain a seamless look with textured floors due to the variations in appearance. Reclaimed or distressed wood has a casual look that smooth floors can’t match. 

Probably the most significant advantage of textured wood floors is the reduced maintenance. There is no need to stress over claw marks, high heel dents, scratches from toys and furniture, or occasional spills. They just add more character.

Some of The Disadvantages Are…

While textures are forgiving when it comes to dings and scratches, it’s harder to clean than a smooth floor. All those tiny surfaces hold dust and hair. With a glossy finish, you can vacuum and damp mop in minutes. Plus, not everyone appreciates that “lived-in look.” 

Due to the rougher texture, it may not be the best choice for a kitchen area or play area for young children. 

Should you need to refinish a portion of the floor due to discoloration or damage, you’ll end up with a patch of floor that’s smooth surrounded by textured wood. You should keep extra boards for replacement should you need them down the road.

Lastly, if you want to sand and resurface them, you’ll lose more surface than if you started with smooth wood. However, that’s not a big issue since hardwood floors last for decades.

Seamless Hardwood Floors for DIYers

You can find ready-made textured floors from a variety of distributors. However, there is only one solid hardwood floor source that’s best for DIYers. Easiklip carries two types of textured, white oak flooring, Rustic White Bleach or Rustic Smoke Stain. Both are 5” wide, solid white oak boards with a hand-scraped look and feel. They feature four double coats of UV Cured Oil and a polyurethane base for long-lasting durability. They are VOC and formaldehyde-free. 

Easiklip uses a patented aluminum clip to hold the boards together without glue, screws, or nails. It makes it super easy for DIYers to achieve a rustic look for any room

What is WPC Vinyl Flooring – A Complete Guide 0

Flooring technology has come a long way since wood boards and ceramic tiles. WPC is the latest option you can choose to replace the floors in your home. 

Let’s find out what it is, and if it is the best solution for your home.

What is WPC Flooring?

Depending on whom you ask, the acronym stands for Wood Polymer Composite or Wood Plastic Composite, the latest engineered flooring to hit the market. What makes it unique is the core.

Most vinyl engineered flooring uses a wood core and a solid piece of PVC (polyvinyl chloride – the stuff they use to make water pipes) as the backing. WPC vinyl plank flooring uses a wood and plastic composite, making it more durable. It may or may not have an additional backing. The top may look like laminate flooring, but it uses a thicker vinyl. 

One of the greatest advantages of a WPC floor is that it is waterproof, and rot-resistant, making it an ideal choice for mudrooms, bathrooms, or below-grade applications. And because it’s mostly plastic, WPC molds into other shapes like bends and arches. 

Unlike laminates, it doesn’t require an underlayment. It is a “lock together” system and doesn’t need glue or nails to install it. Here is a video showing all the parts of WPC floors.

WPC Vinyl Plank Flooring vs. LVT

Another popular 3-letter flooring material is LVT. It means Luxury Vinyl Tile, and it’s another waterproof flooring option. 

Unlike WPC’s wood and plastic core, LVT has a PVC core that is more flexible and less rigid. It’s not the best choice if you plan to set heavy furniture on top. It’s typically thinner, around 4mm, compared to WPC, which runs between 5mm to 8mm thick. LVT is an economical choice for flooring where appearance is not the first consideration. 

WPC uses the latest in digital imaging to recreate life-like wood and stone patterns. It is a better choice for homeowners who want to showcase a kitchen or living room. WPC will be sturdier and wear better in the long run.

LVT is thinner, which can be a disadvantage if the subfloor has imperfections. They will show through. WPC uses a foam as part of its structure, which helps cushion it more than the LVT.

For either type of floor, use a 4mm underlayment for the best results and feel.

WPC Vinyl Flooring vs. Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is an economical and durable flooring option. It consists of four layers, 

A - The Wear Layer

B - Decorative Layer

C – The Inner Core 

D – The Backing

You can watch the process of making a laminate floor from tree to finished product in this video.

Laminate floors have been a popular choice for many years. It is inexpensive and durable, especially in qualities using 12 mil thickness or more. Manufacturers have stepped up the imaging and texture quality to make the boards look like real wood. 

Unlike WPC, the core of most laminates is wood, typically particle board. That can be a disadvantage in high moisture areas as the core soaks up moisture and can swell unnaturally. Because of the expansion and contraction, it requires molding at larger intervals to hide the expansion joints. If the joints are too tight or there is not enough expansion room, the boards may buckle or squeak when you step on them. 

However, it’s usually not a problem to install laminate in most areas like bedrooms, family rooms, and living rooms.

The Benefits of WPC Vinyl Flooring

WPC is an excellent material for outdoor floors, such as around pools and decks. Its versatility extends indoors as well. Here are some excellent reasons to consider this type of floor:

• 100% Waterproof
• Termite-proof
• Resists mold and mildew
• Covers imperfections of the sub-floor up to ¼”
• Life-like look and feel of stone or wood
• Easier on your feet than ceramic tile
• Easy to maintain with vacuum and damp mop

WPC produced for residential flooring has a high-quality look of natural wood grain and is scratch resistant. It’s durable enough to meet commercial application codes, making it an excellent choice for rental properties.

Unlike laminates, it’s not necessary to put down an underlayment for WPC. It’s optional, solely for added cushioning and sound dampening. While most laminates require underlayment for their warranty, WPC floors do not.

... And the Drawbacks 

WPC flooring is still a human-made product. Although the surface looks remarkably like wood, they can only create a limited number of patterns per style. In a larger area, the repeated patterns on the boards become noticeable. 

This floor is not an eco-friendly choice because of the adhesives, vinyl, and other plastics used in its construction. Wood is the most sustainable type of floor material.

And, WPC will not increase the value of your home the way that a natural hardwood floor will. No matter how close they try and make it look, there is no substitute for the look and feel of genuine hardwood under your feet. 

WPC Vinyl Thickness

When considering buying WPC flooring, the thicker the layers, the higher the quality. WPC boards come in thickness options of 4mm to 8mm. However, the wear layer is more important for longevity than the thickness of the board. The wear layer is a transparent plastic coat that protects the printed vinyl wood grain layer underneath. Wear layers are typically 8 mil, 12 mil, and 20 mil. 8 mil is generally good enough for most homes, while 20 mil is best for commercial use.

As a rule of thumb, choose a thicker vinyl and wear layer for higher traffic areas. For example, if you are remodeling a low traffic bedroom, a thinner vinyl plank flooring will suffice.

How Much Does WPC Flooring Cost?

As for cost, WPC averages about twice that of LVT, somewhere around $1.75 and $4.00 per square foot. If you compare it to hardwood, WPC runs about 30-40% less on average. You need to balance your short-term budget with the long-term value that hardwood adds to the property.

While the installation costs for WPC are lower than for hardwood, there is one solid hardwood floor option that is just as easy to install for contractors and DIYers alike. We’ll talk about that in a moment.

WPC Floor Manufacturers

Most of today’s WPC flooring comes from China. As a general contractor or DIYer, you’ll purchase from a wholesaler. Below are some sources you can try.

• Seven Trust – They are a wood-plastic composite manufacturer, supplier, and wholesaler
• Georgia Carpet Industries – A Georgia-based flooring wholesaler
• PROTEX – A PVC flooring manufacturer in Jiangsu, China
• Fusion Hybrid Floors – A producer of residential and commercial flooring
• Beau Floor – A vinyl flooring manufacturer and distributor in Georgia, USA
• ArchiExpo – A one-stop comparison website for flooring and other remodeling projects

Search for “WPC flooring” online, and you’ll find plenty of suppliers who can ship to your location.

Why Buy Fake Hardwood Floors?

All the diverse types of floors mentioned above are simply alternatives to real hardwood floors, the gold standard of flooring. Although they use the latest digital printing and texturizing technology to look like an actual wood floor, it’s still artificial. Why not buy a real hardwood floor? Nothing looks or feels like the real deal. 

Easiklip.com manufactures a solid hardwood floor that’s perfect for DIYers. The boards clip together using no screws, glue, or nails. You can even remove it and take it with you to a new location. With proper care, these solid hardwood floors will last for generations. You benefit from the added value, without the added expense and hassle of installing a typical hardwood floor. 

Before deciding on a floor for your project, compare our affordable hardwood options here.

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