Wide Plank Flooring - What Is All The Hype About?

Wide Plank Flooring - What Is All The Hype About?

July 31, 2017
Armstrong
ARMSTRONG – ARTISTIC TIMBERS “LIMED DOVE”

Floors have become wider and wider over the years as consumer tastes and preferences have gradually changed. So, what is considered wide plank? Some companies will say floors above 3 inches in width are considered “wide”, whereas another company may say a floor must be no smaller than 5-inches to be considered wide.

WIDE PLANK FLOORING PROS

Install time – wide plank floors take up more room per square foot, so naturally it will take less time to fill a room with 7-inch boards as opposed to 3-inch boards. This allows for quicker installation periods, especially when handled by a professional.

Budget accommodating – wide plank floors vary greatly in price. Random width flooring is a popular option that falls within most people’s budgets. However, wide plank flooring can become expensive if you want boards that exceed roughly 10-inches.

The illusion of more space – wide planks create an illusion that the room you’re in feels larger than it really is. For some, this is a great way to liven up a room.

More characteristics – hardwood floors contain natural characteristics. Knots, natural splits, mineral streaks, and other characteristics can be seen easier with wide plank flooring as more of the board is exposed. This is something you cannot get with carpet!

WIDE PLANK FLOORING CONS

Wide boards have a tendency to shrink and expand simply because they do not have as many seams as narrower boards. This can make it difficult for those who live in environments that fluctuate in temperature often. However, engineered wide plank floors help combat this issue. Engineered wood floors are built to withstand fluctuating temperatures. We recommend both nailing & strip gluing wide plank hardwood to ensure a much more stable installation.

Wide plank floors are not as DIY-friendly as you would like. Unless you absolutely know what you’re doing, leave wide plank floor installation to the pros.

As far as “is there such a thing as floors that are too wide?”, well… that’s simply a matter of preference. You can have hardwood floor planks as wide as you can imagine, but price may be your barrier. Also, the wider the floors, the more likely for issues relating to fluctuating internal temperatures.

We have seen a growing trend in the Cincinnati market for wide plank flooring, both in hardwood and luxury vinyl plank over the last 12 -18 months, especially favoring European oiled finishes and color palettes. We have several favorite lines here in our showroom that offer stunning wide plank options – if this is a look you are considering, we would love the opportunity to show them to you!