Choosing a new timber floor can feel like a daunting task. Between understanding the anatomy of the boards and picking the right top coat, the options are seemingly endless. To make things simple, we can break down the decision-making process into two main categories: beveled edges and floor finishes.
Here is what you need to know before stepping into a showroom to ensure you get the exact look and functionality you want for your home.
Part 1: Understanding Beveled Edges
When you hear the term “beveled edge,” it refers to the tiny groove created where two floorboards meet.
Historically, traditional solid timber flooring had no beveled edges. The raw wood planks were laid, tightly secret-nailed and glued, allowed to acclimate to the home’s climate, and then sanded completely flat on-site before a finish was applied. This creates a completely seamless, continuous look.
In the modern era of pre-finished engineered flooring, manufacturers have introduced different edge profiles to make installation seamless and help seal the edges.
The Layout Options
- Four-Side Beveled Edges: This is the most common profile for engineered European Oak. The boards feature a slight angle on all four sides. While it looks stunning along the grain, it creates visible “cross-joints” across the grain where the ends meet. For some homeowners, these cross-joints make the floor look a bit too “busy.”
- Two-Side Beveled Edges: Some manufacturers only bevel the long sides of the plank while leaving the short end joints flat. This gives the floor a continuous, elongated look because your eyes aren’t catching the cross-joints.
- Square Edge (No Bevel): Rare in pre-finished engineered floors, this mimics the traditional flat hardwood style perfectly.
Pro Tip on Board Length: If you want a floor that looks high-end and less busy, look for longer planks (close to 2 meters or more). Shorter boards mean more cross-joints, which can make a space feel chaotic if your floor has a deep, four-sided bevel.
The Impact of Sanding on Bevels
Engineered flooring consists of a real timber veneer over a stable core. High-end engineered boards boast a thick veneer (up to 6mm), which gives you the equivalent wear layer of a traditional solid timber floor.
When you eventually choose to sand and polish your engineered floors down the line, a heavy sand will strip away 1 to 1.5mm of wood. A major side effect of this is that you will completely sand out the factory beveled edges, leaving you with a perfectly flat, seamless floor style.
Part 2: Choosing the Right Floor Finish
Once you have chosen your edge style, the next big decision is the protective coating. For engineered floors, lacquer (varnish) and oil are the top contenders.
Lacquer Finishes (The Modern Standard)
Lacquers sit on top of the wood to form a protective shield. They are highly durable and require zero intensive maintenance. They generally fall into six popular categories:
- High Gloss (Smooth): Exceptionally shiny and reflective. While beautiful, high gloss is highly impractical for busy households as it easily reveals footprints, dust, and pet scratches.
- Satin (Smooth): A classic semi-gloss finish that reflects a moderate amount of light while maintaining a smooth surface.
- Matte (Smooth): A popular water-based finish that reflects very little light. It feels smooth to the touch but hides imperfections much better than gloss.
- Matte (Brushed): The grain is lightly brushed out during manufacturing. It has a low light reflection and a tactile texture that makes it incredibly practical for hiding wear and tear.
- Matte (Rustic/Rough): Features deep brushing to highlight the natural imperfections and grain of the wood. It provides a highly textured, natural underfoot feel.
The Oil Finish Alternative
Unlike lacquer, which sits on top of the wood, oil penetrates deep into the timber grain. Interior designers love oil finishes because they look incredibly rich and feel completely natural to walk on.
However, they are not as practical for low-maintenance lifestyles. Oil finishes naturally vaporize and wear away over time. Depending on foot traffic, an oiled floor will require regular re-oiling maintenance every 2 to 5 years to keep the wood protected.
The Golden Rule of Flooring: Touch and Feel
You can look at pictures online all day, but you should never buy timber flooring blindly. Always visit a specialist showroom where you can physically touch the textures and see how different matte or gloss finishes reflect the light. A specialized timber flooring showroom will offer hundreds of sample boards, allowing you to find the perfect pairing of bevel and finish for your lifestyle.
