SOLID VS. ENGINEERED FLOORS - FAQ
What is the difference between engineered and solid wood flooring?
How will a solid floor board last longer than other wood and synthetic floors add
Because there is no thin “wear layer” a Junckers floor may be sanded between eight and ten times. You can sand deeply into the dovetail joint and board strength is unaffected. Ask us for life span comparisons between our floors and other types. Talk with us about ease of repair.
Will a solid floor be strong enough for multisport use? add
We carry out our own “fatigue testing” programme, which replicates 25 years of sports use. All our sports floor systems have passed. Our unique drying method also increases the structural strength of the boards. Some engineered floors will break down from the inside and delaminate. Ask us why this does not happen with Junckers solid floors.
Will we be able to use retractable seating on a Junckers floor? add
Yes. We will guarantee our floors for use with retractable seating systems. We have long experience of designing for seating loads whilst retaining the “sprung” quality of the floor. The surface of our boards will not be damaged. Please talk with our technical department about designing for retractable seating.
Should I be looking for the most abrasion resistant lacquer finish? add
You may think so, but a combination of hardness and flexibility is better. We achieve this with a combination of two lacquers. Many other boards will have a low cost “UV cured” lacquer with a distinctive “rippled” texture which may be brittle and difficult to over- coat. Here the client’s maintenance costs will be higher and the life of the floor will be shorter. Ask about comparing Junckers factory finish with other brands.
Do other floors have better water resistance than solid boards? add
No. Any wood floor will suffer water damage if it becomes sufficiently wet, and synthetic floors will suffer damage if welded seams fail. Junckers coats the stave ends during manufacture to reduce water penetration. See our cleaning and maintenance guides.
Does Junckers offer a warranty on their floors? add
Junckers offers a 25 year warranty, but properly cared for, the life of a Junckers sports floor should easily exceed 60 years. The client can use a Junckers Approved installer so will be confident that the floor has been fitted properly. Many other manufacturers offer 25 year guarantees but not all products last that long. Speak with Junckers about life cycle cost information and examples of Junckers floors which are many decades old.
Do you guarantee your solid hardwood floors for use with underfloor heating? add
Yes, and we have been doing this for about 30 years. Because of the precise machining and drying methods we use, our floors perform perfectly with many types of UFH. Customers are often pressurised to accept “engineered” floors, but ongoing experience and independent research indicates that some may not be as suitable as first thought. Talk with Junckers for detailed design advice with underfloor heating, and for reference projects.
Junckers floors are part of the danish tradition for high quality wood products. Why is it important to have accurately machined boards? add
...Just ask the installer! Poor quality boards are difficult to fit and the end result will often include compromises. They need constant sorting and adjustment. Good quality boards make for a fast installation and a better result for the client. Some quality issues may shorten the life of the floor. Ask us for samples of our boards and to learn how accurately made boards can benefit your project.
Why is the Junckers Dovetail joint used? add
Unique to Junckers, this gives the board high strength and ensures that eventually, when the floor is sanded the board will not weaken internally. This helps to give the Junckers board a life of eight to ten sandings. Ask us how this gives a Junckers floor by far the longest lasting sprung sports floor system available.
Will a solid hardwood floor be stable? Can it be laid in large areas? add
Yes. Junckers unique timber drying method and quality control make this possible. Our floors will not warp, or delaminate and expansion and shrinkage is minimal. Ask us about “press drying” and how we work with the natural movement of the timber. Junckers installation methods are adaptable to suit a wide range of conditions and buildings. Other manufacturer’s floors require a highly controlled environment to prevent warping and splitting. Ask Junckers how the installation method can be adapted to accommodate specific site conditions.
Some "Junckers look-alike" floors are available. If they are made from the same wood, will they not be just as good? add
No. As with many imitations, they are not as good as the original product they are copying. They will be sealed with brittle UV cured lacquers (see previous questions).
- Beech floors will not be press dried, so will have lower structural strength and be far less stable.
- Oak floors are not suitable for sport because they do not have enough impact resistance.
- Hevea wood (Rubber Wood) is very soft, and indents easily. It is not possible to obtain FSC, PEFC or any other environmental certification for this wood because it is planted in areas of rain forest that were cleared to grow rubber plantations.
I have heard that engineered wood floors are more stable than Junckers solid hardwood floors, is this true? add
Engineered wood floors are not more stable than Junckers floors. Most buildings are designed for relative humidity levels (RH) between 35%RH and 65%RH; a range of 30% from upper to lower limit. Many engineered wood floor manufacturers guarantee their floors only if the humidity range is 20% from min to max. These floors are less stable, requiring a narrower humidity range to avoid buckling and delaminating. No engineered floor manufacturer guarantees their floor for a humidity range greater than 30%. Junckers floors are guaranteed for use within the normal 35%RH to 65%RH range.