Floating floors are a popular alternative to solid floors as they are cheaper, quicker to install, easier to maintain, use less of the natural timber resource, yet  still give the look of a genuine timber floor.

The planks are typically 1.8 metres long, and are made up of three layers of different timber. The top surface layer (or veneer) is a premium quality hardwood face about 3-4mm thick, and comes in many different species and colours.

The veneer is pre-finished (meaning it can be walked on as soon as it is laid) with up to five scratch and stain resistant coatings, making it very durable against general wear and tear and stains. The top layer is adhered onto two cross-ply layers of plantation grade timber, giving the floor strength and dimensional stability.

Engineered floors can be one, two or three strips wide. Single strip is generally the most expensive, giving the closest look to a solid timber floor.