22mm Solid Wood Flooring
22mm solid wood flooring is among the thickest options when it comes to wood floorboards. This means that flooring companies (and you!) have more flexibility in terms of the kind of wood you use. You can still use sturdy, solid woods (like oak and bamboo) that are required for thinner boards. But, since the wood is extra thick in 22mm boards, you also have the option to use slightly softer woods like walnut. This level of thickness is the way to go in rooms that have heavy foot traffic.
22mm solid wood flooring is also some of the longest lasting on the market, which is why it is generally considered to be one of the highest quality flooring options that there are.
You can sand down and refinish 22mm boards as many as eight times over the life of the board. So, as long as you take good care of your floors, they should last as long as you do. You won’t have to change your floors again for the rest of your life!
These boards are so thick that you have the option of laying the wood straight onto the joists, instead of over existing boards, because 22mm boards are strong enough to bear weight alone. You should make sure, however, that you talk this decision over with your fitter to get a professional evaluation of your specific situation.
While 22mm boards do give you some flexibility in terms of the kind of wood you use, we still often prefer to use oak. There are a number of reasons for this. First, oak is an incredibly versatile wood. It takes well to all kinds of stains and finishes, so you have the option of colouring your wood floors however you like.
You can go with a squeaky clean, nearly white stain, as would befit a classy modern office, or you can pick out a dark rustic hue that would go well in a rural cottage. Or pretty much anything in between.
Oak also makes for some excellent grain patterns. It has an elegant, decorative look, which means you don’t necessarily need to invest in rugs or other floor decorations.
With oak 22mm boards you also have the option of using any type of finish, the two classic possibilities being lacquer and oil.
A lacquer finish will make these boards even thicker, by adding an extra protective layer on top of the wood. This is a good option for areas with particularly heavy traffic, like gyms, but it also gives the floor a shiny quality, which may or may not be what you are looking for.
The other option is an oil finish, which seeps into the wood and leaves the original texture on top. The advantage of this type of finish is that it strengthens the whole board, which makes your 22mm boards a good deal sturdier. But whatever finish you go with, 22mm boards make for some of the best wood flooring out there.