Stylish plywood flooring ideas – trendy affordable home flooring

Plywood flooring ideas can be really stylish despite that many people have doubts about the quality of material. We will show you a selection of contemporary homes with beautiful plywood floors and will look at the pros and cons of panels from this material. Plywood is an engineered wood product manufactured by pressing and binding sheets of wood veneer into a solid piece. When you dream of a beautiful, fashionable, but most importantly affordable flooring, this is a good option because it has a lot to offer.

Plywood flooring ideas – pros and cons

When it comes to home floors, plywood flooring ideas offer many advantages compared with other materials.

One of the major advantages is the affordable cost. When you look for cheap flooring options, plywood is an excellent choice and can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of solid wood. Due to the method of manufacturing, the material is very sturdy and durable, as several layers are pressed and bound together. This kind of flooring is less susceptible to water damage than MDF, for example, and will not soak and swell like other floor types. In terms of appearance, the floors can be stained, sanded and painted which provides many opportunities for beautiful floor designs. It is recommended that the flooring is sanded and finished especially when you choose the natural look. Plywood sheets, whether pine, birch, maple or oak work perfectly with rustic, urban or industrial interiors as they offer a fascinating rough look. Such flooring is a good DIY project as the installation is relatively easy. You can install the sheets or have then cut into planks, but either way, the material holds screws very tightly as the grains of each layer are oriented in a different direction and the screws have something to hold onto. Plywood comes in a variety of thicknesses and grades. Lower grades are suitable for sub flooring while high grade plywood offer smoother surface, consistent wood grain and much less knot holes or imperfections so you will definitely find the right floor for your home.

Plywood flooring ideas – what are the disadvantages of the material

Despite that plywood flooring ideas offer good appearance and durability there are a number of drawbacks which you need to know. Higher grade plywood can be more expensive than MDF, especially when manufactured from expensive wood types. The material splinters on the edges when cut which can be a challenge for DIY projects. This means that getting a smooth edge is more difficult and this may increase the time for floor installation. One major con is that most sheets contain urea-formaldehyde and other VOCs which may release gases in your home. You have to look for formaldehyde free options, so make sure to check that when buying. Despite the attractive appearance, plywood cannot provide the aesthetic appeal of solid wood floors. The reputation of being a cheap product pushes customers away and could be a major drawback when you want to sell your property. It is our belief, though, that when the material is used correctly it does not look cheap but can offer quite a good appearance.