Before modern ways of machine based sanding were common, floors were hand scraped on-site to make sure they were flat.
This gave each floor a unique texture and character with their own subtle imperfections.
Today, most floors are sanded completely flat, so distressed flooring is increasingly rare and considered a luxury that really compliments and reinforces traditional design schemes.
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As well as giving the impression that the floor has been crafted with care, it also exaggerates the natural qualities of wood and reflects light in a varied and attractive manner.
Distressed flooring you can buy today is typically finished by a machine, and unlike the original hand scraped boards, these can show a repeating distressed pattern.
While still attractive and more affordable than hand distressed floors, some people feel that these machine distressed floors lose something of the natural feel.
Real hand-scraped distressed flooring is also available, though it is more expensive. This old world approach creates a truly unique floor.
Hand-scraped distressed flooring can vary greatly in texture dependent on the skill of the person scraping the floor. Hand-scraped floors have become popular in upscale homes and commercial buildings.
Distressed Engineered Wood Flooring
What Is Distressed Wooden Flooring Used For?
Distressed wooden flooring is ideal for use in any design that has an antique, ‘old world’ or well-worn feel.
It’s perfect for creating a cosy, authentic or a timeworn feel. It both complements and enhances any traditionally designed décor and can often be used as a contrast in many modern designs.
The Benefits Of Distressed Engineered Oak Flooring
Distressed engineered oak flooring can be the most cost-effective way of achieving an authentic “weathered” feel from the wooden floor in your home.
Alternatives such as reclaimed timber boarding can give a similar appearance, but they tend to be vastly more expensive due to the work involved in re-cycling the old boards.
The boards would have to be carefully removed from their existing property without damage, transported and then sorted. This process takes time and can be costly.
In addition, reclaimed flooring is unsuitable to be used over underfloor heating or in areas with potentially higher changes in temperature and humidity as it’s much less stable.
Another method which people used in the past to obtain this type of look was to employ a specialist to come to site and ‘distress’ the flooring by hand once its laid.
For centuries, homeowners have needed someone to come in and manually ‘distress’ their flooring, if they desire a weathered feel. Nowadays though, factory techniques are just as good – and hugely cheaper.
