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Wooden floor installation

Materials and finishes for wood-laminate-spc floors

September 30, 2025

Keywords:
Wood-laminate-spc flooring, materials, finishes, material selection, guide, L'Artificio

Wood floors remain the warmest and most natural choice. These products are made from real wood (solid or prefinished plywood) that bring authentic grain, variations in tone, and that unique feel underfoot that only wood can provide. They can be painted, oiled, brushed, planed, bleached, or smoked; each finish expresses a different character. Oak, for example, is extremely versatile: available in natural, honey, gray, or lightly bleached versions, it adapts to both modern and more classic spaces.


Laminates , on the other hand, are based on a composite structure: an HDF or similar backing panel, a high-definition decorative layer, and a wear-resistant protective surface. The wood effect is created by printing, but the quality of modern textures makes the result surprisingly realistic, especially when embossing is synchronized with the design. Laminates often represent an excellent compromise between aesthetics, budget, and ease of use, with resistance classes designed for both residential and commercial use.


SPC (Stone Polymer Composite or similar) belongs to the rigid vinyl flooring family. It has a stable structure, is not sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature, and is ideal for applications requiring a thin, durable material that can often be installed over existing floors. Wood, stone, or concrete effects can be very realistic, with non-slip surfaces and easy maintenance. It's a particularly attractive solution for spaces such as kitchens, entryways, heavily used living areas, and some light commercial applications.


A key aspect concerns surface finishes : matt, semi-matt, brushed, with micro-bevel or live edges. The perimeter bevel, for example, helps give depth to the floor and emphasizes the format of the planks; matt and slightly textured surfaces hide fingerprints and small marks better than glossy and smooth finishes.


Finally, it's important to consider where the flooring will be installed : in the home, office, living area, bedroom, hallway, or in areas with potential contact with water. Wood, laminate, and SPC are not mutually exclusive: in some projects, the different solutions are combined, maintaining the same color tone but varying the material based on the needs of each space.

Highlight

• Wide choice of effects: natural wood, stone, concrete and neutral shades to suit many styles.
• Warm and comfortable to the touch floors, especially wood-effect finishes.
• Laminates and SPC often allow you to work on existing floors with limited thicknesses.
• Modern versions offer good resistance to impacts, scratches and wear in residential and light commercial environments.

Low Light

• Real wood fears stagnant water and significant variations in humidity.
• Laminates and SPC, while realistic, do not have the “depth” and repairability of solid parquet.
• Some very cheap finishes can be noisy when walked on and less pleasant to look at.

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