Kahrs Engineered Wood Floor Buyer's Guide

Kahrs is a Swedish flooring company, founded in 1857, known for their excellent range, craftsmanship, design and eco-credentials. As one of the leading flooring brands, Kahrs has a range of options to suit all budgets, aesthetics and purposes, whether it’s for your home or commercial space. 

Let’s take a look at all the factors to consider when choosing an engineered floor from Kahrs. 

Design

Choosing your wooden floor is more than just the wood species, oak or walnut, ash or maple and whether you want dark or light wood. There’s a whole new level of design options available, from strips within the plank to the finish of the wood. Let’s explore! 

Wood Species 

Your first decision when it comes to choosing a wooden floor is typically the wood species. The Kahrs engineered flooring range has all of the popular wood species options you would expect, including oak, walnut and maple. 

Oak

Oak is the most popular type of wood for wooden flooring. It is a classic and timeless wood that can cater to most interior styles, whether modern and airy with light matt oak or traditional and rustic with handscraped, smoked oak.

Walnut

Walnut is another popular option, with luxurious darker tones becoming more popular across the UK. 

 If you prefer lighter wood, Kahrs also has ash, maple and beech floors. Maple is known for its light colour and subtle grain pattern, while beech offers a warm and inviting look with a more noticeable grain pattern.

Strips

Kahrs engineered wood flooring has three available strip design options:

• 1 strip
• 2 strips
• 3 strips 

The narrower strips, such as the 3-strip option, create a more traditional and classic look. The wider strips, such as the 1-strip option, offer a more contemporary approach.

One Strip

Kahrs’ 1 Strip engineered wood flooring is the go-to simplistic contemporary option, ideal for those looking for a sleek and modern floor. Each plank is uniform in appearance, creating a seamless and streamlined effect that is visually pleasing and practical. 

One strip floors typically give the illusion of more space, so often a choice for smaller rooms or those looking to create a dramatic effect in a living area. 

Kahrs offers one strip planks across several collections, including the Original, Artisan, and World collections. Each collection boasts a unique selection of wood species, finishes, and colours to cater to various design preferences. 

Kahrs 1 strip-engineered wood flooring options include Kahrs Domani, and Kahrs Artisan.

Two Strip

Kahrs’ 2-strip engineered wood flooring is a true classic, embodying the timeless elegance and sophistication that has made Kahrs a trusted and respected name in flooring since 1857. 

This flooring style features two narrow planks on each board, creating a refined and traditional look that is perfect for a variety of settings. Often flexible enough design-wise to work in both small and large rooms.

Kahrs offers this type of flooring in several of their collections, including the European Naturals, American Naturals, and Da Capo collections, each with its unique selection of wood species, finishes, and colours. 

Three Strip

Kahrs 3 Strip flooring featuring three narrow strips of wood on each board that run parallel to each other. This creates a pattern on the floor that sets it apart from traditional single-plank flooring. 

As the three thin strips make it look like more planks are being used, the three strip wooden flooring options typically give the illusion of space in a room, making it perfect for smaller spaces.

Kahrs offers their 3 Strip engineered wood flooring in a range of collections, such as the Harmony collection. The Harmony collection features warm and inviting wood tones, making it a great choice for traditional homes. 

Surface Treatments

Kahrs offers four surface treatments across their engineered wood flooring range: oil, Ultra Matt lacquer, Matt lacquer, and Satin lacquer. Each treatment has its own range of benefits and drawbacks that can impact the look and durability of the flooring, which you should consider when choosing your flooring.

Oil 

An oil finish penetrates the wood and enhances its natural beauty while creating a low-gloss, matte finish. It offers excellent scratch resistance and is easy to maintain with regular cleaning and re-oiling, making it slightly higher maintenance than some options.  Oil floors are more susceptible to water damage and can be slippery when wet, making them less suitable for high-traffic areas and rooms such as kitchens and hallways.

Kahrs engineered oil-finished flooring needs to be immediately oiled after installation, then regularly oiled in the future to keep the floor in its best possible condition. 

Ultra Matt Lacquer 

This newer surface treatment provides a high level of durability and scratch resistance with a natural, matte appearance. Ultra Matt lacquer is low-reflective that makes it ideal for those who prefer a more understated look. Ultra Matt lacquer floors are also slip-resistant, making them a good choice for households with pets or young children.

 Matt Lacquer

Matt lacquer is one of the most popular surface treatments for engineered floors and the go-to choice for most homes. It offers a subtle, matte appearance that is durable and easy to maintain. This is a more reflective surface than oil or ultra-matt lacquer finishes. Matt lacquer floors are slip-resistant and are suitable for moderate traffic. The Kahrs technology ensures the matt lacquer finishes are just as hard-wearing and easy to maintain as the satin lacquer finish. 

Satin Lacquer

Kahrs’ satin lacquer is a thin surface treatment which enhances the wood’s natural character with a smooth glossy appearance.

The glossy treatment of Satin Lacquer means it’s smoother than a matt floor, however, this can also mean it has a lower slip resistance and should be avoided in rooms where it could get wet such as kitchens and hallways. The satin lacquer treatment is the most durable floor surface, with great scratch resistance but it may show signs of wear and tear sooner because of its high gloss appearance. 

 Ultimately, the choice of surface treatment depends on personal preference, lifestyle, and the intended use of the flooring. For those who prefer a natural, matte appearance, oil or ultra-matt lacquer may be the best choice. For those who want a more reflective appearance, satin lacquer may be the best option. Matt lacquer is a versatile option that can work well in a variety of settings. All Kahrs engineered wood floors are designed to be durable and long-lasting, but the choice of surface treatment can impact their resistance to scratches, slipperiness, and overall longevity.

Design Features

Kahrs offers a variety of design options across their engineered wood flooring range, including handscraped, brushed, smoked, and saw marks. Each design option brings its own character and unique style to the wood. Here are the design options available from Kahrs which you should explore after choosing the wood species. 

Hand Scraped

Handscraped floors are designed to look like they were crafted by hand, with subtle variations in texture and colour that create a unique, rustic look. Handscraped floors can work well in traditional interiors and offer a lived-in feel to a room.

Brushed

Brushed floors have a slightly rough texture created by brushing the surface of the wood. This enhances the natural grain of the wood and creates a weathered, distressed look that suits modern, and industrial loft style interiors.

Smoked

Smoked floors are treated with a process that darkens the wood and creates a rich, moody look. This process can also enhance the natural grain of the wood and creates a sense of depth to the planks. Smoked floors can work well in contemporary interiors and can add a sense of drama to a room.

Saw Marks

Saw marks floors are created by exposing the natural saw marks left on the wood’s surface during the milling process. This design option can create a unique, raw texture that can work well in traditional, rustic and modern industrial interiors.

The design features available from Kahrs result in a wide choice of floors, so you can choose the right look and feel for the aesthetic of your home or commercial space. Whether you prefer a warm, rustic look or a sleek, contemporary style, there is a Kahrs engineered wood flooring option that can meet your criteria.

Explore the Kahrs engineered flooring collections to find the perfect floor for you. The Artisan Collection features handscraped flooring with a unique, rustic appearance that can add character and warmth to a room. The Lux Collection has the look and feel of untreated, newly sawn timber which is achieved by treating the surface of these 1-strip floors with an ultra-matt lacquer. The Rugged Collection features smoked flooring with a rich, moody look that can create a sense of drama and sophistication in a room. Saw marks flooring can be found in the Founders Collection, which celebrates the natural beauty of wood and showcases the unique patterns and textures created during the milling process.

Patterned Flooring

The Kahrs collections offer a variety of patterned engineered wood flooring options, including chevron, parquet, and herringbone designs.

Chevron

Parquet

Herringbone

The chevron pattern is a classic zigzag design that creates a dynamic and striking effect. The herringbone pattern is a timeless, classic design that adds an elegant touch to any space. The parquet pattern features a repeating geometric design that can create a bold and modern look.

Kahrs’ Master Collection offers custom-made patterned flooring options, where the individual pieces of wood are assembled as you’re installing to create the desired pattern. This is the traditional way patterned flooring is installed, allowing for greater design and customisation flexibility.

On the other hand, the Chevron Collection and Studio Herringbone Collections offer pre-made pattern boards that are ready to be installed. These collections offer a range of colours and finishes and benefit from a quick and easy installation process.

Overall, Kahrs’ patterned engineered wood flooring options offer a variety of styles and designs to suit your needs. Whether you prefer a classic and timeless herringbone pattern or a bold and modern parquet design. an easy to install single plank or installation with individual planks, the Kahrs patterned range of engineered wood flooring has options for you.

The Kahrs range of wood species gives you plenty of options, so you’re bound to find one that fits your home’s interior style and aesthetic.  Whether you prefer the classic look of oak, the warmth of walnut, or the unique beauty of a less popular species, when combined with the strip design, design features and surface treatments, there is a Kahrs engineered wood floor for your home.

Grading 

Each Kahrs engineered wood floor is given a grade; these different grades are designed to suit different styles and preferences and can make it easier to choose your perfect floor. The grading options available are Calm, Dynamic, Expressive, Lively and Variation.

Calm

The Calm grade is characterised by a uniform appearance with fewer knots and colour variations. This grade is ideal for those who prefer a more understated and refined look in their flooring.

 Dynamic

The Dynamic grade has more character than the Calm grade, with knots and colour variations that add interest and personality to the flooring. This grade is ideal for those who want a balance between a uniform appearance and natural variations in the wood.

 Expressive

The Expressive grade is characterised by a more pronounced grain pattern and natural colour variations. This grade is ideal for those who want a dramatic and eye-catching flooring option.

 Lively

The Lively grade has more character than the Dynamic grade, with knots, cracks, colour variations and patterns. Lively typically is a natural looking rustic floor, ideal for those looking for a traditional floor full of character.

 Variation

The Variation grade offers the most natural and rustic appearance, with knots, cracks, and colour variations that create a truly unique and individual look. Variation floors are ideal for those who want a floor that showcases the natural beauty of wood.

Construction

Kahrs engineered floors are constructed with high-quality materials that are designed to provide exceptional durability and longevity. Kahrs offers two types of engineered flooring: 2-layer and 3-layer construction.

The 2 layer construction consists of a top layer of hardwood that is attached to a core layer of softwood. This is typically a more affordable and easier to install flooring option. 

The 3 layer construction features a top layer of hardwood that is attached to a core layer of spruce or pine, with a bottom layer of the same type of wood as the top layer. This type of construction provides greater stability and durability, making it ideal for high-traffic areas and even commercial spaces. The extra layer in the 3-layer construction also provides greater protection against moisture and temperature fluctuations, which can help prevent warping and other damage over time. 

When choosing between the two layer and three layer construction you need to factor budget, level of durability, expected usage, room conditions and performance required.

Both 2-layer and 3-layer engineered floors from Kahrs can be resanded, although the number of times they can be resanded may vary between the collections. The top layer of Kahrs engineered flooring is typically between 3mm to 4mm thick, which means that it can be sanded down and refinished 3-4 times before it wears down to the softwood core layer. Your floor will last for decades with proper care and maintenance. 

It’s worth noting three layer veneer flooring, such as the Kahrs Life collection can’t be resanded. 

Warranty

Kahrs offers a warranty on all of their engineered wood flooring products, which covers defects in the material or workmanship for a specific period of time. The length of which is dependent on the collection, commercial vs. home usage and the product. 

For most of their collections, Kahrs offers a 30-year limited warranty for residential use and a 5-year limited warranty for commercial use. This includes collections such as the Original, Artisan, and Nordic Naturals collections. On the other hand, the Founders Collection offers a 25-year limited warranty for residential use and a 5-year limited warranty for commercial use.

Kahrs also offers a lifetime warranty for their Woodloc 5S locking system. This is used in many of their products.

It is important to note that the warranty does not cover damage caused by improper installation, lack of proper maintenance, or normal wear and tear. Homeowners should also follow the manufacturer’s installation and maintenance guidelines to ensure that their warranty remains valid.

You can have peace of mind knowing that your floors are backed by a comprehensive warranty.

Sustainability 

Kahrs is committed to sustainability and strives to minimise its environmental impact through responsible forest management and manufacturing processes. Kahrs only use wood from responsibly managed forests and have implemented measures to reduce waste and energy consumption in their manufacturing facilities.

Kahrs has received several certifications and awards for their sustainability. They have been awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, for companies that meet strict environmental criteria throughout their entire production process. They have also received the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, ensuring their products come from responsibly managed forests.

With Kahrs’ commitment to eco-credentials and sustainable practices, you can feel good about choosing a flooring product that is beautiful and environmentally responsible.

If you have any more questions when it comes to choosing your Kahrs engineered wooden floor then contact us!