Rubber wood flooring is a type of flooring that is also sometimes referred to as Hevea wood flooring.
Despite its name, rubberwood flooring is not made of rubber, instead, it is sourced from a type of tree known as a rubber tree, which is where the materials for latex are taken from.
These trees are primarily found in the Amazon forest, and the type of flooring constructed using these materials tends to be a cheaper alternative to some other types of wood.
It is because of this that rubberwood has quickly become one of the most popular types of wood in the world.
It is also a popular choice as rubber wood flooring is an environmentally friendly option as the trees can be harvested multiple times throughout their life.
It is available in a wide range of colors and is easy to use and control. As well as this it is very strong and resistant and great for use with both hand and machine tools.
This is why it makes such an excellent flooring material as it is able to withstand the continuous wear and tear which floors experience throughout their lifetime, ensuring your flooring continues to look like new.
Editor’s Note: Have you wondered what the dark, stained spots on your wooden floors are and what to do about them? Check out the answer here. Also, we cover the #1 question we receive the most: How do I make my hardwood floors look new?
Is rubberwood good for flooring?
Yes, rubberwood is good for flooring. Even though it is a cheaper alternative to some other types of wood flooring, rubberwood is still incredibly durable which allows it to withstand the constant wear and tear that flooring experiences.
Rubberwood is of incredibly good quality and one of the most versatile types of wood which exist.
If you use rubberwood for your flooring, it is guaranteed that the flooring will look good for years to come as it will not be tarnished by continuous use.
It is also a great choice for flooring as rubberwood is incredibly easy to clean.
All you need to use to clean this type of flooring is some soap and water and a good cloth.
It doesn’t require intense scrubbing, and most dirt and marks will easily wipe away with a cloth, ensuring you will not need to do much to keep this flooring like new.
But the main reason why people are beginning to choose rubberwood flooring is the cost.
Generally, you have a lot of floor space in your home, and if you want wooden flooring this can become expensive. Rubberwood flooring is much cheaper making it a great choice for flooring.
How much does rubber flooring cost?
On the surface, rubber flooring might not seem that cheap, that is until you compare it to some other types of flooring, including hardwood flooring.
Before we take a look at any prices, it is worth noting that costs for materials and labor differ from area to area.
So, any figures that we give are not stuck in stone, and you may be able to get both the materials and labor cheaper or more expensive depending on where you are located.
Generally, you will find that most rubber flooring materials are priced anywhere between $1 and $15 per square meter.
Please note that this is for rubber flooring, not rubberwood flooring, and if you get a quote for rubberwood flooring you will probably find that it is significantly more expensive than regular rubber flooring.
It is difficult to place a specific figure on the cost of rubberwood flooring as prices fluctuate so much, but you will notice when you look at the materials for this type of flooring that it is a lot cheaper than hardwood flooring.
But remember that if you want the flooring fitted you will also have to pay for labor on top.
Does rubberwood scratch easily?
No, rubberwood flooring does not scratch easily. As we have mentioned, it is one of the toughest types of flooring that exist and is incredibly durable.
On the Janks rating which dictates how strong a type of wood is, rubberwood has a Jank’s score of 980 pounds which confirms that it is one of the hardest types of wood that you can get.
Due to this high rating on the Janks scale, it is clear that this type of wood will not scratch easily. This is why it is such a popular choice for both furniture and flooring, as it will last for years without becoming damaged.
If you want to compare it to other types of wood, rubberwood ranks at a similar level to teak wood and walnut wood which highlights how strong it is.
In fact, it only ranks slightly below Oak which is, as people know, one of the strongest types of wood in the world.
Due to this, rubberwood is insanely durable, which is why it is a great type of wood for flooring as you get the strength without paying an excessively high price for this type of wood flooring.
Is rubberwood water-resistant?
No, rubberwood is not water-resistant, nor is it waterproof which is why this type of wood is only suitable for use inside of homes rather than outside.
The reason that rubberwood is not water-resistant lies in the chemicals that are used to treat the wood and protect it from damage.
These chemicals are vital for the longevity of your rubberwood, and can be washed away by water and rain, which is why you should only use it indoors.
However, just because rubberwood isn’t water-resistant, this doesn’t mean that it will fall apart if you accidentally spill a glass of water on it in your home.
As long as you clean up any spillages straight away, the water will be unable to harm the chemicals coating the wood, so no damage will occur.
These chemicals are added to rubberwood as when not treated, rubberwood is prone to fungal attacks.
If you use rubberwood outside, the chances are that the chemicals will wash away and you will find your rubberwood furniture ruined by fungus.
Indoors the risk of fungus is much less, which is why it is not the end of the world if you accidentally spill liquid on your rubberwood flooring.
Which is better pine or rubberwood?
It is hard to say whether rubberwood or pine wood is better as they both come from very different types of trees.
Rubberwood is part of the hardwood family and is imported to the USA from Brazil and other South American countries.
Whereas pine wood is native to the USA and a lot more widely available. This is one of the key factors that impact a lot of people’s opinions about both pine and rubberwood.
From a construction standpoint, it could be argued that rubberwood is the better choice. Rubberwood is strong and heavy, and because of this, it is incredibly durable.
As well as this, rubberwood does not have any knots or imperfections in it, like other types of hardwood, such as pine wood do.
A lot of people also argue that rubberwood is better than pine wood from an environmental perspective.
In general, wood is not that environmentally friendly as it requires trees to be chopped down to harvest it, but rubberwood is actually one of the most eco-friendly types of wood that exist as it is very sustainable.
This is why a lot of people believe that rubberwood is better than pine wood.
How long does rubber flooring last?
One of the main reasons that rubber flooring is such a popular choice is because of how long it will last.
Rubber flooring is very durable, and because of this it tends to have a very long lifespan, and it can actually last up to 30 years before it will require replacing.
This can be surprising, as rubberwood is one of the cheapest types of wood flooring that you can buy, and yet it has one of the longest lifespans.
But, it is important to remember that this figure is not universal, and there are a number of different factors that can impact how long your rubber flooring will last.
As we have said, rubberwood flooring is coated with chemicals to protect the flooring from fungus which can damage its structural integrity.
If your rubberwood flooring regularly gets wet then these chemicals will wear away and your flooring will be exposed to fungus which can significantly limit the lifespan of your flooring.
Additionally, how well you maintain your flooring will also affect its lifespan which is why regular cleaning and waxing is important if you have rubberwood flooring.
How is rubber flooring typically installed?
If you have had a professional lay your rubber flooring before, you might have observed that they lay it in a different way to other professionals.
This is mainly because different tradesmen have different tried and tested methods for laying flooring. But generally, anybody who lays hardwood flooring will follow a fairly similar method to one another.
One of the key parts of installing rubberwood flooring is preparation.
You must remove all existing flooring and underlay, and check the ground below to see if there is a strong and level base on which you can install the new flooring upon.
When installing the flooring, one of the most important things to remember is the expansion area.
All types of hardwood flooring expand over time and if you want your flooring to be future proof it is important that you leave space for this, otherwise, you might find that your rubberwood flooring starts to lift.
When installing wood flooring the different pieces must be laid flush to one another, and you ensure they are level.
If the flooring is not laid like this, then there is a good chance that your rubberwood flooring will experience problems and not last as long as it is supposed to.