Millennia of Warmth - The Past and Present of Wood Flooring

Wood flooring is not exclusive to modern homes. Its history is long and storied, bearing witness to humanity's pursuit of comfort and aesthetics.

• Ancient Beginnings: Initially, humans lived directly on earthen floors. To combat dampness and cold, they learned to lay animal skins, dry grass, and later, rough wooden planks. This can be seen as the primitive form of wood flooring.

• Medieval Opulence: In European castles and palaces, wide solid wood floors became symbols of status and wealth. Artisans used complex inlay techniques to piece together woods of different colors and grains into exquisite patterns, elevating flooring to an art form.

• Industrial Revolution Innovation: The 19th-century Industrial Revolution brought mechanized production. Planing, cutting, and sanding were no longer solely manual, making wood flooring more accessible to the middle class. Advances in paint technology also made it more durable and beautiful.

• Modern Diversification: The 20th-century invention of laminate flooring was a revolution, making wood floors more economical and wear-resistant. Subsequently, engineered wood flooring solved a major stability issue of solid wood. Recently, new materials like SPC rigid core vinyl have expanded the boundaries of wood flooring applications.

• Future Trends: Today, development focuses on eco-friendliness (no-added-aldehyde, sustainable forestry), smart features (integration with heating systems, functional coatings), and personalization (custom sizes, colors, finishes). From a practical item for warmth to a decorative art piece and now a carrier of technology, the evolution of wood flooring is a history of human residential civilization.