How to Decide Between an Engineered Hardwood Floor and a Solid Hardwood Floor

If you're looking to purchase hardwood flooring then chances are you have come across two types of hardwood. The first is called engineered floor and the second is called solid floor. The two floors look 100% identical so to decide which floor will better suit your needs, you need to understand the difference between the two.



Engineered hardwood floor - This type of floor is also known as semi-solid floor because it is made from a three layer core of hardwood together with plywood or MDF and a top layer of hardwood veneer (the topmost layer of the engineered flooring) that is glued together. The engineering process gives the wood new properties which prevent it from shrinking or expending under certain temperature levels, therefore it is ideal for places where moisture or heat could pose problems.



Solid hardwood floor - This type of floor is also known as real hardwood floor because unlike engineered floor it is made from 100% wood. It's 100% wood construction which is normally made from one piece of oak timber gives the floor stronger properties compared to engineered wood which makes it ideal for places where the home structure could benefit from extra stability. Another characteristic of solid hardwood flooring is its ability to react well to sanding and re-coating a process which could give the floor extra longevity.



Because both types of wood floors look and feel identical it is more a question of where it is placed. There isn't much difference in term of price, but as we mentioned before, solid floors will react well to re-coating making them last longer and giving you the option to change their appearance.

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Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood Flooring adds an elegant touch to any space. The biggest things to consider when choosing your hardwood, though, are often overlooked. Many times, consumers will purchase their wood based solely on the color and thickness. The thickness of the wood can be very misleading.

It is often perceived that thicker wood means greater stability, and a more structurally sound product. In reality, a 3/8" engineered wood product can often be much more stable structural wise than a 3/4" solid product. The type of wood, and the type of construction can influence this.

For instance, if you have a 3/4" solid russian birch (which is one of the softest woods sold as flooring), the product will wear much, much faster than a 5-ply engineered 3/8" brazilian cherry wood.

For this reason, it is a much better rating system to view the wood's overall performance ability, which is evident through the warranty offered on the product. This can be much harder to judge when comparing cabin/tavern grade woods, as they often do not come with a warranty. In that particular situation, you can consider the warranties offered with the product's first quality counterpart.

Generally speaking, the longer the warranty, the better the structural ability of the wood. If it were likely to fail (show major signs of wear), then the manufacturer would be less willing to stand behind the product.

To this effect, engineered woods often come with a 25 year residential warranty, while many solid wood products carry only a 15 year. Also, most all commercially warranted hardwood flooring products are engineered. It is uncommon that you will find a solid wood floor that is recommended in a commercial application.

Going by these indicators, it can be seen that engineered wood is just as much structurally stable as solid wood, and should not be feared because it is not as thick.

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Engineered Hardwood Flooring: Reliable Floors to the Core

Many people quite rightly seek out solid hardwood flooring as the best means to add certain warmth, class, and an atmosphere of homey comfort to an interior. But, as many find out, hardwood flooring can have limitations in areas that are prone to climatic changes; when it is humid or damp, an unfortunate effect in hardwood is often the swelling or cupping of the hardwood flooring boards. When looking to invest in long-lasting and attractive flooring therefore, one of the things to look out for is a flooring material that is likely to respond to these sorts of environmental changes without losing any of its structural stability, or its attractiveness. A solution that many have discovered for versatility, attractiveness, and with a robust design noted for structural stability is engineered hardwood flooring. But what is engineered hardwood, and what makes it so resistant to the climatic forces which usually spell doom for solid hardwood flooring?

Engineered Hardwood Flooring: Anatomy Lesson

Engineered hardwood flooring is made up of two main elements: the top layer and the core. The core is made up of stacked layers of medium or high-density fiberboard, or sometimes plywood, which most often range from 3 ply to 7 ply construction. This stacking design acts as a means to allow the flooring to counteract the effects of humidity on the natural wood, allowing each board to expand and contract without warping or cupping. As you may guess, this makes for a hardwood floor that is suitable for an installation in an area that is not environmentally controlled, or that is characterized by higher levels of dampness or humidity, such as a basement installation. The top layer of engineered hardwood floors is a species of real wood. In this sense, engineered floors are as "genuine" as any hardwood floor, with real wood that lends a space a decorative dimension that most people interested in hardwood are looking for. So, with engineered hardwood flooring, you get the functionality and toughness that the core allows, as well as the refined beauty of the real hardwood top layer that is indistinguishable to the eye from solid hardwood.

Installing Engineered Hardwood Floors

An advantage that engineered flooring has over many flooring options is that you can install it in any room, either above or below ground. It is also generally designed to be installed quickly and easily. This is advantageous not only for the do-it-yourselfer, but also to the hardwood flooring contractor who may offer engineered hardwood as a means of moving from one flooring contract to another quickly, but without sacrificing quality. With many engineered hardwood flooring lines, there is no need for nailing the boards down to the subfloor. This has a couple of implications. First, that a concrete slab subfloor is a suitable substrate on which to install engineered hardwood, unlike solid hardwood. Second, that many engineered hardwood flooring lines can either be floated, as you would a laminate floor, or glued down. As long as you subfloor is clean, level and dry, engineered hardwood flooring is a versatile option that can yield successful results without the need to consider whether or not a subfloor is suitable for a nail-down installation.

In the case of a floating floor, remember to use a reliable vapor barrier between the subfloor and your flooring. The adhesives used in a glue-down option often add the advantage of acting as a built-in vapor barrier. Ask the professionals about the details on your chosen line of engineered hardwood flooring.

Locking Systems For Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Most types of engineered hardwood feature a tongue and groove locking system. These are designed for a level of precision that makes for a refined flooring surface that is free of unsightly gaps between the boards. Once again, versatility and practicality are the distinguishing features of engineered hardwood flooring. Often, these types of locking systems allow you to take up the boards at a later date when necessary, if you've chosen a floating floor option. So, you can take your floor with you when you're moving house, or allow you to more easily replace any damaged boards. When making a purchase, it is a good idea to ask whether your chosen line of engineered hardwood flooring allows for this feature.

Radiant Heat and the Engineered Hardwood Floor

Radiant heat is a welcome feature to many households and commercial interiors. But, when choosing a flooring option, it is important to note the impact that radiant heating may have in the short term as well as the long term. For solid hardwood, radiant heat can have a significantly negative effect; the radiant heating can severely dry out the hardwood, which in turn causes the boards to warp and cup as they would if they were exposed to excessive moisture. Luckily, engineered hardwood has been designed to counteract this tendency, just as it has in the case of humidity and dampness in a below-grade or non-environmentally controlled interior. Once again, the core of the engineered floor expands and contracts accordingly, while preserving the structural stability of the board and the attractiveness of the top layer.

Freedom with Engineered Hardwood Flooring!

With engineered floors, you are free to consider the possibilities of using hardwood in areas that would mean disaster for a solid hardwood floor. Engineered hardwood floors allow you all of the beauty and organic feel, as well as a greater range of options as far as the location of your installation. With the dual features of an attractive top layer that is a real hardwood species, and a core which is designed to shift and move with climatic changes, engineered hardwood flooring is perfect for a basement installation, or an installation in a summer home or cottage that is not environmentally controlled all year round. Along with these functional benefits, engineered hardwood floors are often less expensive than their solid hardwood counterparts, making them worth serious consideration on a budgetary level. With all of its features that allow these advantages, engineered hardwood truly stands as being in a class by itself.

Here is a list of things to consider when purchasing, installing and maintaining your engineered hardwood floor:

Do:
# Consider the area where you will be installing your engineered hardwood floor in terms of moisture levels and foot traffic - use this to help you to choose the species of flooring that is right for what you have in mind
# Allow for a certain level of wastage per square foot when placing an order, depending on your level of expertise. You are the best judge of how much this will be, but a good range in general is 7-10% for non-professional installers
# Read all installation instructions and warranty information very carefully
# Consult any information about your radiant heating system in order to learn the best practice when using it under an engineered hardwood floor
# Inspect your batch of engineered hardwood flooring for any defects before you begin an installation
# Make sure that your subfloor is clean, dry and level before you install your engineered flooring
# Clean your engineered hardwood floors frequently, seeing to spills immediately using DRY or DAMP mops, vacuums, and cloths
# Use rugs and runners to protect high traffic areas and access points to the outdoors. This will minimize the amount of dirt and grit that can negatively effect the finish of your engineered hardwood flooring

Don't:
# Use wax-based cleaners, harsh detergents, abrasives, or steel wool to clean engineered hardwood flooring
# Apply finish to an engineered hardwood floor that has already been finished at the factory
# Overwet engineered hardwood when cleaning - excessive moisture can still have a negative effect on your flooring, just as it would with solid hardwood
# Wear spike-heels or athletic spikes on your engineered hardwood floors

This is of course by no means a comprehensive list. When making a purchase or caring for an existing floor, it can be a great benefit to consult with the experts. Local flooring contractors and sales experts in the industry are two great sources of information when you are seeking to make an informed purchase or when organizing a cleaning regimen. It is always a good idea to talk with the professionals and use their years of experience in flooring to your advantage.

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Engineered Hardwood Flooring - Differences You Must Be Aware of

Engineered hardwood flooring is a common type of wood floor seen on the market today. If you are a first time shopper for hardwood flooring, an engineered wood may be something you haven't seen yet or aren't aware of the differences between it and solid wood floors. You may also think that all engineered hardwood floors are created equal. The differences between engineered and solid can affect installation, value, and cost. You will also see after taking a closer look that there can be significant differences between the available engineered hardwood flooring offerings in the industry.

So what are the differences between engineered and solid hardwood floors?

1. The main difference is the construction of the boards. A solid hardwood board is made as a solid piece from a single cut of a specific wood species. An engineered hardwood flooring product is made of multiple layers of wood. The top layer is the actual species of wood that you see. This top layer, or veneer, as it is called, is available in almost any species imaginable. Oak, Brazilian Cherry, Maple, and Walnut are some of the more popular selections you will find that are offered. The other layers beneath the veneer are usually plywood based or other solid wood material. These layers are formed on top of one another in a perpendicular pattern. This type of construction gives the floor a very stable design and also gives added strength against expansion caused by moisture and humidity.

2. The structure difference between solid and engineered affects how the product is installed. Solid floors are usually nail down only. Engineered hardwood flooring is offered in a multitude of installation methods. You will find engineered wood products as glue down, floating floor (no glue or nails), and even an occasional nail down. Engineered can be installed over a concrete sub floor as well, which makes it a perfect option for dry basements.

3. One drawback to engineered hardwood versus solid is the refinishing capability. Solid floors can be refinished many times over the life of the product, whereas most engineered woods can be refinished only once or twice.

4. Engineered will usually cost less than a solid hardwood flooring product. Since the top layer is the only layer with the true wood species, the material cost is less, therefore the end product to you the consumer is less. Engineered hardwood doesn't add the long term value to a home that solid does but the lower upfront price gives shoppers a nice alternative for tight budgets.

When comparing engineered hardwood flooring you need to consider a few things.

1. Look at the cross section of the board design. If the layers are all solid wood, it is probably a good, solid designed product. If some of the layers look like a brown, recycled paper material, or fiberboard you will want to stay away from these products. Engineered hardwood flooring is supposed to provide a solid, structurally sound floor. These fiberboard layers do not give you the quality structure that solid wood layers provide. The large home improvement stores are the main culprits who sell this type of inferior product. Just be on the lookout for board designs that have inferior layers.

2. The number of layers will sometimes differ between engineered hardwood flooring designs. A 5 layer product is a good choice. You may run across 3 layer designs as well. The 3 layer versions are acceptable, but 5 layers are better. The added layers give extra stability to the wood which is extremely important if you are installing the floor where there could be moisture or humidity concerns.

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Best Engineered Wood Flooring - Advantages Over Other Flooring Material

Most types of flooring materials can be used in the home. Indeed, although it may not be common, carpeting could be used in the kitchen and wood flooring could be used in the bathroom or toilet. But there are a number of reasons why people choose to use some materials in certain rooms over others. This article will list some of the best engineered wood flooring features that make it a versatile flooring for most rooms.Engineered wood flooring is effectively a material that will give the impression that you have solid hardwood flooring installed. It is primarily marketed as a cheaper option to hardwood flooring that will have the same aesthetic look as the hardwood.


So if you want the look of oak flooring in your dining room, you could go for a pre-finished, engineered wood flooring that has a top veneer of oak. Unlike traditional hardwood flooring a pre-finished oak flooring does not need to be covered. It is also more adaptable to the room and easier to install.


Engineered wood flooring is normally a laminate of three layers of wood. The top layer is a veneer of popular hardwoods like oak, pine, maple, beech and many others. The other layers are often made of materials like plywood.


The layers are glued together with the grains of each wood perpendicular to the others woods. Engineered wood flooring produced in this way is durable and does not expand or contract in changing climates or conditions like flooring made of one type of wood..


This type of flooring is also produced for ease of use. It comes in plank or strip flooring varieties and can be installed by gluing, stapling or as a floating floor on some form of underlay. Instructions on how to install the flooring come with the product and are aimed at DIYers.


In terms of benefits over traditional hardwood, the engineered variety will be cheaper and easier to install. They may not have the durability of a solid wood floor but are still sturdy enough to withstand heavy wear and tear.


In fact, if the flooring becomes marked or stained it can be sanded down. However, the sanding cannot go any deeper than the top veneer or the plywood lower layer will show. This is an advantage over a laminate flooring that might have the same look as a hardwood but will have a man made material as the top layer.

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Engineered Wood Flooring That Grounds Your Home

There are some sensations we get that we simply don't get many times. A sensation that is remarkably soothing is when you walk on wooden flooring with your naked feet and the earthy feel that you experience is simply irreplaceable. While hardwood flooring has been dominating the wood flooring industry for a long time, with the new engineered wood flooring you simply cannot get a better experience.


Wood can add an exquisite beauty to your home flooring needs and thus they are highly desired by most people in making their lovely home. Engineered wood and laminated flooring are both amazing options that can be utilized for installing anywhere in your first home or your lavish condo. The basic difference between your engineered wood flooring and a laminate one is that you will know that you are walking on wood in the former and on an acrylic look alike in the latter. But both of these flooring types will offer a great value where hardwood flooring finds limitations.


The greatest advantage of using engineered wood flooring is that like real wood it too will age and its effects of ageing make it appears like a natural wood ageing that a lot of people cherish and so desire it to give their homes the nature's touch. On the other hand your DIY laminate flooring will have different advantages over the wooden alternatives as they are undoubtedly more wear and tear resistant and thus require very little care. These flooring types resist fading that wood cannot and stand strong against the anti fading effects of even strong sunlight.


The problem in using your krono flooring could arise from the fact that when laminate floors wear out, they simply wear out and eventually lose their luster on wearing out as compared with hardwood floors. So one can go ahead with quickstep laminate flooring if they desire sophisticated flooring that gives an incredible luster and also if one is okay with the fact that it can fade off in a while and so will require a possible replacement.


This brings us to the fact that engineered wood will not give you the same limitations as the laminate floors as their basic compositions are extremely different. Since engineered wood flooring is actually real wood, one can go ahead and restore and refinish it like one would to a hardwood floor and get a repair work done in case you don't like its ageing look. A lot of home sellers get their wood floors sanded and refinished during the time of sale as it could help them fetch a better price for their house. The process of refinishing can be repeated approximately two to three times that gives it the big thumbs up on long term usage.


Creating your own flooring will be a remarkable experience and it will give you a fulfilling feel to walk on engineered wood flooring or the laminate option as both are really great options to have a great wood feel on your feet. So what are you waiting for? Go remove your shoes and take the walk!

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Characteristics of Engineered Wood Flooring

Manufacturers of wooden products have started using a scientific approach to produce flooring solutions that are durable and yet economical, engineered wood flooring is one such example. Once installed properly engineered wood flooring can last for a very long time. Thus, durability and higher quality of engineered wood flooring has helped it become very popular within a very short period of time.


The Basics of Engineered Wood Flooring

The introduction of engineered wood in flooring has come as a boon to wooden floor lovers. Installing authentic hardwood flooring has always been a very expensive and risky affair. Although, hardwood flooring looks very elegant, it easily gets damaged when it comes in contact with water or moisture, so maintaining it has always been a very difficult and expensive task. Technology has made it possible to manufacture flooring that is extremely durable and has the elegance of natural wood. One can now easily install engineered wood flooring in the place of their choice without worrying about the location and atmosphere.


One has to consider certain factors before installing wooden flooring in their homes, temperature, being one of the important factors. Changing temperature has adverse effects on the material used in your wood flooring. Wood responds to changing temperature by expanding and contracting, this develops cracks and reduces its strength, which can easily damage the flooring. One the other hand engineered wood can with stand any type of temperature or climatic condition due to its manufacturing process. The process of compressing many layers together to form one board provides that extra strength and resistance, which helps your engineered wood flooring, last for a longer period.


It's a known fact that when exposed to heat, wood tends to dry out and shrink, this leads to cracks being developed which results in the damage of wooden articles. This is the reason why wooden floorings are not recommended in warm areas of your home, like the kitchen. However, the use of engineered wood for flooring has changed this forever. The technology and the process used to manufacture engineered wood makes it much more tough and heat resistant and hence is suitable for any rooms, no matter what the temperature of environment of the room is.


If you live in a region that has high humidity, like areas near to the sea, you need to think twice before deciding to install hardwood flooring for your home. Humidity tends to damage the wood easily, as moisture in the air seeps in through the joints and causes the wood to expand and contract and thus results in cracks and ultimately decay of wood. But engineered wood is resistant to all kinds of weather and temperature; its manufacturing process leaves very little chance for moisture to enter, thus protecting it from decay. This quality of engineered wood, along with its beauty and low cost makes it the ultimate choice for flooring products.

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Engineered Wood Flooring - A Great Alternative To Solid Hardwood Floors

Engineered wood flooring has been one of the great innovations in flooring to hit the market. Engineered hardwood is not made from solid wood. It consists of several layers and only the top layer is the actual hardwood that you always dreamed of having for the floors of your home. The layers underneath are specifically designed to give you maximum wear and tear and they give you practical flooring for just about every room of the house. Engineered wood flooring has advantages over solid hardwood that make it very attractive.


For one thing, engineered wood flooring is not as costly as solid hardwood flooring. The other layers of the engineered hardwood flooring are plywood or high density fibreboard. They are molded together under high pressure in a factory setting. Engineered hardwood floors will not expand and contract as solid hardwood does with changes in humidity and temperature. You can install it over just about any type of existing floor and by following special instructions you can install an engineered floor over radiant heat sources.


Engineered wood flooring in one of the most versatile choices that you can make when it comes to flooring in your home. It has many practical applications. You can install it over an existing concrete floor or one made with inferior grade wood. You can glue or nail it down and there are also forms of engineered hardwood floors that are glueless, forming a floating floor. It is an excellent choice in areas where there are drastic changes in temperature and humidity. However, engineered wood does not perform well in rooms of the home where there is an excess of humidity and moisture, such as in bathrooms or mudrooms.


One of the major reasons that many homeowners choose engineered wood flooring is its fantastic price. You have the same look and texture of hardwood, but it seems as if you are getting the hardwood at a wholesale price. Engineered hardwood floors are easy to install and the instructions are clearly printed inside each carton of flooring. You do have to make sure that the subfloor is clean of dust and dirt before you start so that any small pieces of rock won't work their way up through the flooring.


In the line of engineered wood flooring, you can get various types of wood, stains and finishes. You can also choose prefinished and unfinished hardwood, but if you are looking for an easy project, then it is best to go with prefinished. This way when you have the engineered hardwood flooring installed, you don't have to bother applying any stain or finish. You can just sit back and enjoy your engineered wood flooring.

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Engineered Wood Flooring

Wood flooring has always been very popular. Wood flooring has a formal, beautiful and warm look that is ideal for all kinds of rooms. They are also eco-friendly, affordable and the best part is that there is a lot of variety available. Wood floors are also relatively easy to maintain. Additionally, wood floors increase the value of a house and are therefore an investment. These days, wood flooring is being done in unique and custom designs like borders, medallions, hand-distressing, painting, mixed media, stain and exotic wood.

Engineered wood floors are made from layers of wood that are pressed and glued together. Each layer is stacked on the other in a cross-grain configuration and then pressed using heat and pressure. The thickness of this kind of wood varies greatly. Three- and five-ply flooring are the most common engineered wood flooring.

Engineered wood flooring is suitable where solid wood flooring is not, including basements, kitchens, utility rooms and powder rooms that are likely to be moist or those which have high traffic. These floors can endure changes in humidity and temperature effectively and can thus be installed at any level in the house. Another advantage is the thickness of engineered wood floors which are just 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch, allowing them to be installed on existing floors.

Engineered wood flooring is available in finished as well as pre-finished forms. Pre-finished engineered wood flooring is very popular since it is very easy to install. All the sanding and finishing is done in the factory itself. The quality of the finish and the thickness of the wear layer are important aspects to be considered. Engineered wood floors are also categorized as parquet (series of flooring pieces arranged in a geometric design); plank hardwood flooring (linear and wider planks of wood); and strip (linear flooring that is not as wide) styles.

Engineered flooring is available as tongue-and-groove strips. There are also longer panels available for floating type of installations. Here, the boards are glued to one another and not to the substrate. The beauty of engineered floors depends upon the wear layer, which is actually the veneer. The veneer ranges from around 1/12 of an inch to ¼ of an inch. Engineered floors can also be abraded and recoated. Flat-cut veneers look better than rotary-cut veneers though they are more expensive and rare.

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Engineered Wood Floor

Flooring of a building is an important factor to design a building. Wood flooring, laminate flooring etc are the two kinds of flooring system. We can classify wood flooring into two types. One is solid wood and the other is engineered. The choice of flooring depends upon the personal interest, climates, durability, stability etc.

Engineered wood is a widely used product. It is used due to its incredible versatility. When two or more wood plies are made connected each other then the flooring is called engineered. The term engineered here is due to use of plies, glues for bonding etc. two or more plies are connected with glues. Adhesive force acts here for proper bonding.Upper layer is known as lamella and is visible after completing flooring. Inner layer is known as cores are responsible for stability and strength. It is made up of hard wood.

Wood plies are first heated up to a certain temperature that is recommended depending upon the quality. After drying the different layers of wood plies they are mixed with glues for bonding. Wood layers used here may be of slice cut or rounded cut. Sometimes confusions may create with laminate flooring and vinyl flooring because they are look like engineered wood flooring. Laminate flooring uses a thin layer of wood and vinyl flooring uses plastic that looks like wood.

There are different grades of engineered flooring. Quality differs from man to man, brand to brand. This flooring is available in different colors different width length. It depends upon the location and size of house. If the house is located in the darker area then dark color is not supposed to be used. Bright colors are recommended in this case. Thickness, width, length depends on the size and shape of house. Narrow flooring is formal and wide flooring is country look standard.

Engineered wood flooring is generally used in tropical countries. Now-a-days it becomes the main flooring element. People chose it because of its high strength and high durability. It will survive 40 to 100 years. Where there is slightly high relative humidity wood flooring can be used there. 4% relative humidity at winter and 10% relative humidity in summer are known as slightly high relative humidity. It is used in kitchen, basements, toilets, and bathrooms etc where humidity is relatively more. Some basements may be flooded. Engineered wood flooring is not recommended there.

It can be used over concrete floor, tiles as sub floor but can not be used over carpets. In Europe, America, incredible use of engineered wood flooring is observed. There are some methods of increasing its durability. Proper sweeping, cleaning should be ensured. Normally every brand recommends some techniques to clean their floor. Users should follow their instructions. Oil soap is strictly forbidden in cleaning purpose. One can easily install an engineered wood floor according to recommended procedures. But it is better to be installed by the manufacturer. The more it can be finished the more appearance will observe.

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Engineered Wood Flooring Provides Superior Results Over Linoleum, Laminates, and Even Hard Wood

Wood floors have returned to popularity with a vengeance. 100 years ago, hardwood floors were, for the most part, the only floor type available to the public. Tile flooring or natural stone was reserved only for the financially elite, large companies, or government buildings due to cost. As time wore on, other flooring was developed and slowly began to diminish the frequency of traditional wood flooring.


There was a revolution throughout the 1950s through the 1970s, a linoleum revolution. Linoleum was amazing. Easy cleanup from almost any mess and durable from dropped items. Linoleum was good at hiding blemishes unlike the wood flooring of the day. Shortly after the linoleum trend had gained a strong foothold another type of flooring was invented, engineered wood floors to be precise.


Engineered floors, developed in the 1960s, should not be confused with laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is essentially a photograph of wood that has been glued with resins onto fiber board. Some laminate flooring actually has the texture of real wood grain which has been embossed into it. Laminate flooring is of the lowest quality and poorest durability of any type of wood floor on the market. Once the top laminate or photo layer has been scuffed or worn down the floor needs to be replaced.


Engineered flooring is actually a veneer of finished wood glued onto multiple layers of wood. This plywood flooring comes in many finishes, wood species, and thickness. Surprisingly, engineered wood has been proven to be more versatile and durable than traditional hard wood. The finish of most engineered wood will actually outlast the finish that has been applied in home on traditional solid wood.


Engineered wood floors, just like laminates and solid wood, are not recommended for bathrooms, laundry rooms, or wherever there is a high humidity level or a strong likelihood of excessive exposure to water. Engineered flooring, however, is perfectly acceptable in kitchens, just as hard wood can be utilized. Even basements, where solid wood flooring can't be used, are an acceptable location for engineered wood flooring. Because engineered floors do not need to be secured to the subfloor, they are more versatile than solid wood. Engineered wood floors can even be sanded and refinished a number of times depending on the thickness of the veneer.


Wood floors that is engineered can completely alter the home's feel and look without making any other changes to the home's interior and for less cost than traditional hardwood flooring. Granted, if the house is being built, then it becomes that much easier to install from the start. The choices of wood species is also amazing, so it may be a difficult choice, but it will be a choice the homeowner will be thrilled to enjoy for decades to come.

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Engineered Wood Flooring - A Beautiful Option

You may want to install solid wood flooring, but your budget only allows engineered wood flooring that can last just as long as a solid wood species can. You can install engineered wood flooring that is just as beautiful and will last just as long as a solid wood floor without the high price and the high maintenance that hard wood flooring can require.

Engineered wood flooring is made to be stable, and solid wood flooring can just not compete in this arena. You can install engineered wood flooring over many different surfaces including concrete, basement floors and radiant floors. You must be aware that the quality of engineered wood flooring can vary depending upon the manufacturer from who you purchase engineered wood flooring.

You can expect to pay prices of $8.00 to $11.00 per square foot for engineered wood flooring. That can exceed the price of solid wood flooring, but engineered wood flooring is easier to care for and install than solid wood planks that solid hardwood flooring entails.

You can choose engineered wood flooring from a number of species and various finishes. You can be sure your floor will look almost exactly like a real solid hardwood floor without the hassle and maintenance it takes to keep a traditional wood floor looking its best.

If you are looking to start and finish a home renovation project that will add considerable value to your home, you need look no rather than installing engineered wood flooring. Prospective buyers look at many things that can influence their decision and a new engineered hardwood floor may be just the thing to seal the deal.

For those who want the look and age of a traditional hardwood floor but can’t imagine keeping maintenance up for the proper look, engineered wood flooring may be just the answer you have been looking for. With ease of maintenance and a wide array of shopping venues, owning an engineered wood floor has never been easier.

Go online today and research your options for an engineered wood floor. You may find it is the perfect flooring option you have been searching for.

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