Renovating
The Basics of Engineered Wood Floors
Warm and full of character, engineered wood floors are easy to install and suit many decor styles
Once installed, an engineered wood floor can be difficult to distinguish from a solid plank floor. But believe me, even a trained eye can be fooled as often as not. Even though both types of wood floors bring the look of natural wood into a home, they are very different things. When to use planks and when to go engineered confuses a lot of people.
It’s really not so complicated. Engineered wood floors behave a little differently than plank floors do; they tend to be easier to install and they’re usually less expensive than solid planks.
Wood floors are a classic addition to any home. Barring damage from fire or flood, a well-made and correctly-installed solid wood floor will add warmth, character and value to your interior as long as you’re in your house.
However, not all wood floors are equal, and the many species of wood that get made into floors have different characteristics. Understanding these characteristics will go a long way to help you choose the wood floor right for you.
Engineered wood floors and solid wood floors are very different things, and there are different situations when one would work better than the other.
It’s really not so complicated. Engineered wood floors behave a little differently than plank floors do; they tend to be easier to install and they’re usually less expensive than solid planks.
Wood floors are a classic addition to any home. Barring damage from fire or flood, a well-made and correctly-installed solid wood floor will add warmth, character and value to your interior as long as you’re in your house.
However, not all wood floors are equal, and the many species of wood that get made into floors have different characteristics. Understanding these characteristics will go a long way to help you choose the wood floor right for you.
Engineered wood floors and solid wood floors are very different things, and there are different situations when one would work better than the other.
Engineered wood floors can be more resistant to moisture and tend to be more stable. While no wood product can tolerate water standing on it, the increased moisture levels over concrete aren’t a problem for most engineered wood floors.
The key to this increased stability and moisture tolerance comes from how an engineered wood floor is made.
The key to this increased stability and moisture tolerance comes from how an engineered wood floor is made.
This photo shows a cross section of a high-quality, engineered wood floor. They range in thickness from approximately 1-2 centimetres. The top layer is a veneer of the desired wood; the thicker that veneer is, the more expensive the floor will be.
When this top veneer is very thin (0.6 millimetre or so) the resulting floor cannot be refinished should that ever be needed. However, when the top veneer is between 2 and 6 millimetres, it can be refinished multiple times.
The layers in the buildup underneath the veneer top layer are important and also play a role in the final price. There can be anywhere between three and 12 layers of plywood and unfinished white wood, depending on the thickness and quality of the finished product.
When you are shopping for an engineered wood floor, pay attention to how it’s made inside almost as much as you pay attention to how the top layer looks.
When this top veneer is very thin (0.6 millimetre or so) the resulting floor cannot be refinished should that ever be needed. However, when the top veneer is between 2 and 6 millimetres, it can be refinished multiple times.
The layers in the buildup underneath the veneer top layer are important and also play a role in the final price. There can be anywhere between three and 12 layers of plywood and unfinished white wood, depending on the thickness and quality of the finished product.
When you are shopping for an engineered wood floor, pay attention to how it’s made inside almost as much as you pay attention to how the top layer looks.
The different thicknesses exist so engineered wood flooring can be used in a variety of applications without awkward transitions between different flooring materials.
The most common transitions people have trouble bridging are areas between a tiled kitchen or bathroom and the rest of the house. By using an engineered wood floor in a renovation, you can remove the need for large transition strips and trimming down doors.
The most common transitions people have trouble bridging are areas between a tiled kitchen or bathroom and the rest of the house. By using an engineered wood floor in a renovation, you can remove the need for large transition strips and trimming down doors.
Engineered wood floors thinner than 2 centimetres can be glued down, similar to how you’d glue down a vinyl or resilient floor.
The newest, thinnest engineered floors use an advanced tongue-and-groove system that locks them in place. These thin floors (usually called floating floors) can be placed over an underlay or directly over an older floor.
If sustainability is a priority of yours, engineered wood floors tend to be a more sustainable option. This is especially true if you’re considering an exotic wood. The exotic trees that need to be harvested to make, say, a Rosewood floor go a lot further if only a 6 millimetre-thick veneer is going on each board.
There’s a lot of sustainability innovation that applies to the sublayers too, so do your homework and look for those FSC and SFI logos on anything you buy.
10 grounds for having parquet flooring
There’s a lot of sustainability innovation that applies to the sublayers too, so do your homework and look for those FSC and SFI logos on anything you buy.
10 grounds for having parquet flooring
An engineered wood floor will last from 20 to 100 years, depending on the thickness of of the top veneer. The best engineered wood floors available will last as long and perform as well as a plank floor, so another consideration to keep in mind is how long you want this material to last.
Using a high-quality, long-lasting engineered wood floor won’t affect your resale value, but using a cheap one will.
Using a high-quality, long-lasting engineered wood floor won’t affect your resale value, but using a cheap one will.
The characteristics of the wood that ends up on the top layer will always play into the longevity and resilience of an engineered wood floor, though the effect is moderated somewhat. Even so, a Brazilian Cherry engineered wood floor will always hold up to more than a North American walnut floor will. Choosing an engineered option you may save money and end up with a more stable and adaptable flooring solution.
Engineered wood floors
Pros: Can be used in places wood plank floors can’t be used; can be a more sustainable option; tend to cost less than solid planks.
Cons: Cheap versions of this product won’t last very long. Beware of low prices.
TELL US
Do you have engineered wood floors in your home? What wood did you choose and why? Share in the Comments below.
MORE
6 Alternative Flooring Choices That Will Rejuvenate Your Home
Engineered wood floors
Pros: Can be used in places wood plank floors can’t be used; can be a more sustainable option; tend to cost less than solid planks.
Cons: Cheap versions of this product won’t last very long. Beware of low prices.
TELL US
Do you have engineered wood floors in your home? What wood did you choose and why? Share in the Comments below.
MORE
6 Alternative Flooring Choices That Will Rejuvenate Your Home
Be it flooring or furniture, look for the logo from the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative on any wood product you buy.
Pulling off the Scandi pale wood floor