6 Key Details About Engineered Hardwood Flooring

When it comes to the prospect of investing in brand-new, wooden flooring, the topic of engineered hardwood flooring has become a staple in the flooring marketplace. For those in the dark about this new and innovative approach to flooring, engineered hardwood essentially offers the aesthetics of an eye-catching hardwood floor at a more economical price point. Understandably, many find this new type of flooring a little confusing and don’t fully understand what it offers compared to alternatives on the market. Read ahead to discover more about engineered hardwood and its many benefits.

How Does Its Appearance Compare to Genuine Hardwood?

When dealing with quality engineered hardwood, you are very unlikely to tell even the slightest difference. The fact that most will never question its authenticity is truly a testament to how far modern flooring technology has come.

How Is Its Durability?

Amazingly, engineered hardwood flooring is not only durable, but the majority of manufacturers feel confident enough to offer thirty-year warranties as well. Now that is some impressive insurance! Not only are you unlikely to ever see it break, but on the off-chance that you do, most companies will foot the bill.

Is Engineered Hardwood Basically Laminate?

The answer here is a resounding “no” since a laminate wood flooring has a thin coating that is only made to look like hardwood. The rest is a high-density fiberboard that is a conglomeration of wood fibers joined together by resin (i.e. tree sap). With engineered hardwood, the top layer is a genuine piece of hardwood while the numerous layers below could be plywood, more hardwood, and high-density fiberboard. Clearly there are some similarities, but with engineered hardwood flooring you are getting an authentic surface layer, and when it comes to overall aesthetics, this is the most important part!

Can I Refinish the Top Layer?

A huge advantage that engineered hardwood has its ability to be refinished. Unlike laminate, this flooring can be restored with sanding and can be made to look new all over again. Just remember that this can only be done a couple of times as the hardwood layer is only so thick.

Will I Be Able to Find a Suitable Style?

Since engineered hardwood flooring is only becoming more and more popular, manufacturers are rushing to meet these demands; countless colours, styles, and wood types are now on the market, and you will certainly be able to find what you are looking for.

Is the Installation Process DIY-Friendly?

This flooring type is actually much easier to install than genuine hardwood and lends itself well to a do-it-yourself approach. Since the boards are already prefinished and use a design that allows the pieces to lock together, installing the floor is relatively straightforward. For those that don’t feel as comfortable with the hands-on approach, hiring a flooring company that has experience with engineered hardwood is always a good choice.

Considering engineered hardwood flooring for your home or business? Contact The Floor Shop for some expert advice on this new innovation in floor design!