Engineered Hardwood
Traditional hardwood flooring is made of solid-wood strips, laid and secured with nails, and sanded, stained, and sealed after installation. This is still a classic and beautiful method, but traditional flooring also has its own vulnerabilities. Modern engineered wood floors offer all the beauty of traditional floors while mitigating or eliminating some of the problems that can affect traditional floors.
A common misconception is that engineered hardwood is somehow “fake” wood. In fact, engineered flooring is real wood; the difference is instead of a single piece of solid wood, it’s made of multiple layers of wood veneers. These layers can be all one species or many species. One major benefit of this method is that the sheets of wood are layered with the grains running in different directions, one after the other. This makes the wood incredibly stable and resistant to warping or changing shape.
The topmost layer in a plank of engineered hardwood is a high-quality wood that is laminated with a durable, factory-applied finish. Many customers appreciate the ease and durability of pre-finished hardwood.
Engineered hardwood is a popular choice because it’s much easier to install than traditional hardwood. It’s also more stable and can be installed over concrete or other floors that would pose a risk of warping solid wood.
Because engineered hardwood comes pre-finished, you can choose from hundreds of options to find exactly the finish you want. Engineered flooring also simplifies installation because there’s no need to sand, stain, or seal onsite.
Because your engineered floor is made of real wood, you will have the option in the future to sand and refinish it for a fresh new look. But one drawback is that, unlike solid wood, there is a limit to how many times engineered flooring can be sanded and refinished.
Solid hardwood can last hundreds of years and be refinished many times, but for many families, engineered hardwood is easier to install, more convenient to maintain, and just as beautiful.