What is Engineered hardwood flooring and when do you need it?
Engineered wood flooring is real hardwood not laminated which looks like wood but is actually not. It is made with several core layers of high density fibreboard, plywood or other type of hardwood glued together & a thin layer of a particular hardwood flooring species glued on top of those layers. This makes a stronger and stable floor.
That doesn’t mean that hardwood flooring is unstable, it is generally a magnificent choice for long-term enjoyment, however it is an organic substance that reacts top its environment. The environmental elements that cause hardwood to move are heat, humidity level and moisture.
It can shrink, swell, split, cup and wrap if it is very humid whereas engineered flooring which is a multi-ply plank of several different layers glued together, as opposed to one solid piece of wood that moves as a whole, it resists twisting and cupping and remains flat and intact.
Like solid hardwood, engineered flooring is available both as a prefinished and unfinished product. However if you are planning to opt for engineered flooring, it is our definite recommendation to get unfinished engineered and get someone customise the finish according to your specifications for a more beautiful outcome.
1. If you have a concrete subfloor then it will be less expensive to install engineered flooring as will not need to buy plywood and pay for the labour to install it. Also there are rarely any clearance issues to deal with while installing engineered flooring directly onto a concrete slab.
2. Engineered wood flooring makes a great choice for below grade applications like basements that are often prone to greater swings in moisture and humidity levels.
3. People love the trend toward wider planks, but wider planks are more susceptible to dramatic seasonal gapping due to their larger surface area. Gaps drive some people crazy! Because engineered flooring has a multi-layer plywood core and only a small veneer of hardwood, it is less prone to seasonal gapping.
4. Engineered flooring, due to its more subtle construction can be installed over radiant heating. We recommend using engineered flooring with very wide planks over radiant as opposed to a Quartered & Rift solid.
That doesn’t mean that hardwood flooring is unstable, it is generally a magnificent choice for long-term enjoyment, however it is an organic substance that reacts top its environment. The environmental elements that cause hardwood to move are heat, humidity level and moisture.
It can shrink, swell, split, cup and wrap if it is very humid whereas engineered flooring which is a multi-ply plank of several different layers glued together, as opposed to one solid piece of wood that moves as a whole, it resists twisting and cupping and remains flat and intact.
Like solid hardwood, engineered flooring is available both as a prefinished and unfinished product. However if you are planning to opt for engineered flooring, it is our definite recommendation to get unfinished engineered and get someone customise the finish according to your specifications for a more beautiful outcome.
When Do You Need Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
1. If you have a concrete subfloor then it will be less expensive to install engineered flooring as will not need to buy plywood and pay for the labour to install it. Also there are rarely any clearance issues to deal with while installing engineered flooring directly onto a concrete slab.
2. Engineered wood flooring makes a great choice for below grade applications like basements that are often prone to greater swings in moisture and humidity levels.
3. People love the trend toward wider planks, but wider planks are more susceptible to dramatic seasonal gapping due to their larger surface area. Gaps drive some people crazy! Because engineered flooring has a multi-layer plywood core and only a small veneer of hardwood, it is less prone to seasonal gapping.
4. Engineered flooring, due to its more subtle construction can be installed over radiant heating. We recommend using engineered flooring with very wide planks over radiant as opposed to a Quartered & Rift solid.
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