Engineered wood is slowly creeping up to be one of the most in-demand flooring types on the market, and it’s no mystery as to why. Engineered wood floors combine all of the things that we love about both synthetic and natural hardwood materials—mostly that they are easy to clean like linoleum floors with the high-end look of hardwood.
However, there are some misconceptions about engineered hardwood floors out there, and it is important that you have them cleared up for better or for worse before you make the decision to buy. In this article, we will go over the most important things to know about engineered hardwood before you make the purchase plunge.
What is Engineered Hardwood?
Engineered hardwood is a type of flooring that resembles hardwood on the surface, but is actually made up of a composite of materials. Instead, they are formed through a process of forcing wooden materials together through a strong adhesive or other melding processes.
The advantage to engineered hardwood, as we have hinted about above, is that they offer the aesthetics of a real hardwood floor but are much less fickle to care for. While authentic hardwood flooring can be easily susceptible to scratches and dents and can warp when exposed to high levels of moisture, engineered hardwood floors are much more durable. They can also be easier to install, which makes them a less cost-intensive investment.
Is Engineered Hardwood Right For You?
1. Engineered Wood Comes in a Variety of Styles
Much like 100% hardwood, engineered wood also comes in a number of different tints and reiterations. Some of the most common colours include red oak, maple, and hickory. Bamboo is also commonly used as a material in engineered hardwood (in fact, all bamboo floors are engineered hardwood by definition as they are always made up of a number of different materials in order to be floor-ready).
But, You Can’t Change the Style Once You’ve Chosen
Unlike regular hardwood floors, which can be stained, engineered hardwood cannot be modified once it is installed for the most part. Depending on your particular flooring, you may be able to change the stain one or two times, but the threshold will be much lower than regular hardwood because the veneer is thinner.
2. Engineered Wood Installation is Different
The installation of engineered hardwood does not rely on the use of staples or glue. Instead, it can be added to your home through what is known as a floating floor where tiles interlock on top of an underlayment.
3. Engineered Wood is Ideal for Heated Floors
If you are looking to install heated floors in your house—first of all, lucky you! Heated floors are one of the best ways to ensure that your home has optimal coziest levels during the winter months. The problem is that not all types of floors are conducive to heating installations. The good news is that engineered hardwood is the ideal floor choice for heated floors thanks to its high heat resistance.
4. Engineered Wood is Sought After by Homebuyers
While there are many advantages to relying on synthetic floor types, there is no denying that they don’t quite fill potential homebuyers with the same degree of “ohs” and “ahs” as hardwood flooring does. If you are planning on selling your house in the near future, engineered hardwood may be a great idea for you—it is a bonus for many homeowners!
5. Engineered Wood is Ideal for Dry to Lightly Moist Areas
We mentioned earlier that engineered wood holds up to moisture better than its 100% wood counterparts. While this is true, there are limits, as a large degree of water or moisture can still have an effect on your engineered flooring.
Your Engineered Hardwood Flooring Experts in Vancouver
If you are in the market for engineered hardwood flooring, come on down to King of Floors to visit our massive engineered hardwood flooring Surrey showroom that comes complete with engineered hardwood examples. Our friendly team of experts can help empower you to make the best flooring decision for you and your family. Get in touch with us or visit us today to learn more!