Engineered Hardwood Flooring: Is It a Feasible Option for Your Home?

Hardwood flooring is a long tradition of luxury and timeless beauty. Installing hardwood flooring is difficult as well as expensive. However,homeowners who are looking for that classic feature in their flooring might consider installing engineered hardwood flooring which is made of several layers. The topmost layer is 100% natural wood, which comes in a variety of species. The bottom layer is also made of wood. In the middle, there is a core built from 5 to 7 layers of plywood that crisscross in different directions. When exposed to moisture, temperature and humidity, engineered construction creates a highly stable core that is less likely to contract, expand or shift.

Benefits of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

• Engineered hardwood flooring is primarily designed to reduce the moisture issues that are associated with conventional hardwood.

• Engineered hardwood layers provide added stability and block moisture to your floor.

• Engineered flooring will not warp or swell, making it a very low-maintenance option.

Environmental Benefits of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered flooring is considered more eco-friendly than traditional flooring because of a few reasons stated below.

• Rather than cut with a saw, veneer is sliced in case of engineered hardwood.This is a saw dust free process which means wood of all of trees can be used. Due to saw dust, many solid hardwood boards are wasted.

• Hardwood trees grow slower compared to other trees used to make engineered Hardwood flooring cores. Installing traditional hardwood often involves the use of such slow growing trees because more surface area is produced making veneer. This helps in replenishing time much longer.

Disadvantages of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

There are some drawbacks of this type of hardwood flooring. These include:

• Compared to laminate, tiles and carpets, engineered hardwood flooring is still expensive.

• Veneers are too thin. This will prevent refinishing and sanding that may double the lifetime of the floors and some veneers are too thin that they can prematurely fade or warp.

• Some wood manufacturers try to cut corners by using oriented strand board or fiber board that may compromise the stability of the floor and will result in an inferior flooring product.

Is the Engineered Hardwood Floor Worth It?

Engineered hardwood floor is easier to install. In fact, there are examples of some handy homeowners installing their own engineered hardwood flooring. Still, it’s a major project with big financial implications. When shopping for engineered hardwood flooring, you will find a wide range of textures, wood species, colors and finishes. Once it is installed, engineered hardwood planks will look same as solid wood planks. Engineered hardwood flooring can be glued, stapled or floated. It mainly depends on the product you choose. Floating floors are easiest to install and can go directly over an existing floor. Take some time to research on engineered hardwood and determine whether it’s the right floor for your home.

One can shop for the best-quality engineered as well as solid hardwood flooring in Tampa Bay Area by visiting Way Floors – one of the reputable hardwood flooring stores in this region. This family owned business offers a wide range of floor tiles for sale, including ceramic, porcelain, wood looking, marble, granite, etc. They also specialize in tile, laminate and hardwood floor installation, carried out by experienced flooring contractors. Hire them to build and install kitchen and bathroom cabinets as well. Just visit Wayfloors.com for more details!