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Warranties are fairly straightforward in the wild world of engineered flooring. On average you can expect somewhere between 15 – 30 years although you always want to read the fine print. Commercial usage of a residential product decreases that number significantly. While not a concern for most folks, it is something to keep in mind depending on your needs. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions as to whether the boards require regular lacquering or oiling. As with most natural products, sunlight can affect the wood’s colour over time.
Most of the flooring from Harris Wood has a top layer of around 2mm, which makes it a good option if you’re on a tight budget but still want a floor that will last a while. Retailing from around $2.90 per square foot, Harris Wood flooring is a good mid-range choice. And most of their products are finished with a hard-wearing, scratch resistant wear layer made with ceramic based aluminium oxide. What we like most about their products is that the wood veneer layer of each collection has been sliced from the log in specific ways to create a specific look.
What is the best thickness for engineered wood flooring?
Home Flooring Pros is a consumer website that specializes in providing professional advice on different types of home flooring. Bruce, as you may already know are owned by the same company that own another very well respected flooring brand – Armstrong. If you’re an architectural purist in the midst of renovating a vintage home, you may balk at the idea of installing what is effectively a composite wood product . Home Choice Flooring only uses qualified carpenters to fit their engineered wood, not carpet fitters; whose expertise lies within their own trade.
They are also better suited for installing over in-floor heating systems. She moved to the world of interiors from academic research in the field of English Literature and photography. She is the author of London Writing of the 1930s and has a passion for contemporary home decor and gardening. At Real Homes, she covers a range of topics, from practical advice to interior and garden design. Get expert advice on your home, design tips, how much to pay for pros and hiring experts, delivered to you daily. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Laminate
While you could put most of the exotic species in the specialty class, none are quite as special as Heart Pine. It’s difficult to acquire due to its age and generally falls under the reclaimed banner. On that note, there are companies that use veneers from reclaimed boards as well if you prefer flooring with a bit of character.
For the best type of engineered wood floor, look for those constructed with a plywood core that has more flexibility. Alternatively, engineered wood flooring uses boards that are made of layers of wood that form a stable core that is less likely to expand and contract when exposed to fluctuating temperatures and humidity. This makes engineered hardwood floors a good pick for basements or rooms with radiant heating systems in the floor. If you’ve already started reviewing your options in the hardwood flooring market, then you’ll be well aware that engineered hardwood flooring is an increasingly popular product.
Unfinished Solid Flooring
Our engineered wood flooring guides can help you decide if it is right for your project. With the popularity of engineered hardwood flooring, you’ve also got a wide range of options. You’ll find your favorite domestic hardwoods as well as many imported and exotic woods that can give your home or office unique beauty that will set it apart. Because of the veneer layer, an engineered hardwood floor can only be sanded and refinished a few times—and sometimes only once—before the hardwood erodes to reveal the core layers. How many times you can resurface is dependent on the thickness of the veneer layer. A 1/6-inch layer, for example, will last much longer than a 1/16-inch layer.
As you research this product on our site, you’ll discover guides covering care and maintenance of engineered flooring, installation tips and techniques as well as an engineered flooring price guide. This Canadian company is one of the leaders in hardwood flooring and one of the greener brands as well. They use sustainable forest management and selective harvesting practices with all of their products, which includes domestic species along with a few exotic kinds of wood. If you want the best engineered wood flooring, this area is particularly important considering the grade of lumber tells you a lot about what to expect from the boards.
Unfinished Engineered Flooring
The veneers are made of real domestic oak hardwood that’s 2 millimeters thick with a clear finish of aluminum oxide for protection. The veneer sits atop five layers of solid wood, so this is a durable pick. Bellawood’s Select Maple Engineered Hardwood Flooring has premium veneers of creamy maple that are 3 millimeters thick. That means this product can be refinished, giving it a lifespan and durability to rival solid hardwood flooring. The veneer sits on a solid ½-inch-thick plywood core, adding to its durability. With a choice of both domestic and exotic veneers, and attractive finishes that suit every style of décor, there’s a lot to like here.
Better still, it’s competitively priced compared to solid hardwood flooring; upwards of $2.20 per square foot for engineered hardwood, compared to upwards of $3.40 per square foot for solid hardwood. One negative to engineered wood flooring is its cost compared to domestic or common hardwood species. You can pick up cheap solid hardwood for the same price as budget-friendly engineered flooring, but it all depends on the species. Both engineered wood floors and solid wood floors require about the same level of maintenance, though the former is more resistant to temperature and moisture and the latter usually lasts longer. Engineered wood flooring is a good choice if you are on a budget and want to be environmentally conscious without sacrificing the stylish, timeless aesthetic of a nice hardwood floor.
If you’ve got solid carpentry skills, you may be able to install engineered wood flooring yourself. Our service gives you the chance to request estimates online with no cost or obligation. You’ll receive multiple estimates from local, prescreened contractors who are competing for the work.
Our commitment to delivering the best flooring in every category takes us far and wide in our search for talent, materials, and ideas. That’s something you need to ask yourself, but you should also consider the condition of the floors beneath your current flooring unless you are working with new construction. You will also need to pick up a few additional supplies as well, including underlayment and glue if required. A very trustworthy brand with a great reputation, you can read our full report of Anderson hardwood here.
All in all, the best engineered hardwood flooring will meet most homeowners needs. Compared to solid wood flooring, everything related to engineered wood flooring costs less, from materials to labor. Note this is only true for the same wood species; for example, an engineered oak floor may be less expensive than a solid oak floor, but an engineered teak floor may be cheaper than a solid oak floor. If you love the beauty of natural hardwood but want to install flooring in locations not suitable to solid hardwood flooring, engineered wood flooring is a wonderful alternative.
Walnut and Cherry are a little more expensive, and you will have to deal with darkening over time with the latter. Beech and Birch engineered flooring are less common, but an excellent choice if you want something light. As there’s no wood in laminate flooring, it can handle water better than engineered flooring, but that’s about the only major advantage aside from cost. There are dozens of types of flooring you can use in a residential property, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. As popular as engineered wood is, there are a few drawbacks you’ll want to be aware of after we take a look at the advantages. Many manufacturers recommend professional fitting for a perfect finish, but as most of the ranges now come as a floating floor with a click-lock system, competent DIYers will be able to install it themselves.
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