Why Use Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
If you’re thinking about replacing your home’s floors and are considering hardwood floors, chances are you have heard about engineered hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood offers a similar look to traditional hardwood, but offers a few unique benefits, some of which may be key when it comes to your home’s environment. If you’re not sure whether engineered wood flooring is right for you, learn more about why it can be beneficial.
Resistant to Shrinking and Expanding
If you live in a climate that has frequent changes in temperature or humidity, hardwood floors can get damaged relatively easily thanks to shrinking and expanding slats of wood. Because engineered hardwood floors have multiple layers of wood rather than one single piece, they are a bit more resistant to shrinking and expansion. Because it’s less susceptible to this sort of damage and wear, it’s considered more durable than standard hardwood flooring.
Smooth Appearance
Standard hardwood, with its tendency to shrink and expand, can often show seams and cracks much more readily than engineered wood. Because engineered hardwood flooring is created in such a way that the “tongue and groove” systems lock together with a tight seam, they offer a smooth, aesthetically pleasing appearance in any room.
Less Costly
Engineered hardwood can be produced more cost-efficiently than traditional hardwood flooring, which is part of why it is becoming more and more popular for homeowners. Not only is the upfront cost lower than that of single-layer hardwood, but these floors also offer comparable resale value to traditional hardwood floors if you sell your home.
High Levels of Durability
Engineered hardwood is available in a range of widths as well as thicknesses. Some brands offer engineered hardwood flooring with a thin, .6mm wear layer, that can only be recoated—not sanded and refinished—when it gets worn. These types, despite the thin-wear layer, still have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. For even more longevity, homeowners and property managers can choose a brand that has a thicker wear layer, from 2 to 6mm, which can be completely sanded and refinished one to five times over its lifespan, and can therefore last 40-100 years. Though the cost of these thicker options is higher initially, the longer wear time makes it appealing for many buyers.
Many Styles and Colors Available
If one of your concerns with choosing hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring is having a lot of color and finish options, you’ll be glad to hear that choosing engineered flooring will not limit those options. Many brands and flooring companies offer just as many engineered wood flooring shades as they do standard hardwood flooring.
If you’re considering hardwood flooring but want to save money while still enjoying the luxurious look of solid hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring is the way to go. Not only is it more durable than traditional flooring thanks to its resistance to fluctuations in temperature and humidity, but it also is less expensive. Contact PC Hardwood Floors to learn about our engineered hardwood flooring options.
Yesterday, I had a massive flood in my NYC condo from my neighbor above me. A large section of my engineered Brazilian cherry wood floor was damaged. Six of my wood floor panels popped up as much as 3 inches. I am in a panic since I spent alot of money to have it installed and don’t have condo insurance. Does any have any tips how I can fix by myself? i.e. Do I buy a power fan to blow hot air? Thanks in advance! -JP
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I thank this post, engineered wood flooring typically has three or more layers. Generally, there is greater stability with more layers so its great to use it.
You make accurate and strong points on choosing engineered hard wood, thanks for sharing.
Engineered hardwoods are our biggest seller. People want the quality and style of real wood floors but also want them to be durable and affordable. This is great information.
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I agree with you, Cindy. The blog has been wonderfully written. The points related to shrinking and durability, in particular, are very impressive. Thank you for writing this blog!!
Some really great thoughts here. Engineered hardwood is absolutely the way of the future. Thanks for sharing.
Building a dream house is fun but can be stressful because we want to come up with the best decision in everything – from the door, ceiling, window panels and up to the type of flooring. However, your post has been quite informative and really helpful. At first, I am thinking of what should I choose for my house’ flooring – should it be marble flooring or oak beams? How can it be possible? And your post gave me the answer to my questions. Thank you so much for sharing the benefits and wonders of using engineered hardwood flooring!
Incredible points. Sound arguments. Keep up the great work.
There are some great perks with engineered wood flooring. Our company is looking to expand on our flooring options to add engineered hard wood. The information here really spells out many reasons why we need this type of flooring for our company. Great work.
Thank you for sharing this great article. If you have some time, you can also visit us in Wood Floor Planet NJ .
These are great points! If you had to pick one type of flooring to use and one type only, which would you pick?
Thank you for sharing this very helpful content. Perhaps good flooring enhance the look of your home or office and it also make your home looks cozy and comfortable.
I love what you said about engineered hardwood and how it’s more durable than traditional flooring material. I think that hiring a contractor is a great move when it comes to refinishing hardwood flooring. My kitchen has all kinds of buffs and scratches, so I’ll be sure to hire a reliable contractor that can help me out.
Great reasons to go with Engineered.
We like engineered for the stability in the humid South Florida climate. We also recommend getting it as thick as your budget allows.
My best friend is in the middle of a renovation project on her kitchen, and she needs to choose which type of flooring she wants to be installed. It’s great to know that engineered wood is more cost-efficient and has lower upfront costs. She is hoping to stick to a very specific budget, so I’ll suggest that she save money by investing in engineered wood flooring.
I’m very glad you mentioned that engineered hardwood flooring costs less! My coworker was talking to me yesterday afternoon about how she and her husband want to get new flooring installed in their bedroom before the end of the month, so she was wondering which material is best. I’ll pass this information along to her so she can know the benefits of engineered hardwood flooring.