longstudio

by cborresen

The difference between solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring

On first inspection there isn’t any great aesthetic difference between solid wood and engineered wood flooring. However before you rush out and opt for the cheapest wood floor there are a few pros and cons to weigh up for both engineered and solid wood floors.

Construction

Solid wood flooring is milled from the tree to give a solid wood plank which has an uninterrupted wood grain and is solely constructed of one solid section of wood. They are mostly constructed with a tongue and groove format.

Engineered wood floors consist of a top layer of natural hardwood which is stuck to a cross layered section of natural soft or hard wood known as ply wood. The cross layering of the ply enables the plank to be more stable due to the glue used so that when the wood expands width ways the different angles reduce the amount of expansion.

Durability

Solid wood flooring is more durable than engineered as it gains its strength from being one solid piece of wood and can be re-sanded and refinished with different waxes, stains or oils more times then engineered. Though the life of any floor does depend on how well it is looked after with recommended care products.

Engineered wood flooring is still very durable and can only be re-sanded five times as the top hardwood layer cannot withstand more.

Really good maintenance is key to durability as when the right cleaning products are used a wood floor can last a very long time.

Stability

Solid wood floor isn’t considered as stable as engineered due to its seasonal movements, meaning that they are susceptible to expansion and contraction with humidity changes in the home. A small perimeter gap accommodates this movement. Solid wood floor is not generally recommended if underfloor heating is already installed as the heat can cup and warp the boards. It is also not advisable to lay solid wood flooring on concrete, unless a full moisture test has been carried out and it is sealed, as the levels of moisture can also affect the boards.

Engineered wood flooring is more stable and more multi functional then solid wood as it is suitable for laying on underfloor heating, concrete and is compatible with most types of underlay making it a good option for those living in second floor and basement flats.

Installation

Solid wood floor can be stuck down or secret nailed and it is not recommended that they are floated over underlay as the joints are glued down and wouldn’t allow the boards to move with seasonal humidity and moisture.

Engineered wood flooring can be stuck down, nailed and floated. It is versatile but does still require a perimeter gap just to be on the safe side with slight board movements.

More Engineered Wood Flooring Articles

by Mr.Thomas

Why Engineered Wood Flooring is Best

Wooden floors have been a common preference for many homeowners and interior designers over the years because it presents a warm, beautiful, and sophisticated look to any house that laminate and vinyl are unable to match. Nevertheless, wood flooring is now getting to be much more widely used for the reason that engineered wood flooring has created the choice both more effective and a lot less expensive so that it is an excellent option for every household. Entirely eco-friendly and with several finishes and colours available, engineered wood flooring is one of the top purchases that you could make for your home.

In brief, engineered wood flooring is flooring that are developed by layering solid wood and MDF together and then gluing and pushing the layers to produce a stable fit. Each of the layers is very carefully placed to make sure that a cross grain construction is produced which lends to its durability and good tolerance to water and dampness. This also helps prevent the wood flooring from warping over a period of time, which can be one of the major issues which home owners encounter with real wood floors. In fact, given the distinct characteristics of engineered wood flooring there’s been an influx in creative designs such as edging and radiator roses.

In addition there are a wide selection of widths and thickness to select from, though more often than not 3 and 5 ply flooring is bought with regards to engineered wood flooring. As stated before, its ability to deal with moisture which makes it the most appropriate flooring for many rooms where commonly you wouldn’t consider wood flooring to be a possibility such as cellars, and bath rooms. Mainly because as opposed to its solid wood counterpart, engineered wood is able to bear up to high volumes of traffic in addition to any differences (irrespective of exactly how dramatic) in temperature and moisture.

Engineered wood flooring is usually more favourable as a flooring option in many cases because it comes in pre-finished and finished styles, enabling the individual to easily install the floor in one step and it is instantly functional. In addition, since engineered wood floors are normally only about three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch thick, it makes it possible for them to be fitted on top of already present floor surfaces which makes installation a truly straightforward procedure. Therefore, rather than worrying about finishing, sanding, or removing the existing floor before an area is ready for use, engineered wood flooring could be installed in only one day.

As soon as it is the time to actually install engineered wood flooring into a house there is the selection between lengthier panels for installs that are ‘floating’ in style, or simply opt for the effortless tongue and groove boards, which can make it more realistic to think about installing the flooring without the need of any specialist assistance.

Lastly, there is a demand to take a close look at the veneer of the wood flooring that is being thought about considering that the thickness of the layers will denote how eye-catching the end product comes out to be.

The alternate options to engineered wood flooring are laminate and real wood. Each of which have their pros and cons.

Laminate floors appear to be similar in looks to real wood floors but are normally more cost effective and in some ways being more robust, and with distinctive finishes and beveling options available this kind of flooring can certainly still provide a real wood look at a portion of the cost . Because the laminate is not affixed to the sub floor, leveling is vital to ensuring a top quality finish. If the sub floor is bumpy the laminate floors may have a bouncy feel to it. Because some laminates simply click together without the need of adhesive it is quick to fit. Solid wood floors, as the name suggests, are a type of wood flooring that is solid wood all the way through. With its natural beauty as its principal focus, its drawback is that it might be susceptible to scrapes and dents though this isn’t essentially a serious problem in the long term due to the fact that real wood floors can be sanded down on many occasions.

by Virtual Farm Boy

FAQ’s For Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring

What is Solid Wood Flooring?

Solid wood is exactly as it sounds, one piece of wood from top to bottom.

What is the difference between Laminate and Real Wood Floors?

Real Wood floors will age and mature with your property, this means that they will mark and dent more easily than a laminate would but this is part of the character of real wood floors and should not be viewed as a fault of the product. The shade of the wood surface will change with exposure to sunlight. Dependant on the species, it will either lighten or darken with age. The shade variation will only go on to a certain level and then cease. Any unexposed surface areas will eventually catch up with the colour differences once exposed.

Depending on the type of Real Wood floor (solid v’s engineered) it can sanded and re lacquered a number of times to prolong the life of the floor.

What is the difference between Solid Wood Flooring and Engineered Wood Flooring?

Each type of flooring has its specific use and choosing one over the other is dictated by your lifestyle and needs. Solid wood should be in a moisture-controlled environment. Solid wood (strip or plank effect) should be nailed down only and requires a wood sub floor. Solid wood can be glued to a variety of sub floor materials.

Engineered wood flooring consists of a multi-plied, cross-stacked backing with a real wood veneer (top layer of a selected species). Engineered wood flooring can be used on grade, above and below grade.

Engineered wood flooring is more dimensionally stable so it can be installed in areas where solid wood is not compatible due to moisture. Engineered wood (strip or plank effect) can be glued down over various sub floor. Some engineered woods (strip and plank ) can be nailed down which require a wood sub floor. Engineered woods can also be layed as a floating floor where the tongue and groove are glued together, but the floor is not anchored to the sub floor.

What is a “Floating Floor”?

Floating flooring is a flooring system laid down over a layer of underlay. So while the individual planks are glued together, the individual planks are not nailed or glued into the permanent floor. Instead, the planks form a system that “floats” over the layer of underlay. The underlay can be laid down over existing floors.

What is the required distance between the walls and the flooring boards?

When gluing a Real Wood to the subfloor an expansion gap of 15mm towards the walls is sufficient. With floating-floor installations for every metre of installation width the flooring requires a distance to the wall of at least 5mm, lengthwise an expansion gap of 15mm is sufficient.

Can I install the flooring using one pack after the other?

No, for a natural, harmonious looking installation is recommended to work with approximately 5 open packs of flooring and sort/choose the boards individually by colour.

How much wastage do I allow for?

Despite our strict sorting criteria and thorough quality control there may be certain material-specific peculiarities that customers come across during the on-site selection and installation process which may need to be cut out. Generally, we recommend adding 5% to the room’s sqm-total for cutting scrap.

Which kind of Real Wood flooring is right for me?

The range of choices is huge. According to personal taste and character of the room you can choose between different wood types, board sizes, surface finishes (lacquer-finish or oil-impregnation), surface structures (Antique, Distressed, Brushed), impressions (Block or Wideplank) and styles.

Does sunlight have any effects on the flooring?

Yes, any kind of wood will change its colour over time. During this process light-coloured wood types are not necessarily going to get lighter, dark wood types however will get darker. Every wood type has a characteristic aging process of its own and will react in its individual way.

What is the maximum load a Real Wood flooring can bear on a single point?

With very large loads (e.g. pianos, aquariums, storage heaters and the like) we always recommend gluing down as the installation method of choice.

Can Engineered Real Wood flooring that has been installed as a floating floor be sanded and resurfaced?

Yes, but be aware that every sanding process will take off about 1mm of the flooring’s wear-layer. Try not to use very heavy sanding machinery as the big weight of these machines may lead to the creation of “sanding waves”

How do I care for my oil-impregnated Real Wood floors?

Use Wood-Floor Soap for regular maintenance cleaning. Use a vacuum cleaner for lacquer-finished floors and damp-wipe only if needed.

Should your Floating Real Wood Flooring be installed under kitchen appliances?

In the kitchen, you should install the flooring under kitchen appliances, but be very careful when you slide the appliances over the floor. We recommend covering the flooring with something such as a spare rug to protect the flooring when you’re moving the appliances.

Are there methods that make it possible for ALL stains to be removed from Real Wood Floors or is it sometimes impossible for some stains to be removed?

Most stains don’t penetrate more than the sanding will remove. However, if you have a severe water stain, you may not be able to remove it.

How much of an irregularity (drop or rise) can there be in an existing sub floor before installing your Real Wood Flooring?

You can have a drop or rise up to 4mm over 2 linear metres.

Do Real Wood Floors increase home value?

Absolutely. Real Woods floors are recognised as one of the highest quality floors available and would increase the value of your home.

I am installing a Radiant Heat Floor System involving poly water tubing set in gypsum concrete that would be my sub-floor. Can your products be used with this type of floor heating system?

This installation is okay as long as the tubes don’t touch the wood. You also would have to use a laminated underlay vapour barrier between the concrete and the floor.

Can your Real Wood Flooring be installed over Linoleum and be used on stairs?

Real Wood flooring can be installed on the stairs, however it can be slippery.

You can install our floating Real Wood flooring over linoleum if the linoleum remains sound and tightly glued to the original sub floor.

Is there a type of Real Wood Flooring (e.g. Maple v’s Oak) that is more durable or longer lasting than another?

There isn’t much difference between Real Wood flooring wood types. The only negative on oak is it’s a rather porous wood, but it is a very hard durable wood, as are maple and beech. White oak is slightly harder than red oak. Your choice will really come down to aesthetics.

My concrete floor has a few low spots in it and I was wondering what to use to solve this problem?

Most building materials suppliers have a concrete levelling product. We suggest levelling any areas that are more than 3/16″ in variation. Make sure you use the underlay with a DPM before installing over concrete.

Do you have to install your Real Wood Flooring under existing cabinets?

Ideally, the Real Wood flooring would go under the cabinets. You can, however, cut around the cabinets if removing the cabinets would cause undue complications. Keep in mind, though, that if you were ever to change the cabinets, you could have a problem if the new cabinets weren’t the same size as the old cabinets.

Is it possible to install a Real Wood as a floating floor over concrete?

Real Wood floor is designed exactly for this kind of application. It requires an underlay with a DPM over the concrete floor. The floating floor system can go directly over that.

If there were a crack in the concrete, would it cause problems with a Floating Floor installation?

We recommend that any cracks in concrete be filled with concrete filler and sealed prior to installation. If it’s just a hairline crack you can simply cover the crack with duct tape. Keep in mind that underlay with a DPM must be installed prior to laying down the floor.

Important note prior to installation:
Relative Humidity should be maintained a 40-55% prior to installation and throughout the life span of the floor.

15mm expansion gap must be maintained around the perimeter of the floor.

Related Engineered Wood Flooring Articles

by Mirage floors

Why You Should Use Engineered Hardwood Floors for Your Home

As a homeowner, you have various options available for your home flooring. There are traditional hardwood floors that portray the natural beauty of wood. However, there are some limitations when it comes to using hardwood floors. In humid environments, these floors can expand. Fortunately with the development of various flooring products, you have more choices such as engineered hardwood floors.

When getting engineered hardwood floors or other flooring products, you have to make sure that the flooring products that you get are high quality. By getting them from top floor covering providers such as FINfloor Store, you can be sure that the quality of the floors that you will be buying is high. So if you are planning on installing new floors for your home, consider getting engineered hardwood floors.

Just like hardwood floors, engineered hardwood floors offer the same advantages of a natural wood floor product. The engineered floors show the same style and look of real wood with its superficially lacquered finish. Resembling real wood, these engineered hardwood floors come in various wood styles such as hard Maple, Oak, and Red Oak.

Aside from its natural wood floor appearance, these engineered hardwood floors allow installation in humid environments as long as the humidity is 45% to 65%. You can also even use these floors in dry environments as long as you also use humidifiers. The reason why engineered hardwood floors can be used for these types of environment is because of the nature of how it is made.

Composed of three wood layers, engineered hardwood floors use two quick growth layers and one slow growth layer. After the layers are arranged, they are treated and finished with a mechanized edge. Plus, with engineered floors, doing hardwood floors installation in your home will be quite easy because of its assembly system.  Installing or disassembling the floors will take lesser time and effort since the flooring does not need glue.

T o find out more about the features of these engineered hardwood floors, please visit http://www.finfloorusa.com/engineered-floors-greenkett.html

Related Engineered Hardwood Flooring Articles

by sneakymoose

What Exactly is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Nowadays, people prefer engineered hardwood flooring instead of hardwood flooring that is natural. The reason for this is that the construction of engineered hardwood flooring gives it features that are not to be seen in hardwood flooring that is natural. Engineered hardwood flooring is able to resist moisture more and is less expensive.

There are a number of differences in the construction of engineered flooring and natural flooring that is constructed completely out of hardwood. Hardwood that is used for engineered flooring is found in the top layer. The kinds of hardwood that are used for engineered hardwood flooring include bamboo, teak, ash, pine and oak. The top layer gives engineered flooring similar visual beauty like the natural flooring. A core layer is glued below the top layer. This core layer has layers of affordable and replenishable wood. These layers might be high-density or medium density plywood or fiber wood. The number of layers that make up the core differ as per the flooring manufacturer. A majority of flooring manufacturers make use of three wood layers in the core. But there are many flooring manufacturers who are starting to construct layers of core that will have about 5 to 7 wood layers. More wood layers are being added to the core as the extra layers make the engineered flooring even more durable. If there are extreme weather changes, traditional flooring that is natural tends to contract and expand to the extent that it will warp or buckle. Engineered flooring has a core layer that enables it to contract and expand without warping or buckling like the natural flooring. This implies that flooring is not affected much by conditions of the environment. It would be a preferable choice as compared to flooring that is natural. An engineered flooring could be installed in a damp or humid basement unlike a natural one. Such a type of flooring could even be fixed over a system of radiant heating without it suffering any kind of damage. If natural flooring is fixed over the heating system, it would shrink, cup or buckle. Engineered flooring could be fixed as a floating floor. In other words, it could be installed on a surface without making use of nails or glue. Such a floor would let you have flooring that does not have any gaps between the panels. For installing engineered hardwood flooring, a vapor barrier has to be placed between the floor and the surface.

A locking system of groove and tongue helps to install the engineered hardwood flooring as a floating one. Here, the hardwood planks have to be clicked and locked together. As you can see, engineered hardwood flooring can be fixed very quickly. If the owner of the house is moving, the hardwood planks can be taken apart easily and taken into the new home. The system of locking makes it easy to replace damaged planks. Don’t you agree that engineered hardwood flooring is cool?

Co-Founder Rob Banks hosts this overview of how to install an engineered floor. Take a look! learn.builddirect.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

by UGArdener

Solid Hardwood Floors v/s Engineered Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring in Vancouver is a flourishing industry. Wooden floors add aesthetic beauty to our living spaces and workplaces. It is being extensively used by people with great taste of ethnic flavor and who enjoy adding charm to their property. In different textures and forms, they are being used for different purposes and style.

Among the most in-demand forms of wooden flooring in Vancouver are the Solid Hardwood floors and the Engineered Hardwood Floors. Both the forms are popular in use and have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages over one another.

On one hand, Solid wooden floors are durable and add strength to your flooring. They are cost-effective flooring solution and give you the aesthetic feel of solid wood used for flooring. It is the traditional form of floors made out of wood. It uses the actual solid wood and is used throughout the North America region for its durability. The common forms include maple, oak and birch which are available in different colors and shades. The only and the biggest drawback with this form of wooden flooring is that it gets easily damaged or wears out with time due to moisture and temperature modulations.

On the other hand, there is the advanced form of Engineered Wooden flooring. The engineered wood floor uses the solid wood as the base along with multi-layers of plywood. Its installation is more sophisticated than in any form of flooring. It offers durability and resistance to external damaging factors. In contrast to the solid wooden floors, it offers resistance to external factors like moisture, light and other wear and tear. It is more structurally sound in comparison to solid hardwood and does not lose its luster quickly.

The only reason behind the popularity of engineered floors is due to its resistivity to wear and tear. But solid wooden floor continues to be a favorite too since it is far more economical and durable.

by John T Pilot

The Basics of Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered Wood Flooring is somewhat different from Natural Wood Flooring. Natural Wood Flooring is made from natural wood obtained from different types of trees like Bamboo, Beech, Cherry, Maple, Oak, etc. Engineered Wood Flooring, on the other hand, is part Natural Wood and part Plywood. It is made by using 1/16″ to 1/8″ of finish wood on top and unfinished plywood underneath. So what is inside does not matter, the top surface is100 percent genuine wood. Engineered Wood Flooring is the latest trend in the market and is an innovative and interesting substitute of Natural wood Flooring. Natural Wood Flooring is prone to warping, discoloring and cracking when exposed to extreme temperatures, whereas Engineered Wood Flooring is durable and easier to maintain.

The construction process of Engineered Wood Flooring is different from that of Natural Wood Flooring. In Engineered Wood Flooring, a thin layer of hard wood is laid on top of a thick layer of plywood. The top layer is suited to be walked upon as soon as it is laid down as it has already been polished. The top layer is real wood hence it needs to be polished regularly so that it does not lose its luster. There are different species of Engineered Wood Flooring. A few of them would be:

Hickory Wood- Hand scraped wood gives your home a timeless feeling.
Maple Wood- Maple Wood gives an elegant finish to whichever room it is applied in. It is most suitable in living rooms and dining rooms.
Bamboo Wood- Almost all Bamboo Wood Flooring is engineered but it “Green” and cheap.
Oak Wood- Oak Wood is reddish in color and is inexpensive and the most popular type of wood used for flooring.

Engineered Wood Flooring can be sanded if it develops scratches or dings. There are various disadvantages of Engineered Wood Flooring as well. First and foremost, if the sanding of this floor is not done by a professional, then the life of this floor can get drastically reduced. The sanding of Engineered Wood Flooring should always be carried out by an expert. Secondly, Engineered Wood flooring cannot be sanded more than 2-3 times. If it is sanded excessively, it tends to lose its luster and sturdiness.

Engineered Wood Flooring is moisture resistant and can be suitably applied in areas with maximum moisture like kitchens, basements, bathrooms, etc. Though it can retain moisture well, it is advisable not to use Engineered Wood Flooring in basements that tend to flood frequently or in children’s bathrooms as they are also prone to flooding.

Engineered Wood Flooring has many advantages over Natural Wood Flooring and Synthetic Wood Flooring. If you want sturdy durable flooring that offers the same feel and luster as Natural Wood Flooring and which is inexpensive and durable, then Engineered Wood Flooring is the one to choose.

Find More Engineered Wood Flooring Articles

by bsabarnowl

The Marvels Of Engineered Wood Flooring

The engineered wood is very much in demand these days for the new houses that are being built. This is mainly used for the floor because hardwood flooring is not easy to be done on your own. You have to get a floor installer. Comparatively, the engineered wood flooring is an alternative that not only enhances the look of your house but is also hassle free.

Engineered wood is a mixture of plywood and finish wood and so you have actually got yourself real wood for the floor, no matter what people may say. The engineered hardwood floors are moisture proof and are also easy to maintain. Even though hard wood is sturdy, the ply wood used across the finish wood in case of engineered hardwood flooring gives support and strength.

There are various advantages of the engineered hardwood floors. In case of solid wood floors once it is laid, it needs to be sealed and you must give it some time to dry before it is ready to be used. The engineered hardwood floors are instantly ready to be used once it is done, since these are sold after sand cleaning and sealing. Another benefit of these floors is that they can be later sanded in case scratches develop. Laminated floors do not have this advantage.

Compared to the other wood floors the engineered hard wood flooring is the best for kitchens, bathrooms and to a certain extent in basements too. The installation of engineered floors can be done in two ways. You nail them or glue them in place. There are floating engineered floors too.

Though more expensive than the laminated floors the engineered wood floors are easier to maintain as they can be cleaned to remove the various marks that form on the floor when used constantly. The unique feature of engineered floors is that they are noiseless while tiled or stone floors tend to create noise. During winter the feel of the floor under our feet is warm unlike the other floors. You can rest assured that your floor will not develop dents or get warped when it comes in contact with moisture.  

Engineered wood floors in Utah, Salt Lake City, is prompt and is done by experts.  There are very many specialists in engineered hardwood flooring. With their help you can also customize the floor according to your choice.

Related Sold Wood Floors Articles

by infomatique

Why Choose Engineered Wood Flooring?

Engineered wood flooring comprises of multiple layers of wood, capped by a veneer of solid wood, which often varies in thickness, averaging around 5mm, but often exceeding 10mm depending on the quality of the product. The top layer is the part visible to the consumer, providing the look and feel to the engineered wood flooring solution. The various layers are secured together with special wood glue, resistant to deterioration and moisture damage.

There are a number of advantages to be found when choosing engineered wood flooring over, for example, solid wood; one of which being the fact that it is often considered more universal by nature, being suitable for installation on top of many different types of surface, including often tricky concrete floors. In addition, it is also considered more flexible and easier to install and maintain than many alternatives, due to being typically sold in easy-to-fit systems, and often coming pre-finished in the pack – meaning no further preparation such as waxing or oiling of the wood needs to take place. This not only cuts down on extra costs for finishing products, but also means that your flooring is ready to go, straight out of the box, saving you or your re-fitter costly additional labour time. Don’t forget however that this type of flooring is not suitable for installation in bathrooms or utility areas, where regular exposure to high levels of moisture may cause movement between the boards to occur.

Is engineered wood flooring durable? The simple answer is yes; and the better you care for the floor, the longer it is likely to last. Maintenance on engineered wood flooring is simple to carry out, and can be as easy as applying a quality laminate and wood cleaner ever so often. These specialist cleaners are neutral detergents that form a self-polishing film, highly resistant to wear and dirt that helps to both clean and protect the product. More intensive maintenance can also involve sanding down the surface or damaged parts of the wood. Bear in mind that there are only a limited number of times that manufacturer’s will recommend sanding down your engineered wood flooring. Typically, a professional sanding machine will remove anything from 0.25mm – 1mm off the top layer of the wood, and for the varieties of engineered wood that feature thinner veneer layers, this must be done rarely and with caution.

The durability of engineered wood flooring also depends very much on the already mentioned thickness of the top layer, which can vary considerably. Generally speaking, a better quality board will feature a thicker veneer layer, giving the product a thicker ‘sandable area’ also; however, the type and quality of the wood also plays and important role, as do the number ply’s in the core. Again, with regard to the number of ply’s, a better quality board will typically comprise of more ply’s than a cheaper one, and the range varies from lower-end products offering 3-ply construction, to the top end boards featuring up to 9-ply’s.

Another important benefit to recognise when deciding whether choose engineered wood flooring over solid wood flooring is that they are suitable for use on top of increasingly popular underfloor heating systems. Solid wood is not appropriate for use with underfloor heating as many varieties of wood are considered unstable when being subjected to significant changes in temperature, and are likely to expand and contract more, causing movement in your flooring to occur. Engineered wood flooring doesn’t suffer from this problem since it’s a composite product and doesn’t react in the same way to temperature changes. This again adds more fuel to the view that engineered wood flooring is more versatile and better value for money than some of its alternatives.

by Mirage floors

Why Choose Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Vancouver Over Natural Solid Hardwood?

When selecting the kind of material used to cover your floor, the choice of hardwood is always at the top of the list. Natural wood elicits an instant feeling of warmth and hominess to the environment that vinyl, stone or carpet just aren’t able to match. Solid hardwood floors in Vancouver are a special favorite of homeowners as a statement of style that compliments the Canadian mystique of the North Country. But when deciding whether to go with all natural or engineered hardwood flooring it’s important to consider more than which material is the greatest status symbol.

Solid hardwood flooring in Vancouver has always been the prime choice of the regions most expensive homes and offices because of its rich texture and unique grain patterns. But all natural wood floors have many down sides that can out weigh the benefits. On the other side of the debate, there are many advantages to choosing engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver over solid hardwood and not all of them centers on price alone.

Because of the climate, engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver is gaining in popularity for its diversity of real wood top layers along with its ability to be used in rooms where solid hardwood floors would not stand a chance.

And there are other reasons:

Upkeep – For most people the number one concern for flooring isn’t the price of purchase but more about the cost of its maintenance. The cost of preserving a solid hardwood floor over engineered hardwood flooring equates to a combination of time, labor and money.

Solid hardwood flooring in Vancouver needs special care to keep their luster and appearance. Natural wood scratches, fades with age and is prone to warping and even mold should it be exposed to water and moisture for extended periods. After a few years, when the natural wood has weathered a bit, it will be necessary to have the floors resurfaced. This usually involves sanding the wood surface and then re-staining. Unfortunately natural solid wood floors, because of environmental regulations, can’t be layered with a coat of polyurethane which could protect it from scratches.

Engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver is pre-coated which makes it more resistant to scratches and provides for greater longevity. Because engineered hardwood flooring is still made with real natural wood, it can be resurfaced if it becomes deeply scratched and its’ construction allows it to be used in more highly trafficked areas that may be susceptible to moisture and heat like the kitchen or bathroom. Unlike natural hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring would warp or cup when exposed to these elements. This type of flooring is constructed so that their inner core is laid in opposite directions making it immune to atmospheric assaults that would normally cause it to enlarge or shrink creating all kinds of problems.
Installation – Engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver is easy to install compared to solid hardwood flooring even to the point that it can be laid down by amateurs making it a less complicated “do it yourself” job. Unlike solid hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring can be nailed, stapled, glued or can be installed as a floating floor. Because of the ease of installation and replacement, should you need to move from your home or office, it’s fairly simple to remove the floor and take it with you.
Cost – For Canadian residents and business owners considering engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver, all the benefits of its visual appeal, simplicity of installation and ease of maintenance, can be topped off with the fact that engineered hardwood flooring costs less than solid hardwood floors in Vancouver. That is to say, not only is your cost in the long run going to be less but the price of an engineered hardwood floor is much lower than that of the solid wood floors; right out of the gate.

Engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver shows itself to be the perfect choice. You have a wide variety of wood styles and types to choose from, it can be used in higher traffic areas that are prone to moisture and heat where solid hardwood floors can’t be used, and it’s far easier to install than traditional solid wood floors. After calculating the low maintenance costs, that fact that this is a floor you “can take with you” and the much cheaper price tag; the bottom line when considering all the various factors for selecting the right floor for your home or office is that an engineered hardwood floor definitely comes out on top.

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