Technical advances have made engineered wood floors the most popular and most practical choice for residential and commercial floor coverings. The real reasons that engineered flooring is beginning to dominate the flooring marketplace are because they are more:
- Cost Effective
- Practical
- Durable
- Flexible
- And easy to intall
As impressive as the advances in Engineered Flooring are, not all engineered wood floors are created equally. There are many different wood types and grades but research demonstrates that quality engineered wood floors are every bit as attractive, warm and inviting as solid wood floors and add tangible value and comfort to your property.
Engineered Flooring is not Laminate Flooring
Many consumers are put off by the term “engineered’ when, in reality, the effect should be directly opposite. When it comes to wood floors, “engineered” stands for the future. Engineered wood floors are not made from solid timber but they are genuine wood floors replete with warmth, beauty and integrity.
Engineered Flooring usually consist of at least three plies that are glued together in cross-grain construction. This construction helps explain the superior stability of the surface compared to solid timber flooring as the plies add protection against buckling, cupping gapping or twisting. The outside layer is generally a real timber veneer, a thin cut of the wood selected by the consumer to serve as the floor’s surface. Exterior veneer choices can range from softwoods to hardwoods and can even include exotic woods.
The top layer gives the engineered flooring the look and feel of authentic hardwood. Inner layers or plies can be made from a number of products including plywood, high density fiberboard or hardwood. These core layers promote stability but also help resist the moisture and humidity to which solid wood floors can be susceptible.
Over against this laminate flooring consist of high density fiberboard that features an image of wood or another material of the consumer’s choice attached to the surface.
