Engineered Wood Flooring
What is Engineered Wood Flooring?
Engineered wood flooring is man-made wood created of strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood that are fixed together with adhesives or other methods of fixation. Because it’s made of different parts, engineered wood is stronger and more durable than traditional lumber.
Unlike natural, solid wood, which comes straight out of a tree and into your flooring material, engineered hardwood is a more complex product that consists of several layers. The core layers make the product more stable than regular hardwood, while the outer veneer surface adds beauty and authenticity.
Engineered wood could be the flooring solution you’ve been looking for.
Engineered Wood Pros
Engineered wood flooring is designed to reduce the moisture problems associated with conventional hardwood. Its layers block moisture and provide added stability to your floor.
It comes in unique, wide, and extra-long plank styles that are not possible with traditional, solid hardwood.
Engineered wood is one of the most recommended flooring options to place over radiant heating; however, each manufacturer has specific requirements and it has to be checked if compatible with your exact heating system.
At Simple Flooring, we carry a wide variety of engineered woods that are designed to work perfectly with different radiant heating systems. We also have a team of experts who can help you choose the perfect flooring for your home and budget.
Environmental Advantages of Engineered Wood
Choosing engineered flooring is considered more environmentally-friendly than traditional hardwood for a few reasons.
- The veneer is sliced rather than cut with a saw. This process produces no sawdust, which means that all of the tree’s wood can be used. The sawdust produced making hardwood boards is wasted wood (and adds up to a significant amount).
- Hardwood trees grow much more slowly than the trees used to make engineered flooring cores. Because more surface area is produced making veneer, installing traditional hardwood uses many times the amount of slow-growing tree. This makes the replenishing time much longer.
How to clean your engineered wood flooring
- Keeping your engineered wood flooring dirt-free
- If possible, sweep or vacuum your engineered flooring daily. Use either a vacuum cleaner with a soft flooring attachment or a broom.
- Always vacuum or sweep an engineered wood floor before washing – this removes most of the dust and grit so avoids scratching. Alternatively, a dry microfiber dust mop can be used to pick up dirt and debris from the floor.
Using cleaning products on engineered wood
- It’s important to take care of your engineered wood flooring. While regular cleaning will keep your floor looking its best, there are some chemicals and materials to avoid.
- Never use wax-based cleaners or harsh detergents on your engineered wood flooring. Always check the label of any products you buy to make sure they are safe to use on wood floors. We always recommend the Bona brand to our clients.
- Abrasive materials, such as steel wool, should not be used to clean engineered hardwood flooring. These will scratch the surface and destroy the solid wood flooring appearance.
- Always finish cleaning by wiping your engineered wood flooring with a damp cloth and clean water.
- Try and wipe up any spills or liquid as soon as they happen. Excessive water or liquid can cause irreversible damage to engineered hardwood flooring.
- When cleaning use a DAMP microfiber or soft cloth. Excess water can damage your wooden floors.
Engineered Wood Prices
Lumber prices doubled from November 2021 to January 2022, so the price of wood flooring continues to rise.
Engineered wood is slightly less expensive than solid hardwood. The typical range of engineered wood flooring is $4.00 to $10 per square foot, with most types falling in the $5 to $7 per sqf range. Pre-finished solid hardwood averages about $8 per sqf, within a range of $6 to $15 per sqf.
Simple Flooring Most Popular Engineered Wood Products
Popular Questions About Enginnered Wood
- Is Engineered Wood Flooring cheaper than Solid Hardwood?
In most cases, yes, however there are many luxurious styles that are at a higher price point.
- Why should I choose engineered wood flooring over a solid hardwood one?
Unique, wide style planks; Compatible with radiant heating systems (heated floors); More affordable; Offers more stability to subfloor moisture and temperature changes.
- Can Engineered Wood Floors be Sanded and Refinished?
Depending on the quality of the product and the installation type, engineered wood floors can be sanded 1 to 2 times.
