Engineered Hardwood

Engineered Hardwood Floors for Your Home

Without a doubt, hardwood is one of the most popular options for flooring among homeowners for a number of reasons. Not only can hardwood flooring boost the aesthetic appeal of a home, but it can also add to the value of a home. However, a major drawback to traditional hardwood flooring is its susceptibility to water damage. If you are concerned about this drawback, you may want to consider engineered hardwood as an alternative to traditional hardwood.

When homeowners hear the term "engineered hardwood," they often imagine a scientist making artificial oak in a laboratory. If you have the same perception of engineered hardwood, there is no need to worry about a Frankentree. In spite of its name, engineered hardwood is an entirely natural flooring product that is manufactured from 100 percent real wood. Even though engineered hardwood is constructed by man, both the materials and the final product have many similarities to traditional hardwood. There are very few exceptions to this rule.

Susceptibility to water damage is a major drawback to traditional hardwood due to the incredibly porous nature of this material. The porous nature makes traditional hardwood unusable in damp areas like bathrooms and kitchens as well as below-ground areas like the basement. Fortunately, engineered hardwood was designed as a solution to this issue. Engineered hardwood is manufactured by stacking thin layers of wood with alternating grain directions. This reduces the absorbent nature of the hardwood significantly. The thin layers used do have an obvious textural difference from traditional wood, especially because these thin layers are often made from lower grade woods for affordability. Usually, the top layer of engineered hardwood consists of a veneer layer of high quality wood.

Homeowners can choose the type of finish and wood for the veneer in order to create the perfect look for their home. The engineered hardwood will remain affordable due to the thin layers underneath, which will be undetectable. Only the top layer of the hardwood will be made of veneer. This means homeowners will be able to afford high quality hardwood that may be too pricey for a full hardwood floor. Even though the veneer is thin, it can still be sanded and refinished up to seven times depending on the hardwood type.

Engineered hardwood offers many advantages for the average homeowner. If you're interested in learning more about the advantages of engineered hardwood over traditional hardwood, don't hesitate to contact us.