
Engineered hardwood is a much more complex material than conventional hardwood, which comes directly from the tree to your house.
Engineered flooring is made of several layers. The core of the product consists of plywood, hardwood or high-density fiberboard, which makes the material more stable than conventional hardwood, whereas the outer layer is a hardwood veneer surface that makes it look like real hardwood and adds beauty.
However, it is different from a laminate since its outermost layer is made from real wood.
Some of the advantages of this flooring include:
- Engineered hardwood flooring can reduce the moisture problems that accompany regular hardwood flooring
- The layers make it more stable than conventional hardwood, as they do not retain moisture
- This makes engineered hardwood flooring very low maintenance since it will not swell or warp
Engineered Hardwood Flooring is also the more environmentally-friendly option as compared to regular hardwood flooring because:
- The veneer used on the outer surface is not cut with a saw but is sliced, which does not produce any sawdust and no wood goes to waste.
- The trees that are used to make the engineered hardwood flooring do not take as much time to grow as hardwood trees.
The best part about engineered flooring is that its installation is so easy that sometimes people even decide to do it on their own.
However, there are a few minor drawbacks of this flooring, which you should keep in mind before installing the floor:
- While it is similar to the cost of regular hardwood, it is a relatively more expensive option than tile, laminate or carpet.
- If the veneers are too thin or poorly manufactured, they can fade or warp ahead of time. It is, therefore, important to ensure that the veneers are of good quality so you can also increase the floor’s life through sanding and refinishing.
- Sometimes the manufacturers utilize cheaper alternatives for the core layers, which reduces the stability of the flooring. For this reason, it is important that you purchase a flooring product with core layers made from high quality