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Engineered wood floors are made of a plywood with a layer of solid wood on top. These floors allow wood to go where traditionally it could not like a cement sub floors or a sub grade level of your home.
Engineered wood is sometimes called a remodel floor because it is more often thinner then solid hardwood. This allows a homeowner to more easily transition between floors that are close in height. They can be refinished, although depending on the thickness of the wood top, it may need to be professionally done. These floors are almost always prefinished. You will find engineered wood floors that are glue down, floating, and staple down.
Another benefit of engineered wood is cost. Some more exotic species of wood are very expensive. Engineered woods allow manufactures ways to produce floors in a more budget friendly floor.
Solid hardwood floors have time on their side. The tongue and grove style boards have been used in homes for generations. The live expectancy of the floor is 100 + years with proper care. They allow for much easier repair then a laminate or engineered wood and can be easily refinished my an informed DIY.
In the past, you only saw solid would in floors 3/4" or even thicker. Today though, there are solid wood floors as thin as 3/8" which allow it to go into an area a ticker floor couldn't.
You can find solid wood unfinished if you wish to stain it and polyurethane it yourself or prefinished for quicker installation.
Engineered wood floors are made like plywood. They are made up of several layers, mostly of a less expensive wood. The top layer is made of hardwood.
Solid hardwood floors, on the other hand are solid hardwood the entire thickness.
An engineered wood floor may have only 1/16" or so of hardwood on the surface, where a solid wood floor might be a 1/2" or more.
Engineered wood tends to be more stable - it is less likely to move or warp with changes in humidity or temperature. This is because the different layers of wood have the grain running in different directions. They are a good choice over a cement slab floor, and are frequently installed by being glued down.
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What are engineered hardwood floors used for?
Engineered hardwood floors are sturdy floors, specifically designed by engineers to be used for below-grade installations such as basements. These floors are designed to withstand different temperatures since a basement temperature can vary during the summer versus winter time.
How do you decide between engineered hardwood floors and natural hardwood floors?
If we can nail it down we use (prefinished) hardwood. If we have to glue it down (on slab) we use engineered. You can certainly use engineered in any application whether nail down, glue down, or even floating. There really aren't many compelling reasons to use solid anymore beyond prestige and the fact that is has zero chemical emissions. Engineered can be refinished just like solid, as long as the top veneer is think enough. If you plan to be in your house long enough to refinish the floor, use an engineered with a 3mm+ top veneer.
Where can one find cheap engineered hardwood flooring in the US?
One can shop at a number of home improvement stores in the US for engineered flooring. Lowes and Home Depot both carry several brands of engineered hardwood for flooring. One can also shop online at Build Direct, Simple Floors, and Can Floor for engineered flooring.
How do you clean engineered hardwood floors?
Use broom to weep all durty then after mopping never walk on the floor during this time
Why is it impossible to glue down click and fold engineered hardwood flooring?
Some manufacturers allow glue down of their click and fold / lock engineered wood floors. Check websites for info.
Engineered hardwood floors can be floated, but not solid hardwood floors?
Engineered hardwood floors can be floated, but not solid hardwood floors.
Can a hardwood floor be floated?
Engineered hardwood floors can be floated, but not solid hardwood floors.
What are engineered hardwood floors used for?
Engineered hardwood floors are sturdy floors, specifically designed by engineers to be used for below-grade installations such as basements. These floors are designed to withstand different temperatures since a basement temperature can vary during the summer versus winter time.
What are some different kinds of hardwood flooring?
Some different kinds of hardwood flooring include Solid Wood Floors and Engineered Wood Floors. You can learn more about the differences between the two types online at the Woodfloors Organization website.
How do you decide between engineered hardwood floors and natural hardwood floors?
If we can nail it down we use (prefinished) hardwood. If we have to glue it down (on slab) we use engineered. You can certainly use engineered in any application whether nail down, glue down, or even floating. There really aren't many compelling reasons to use solid anymore beyond prestige and the fact that is has zero chemical emissions. Engineered can be refinished just like solid, as long as the top veneer is think enough. If you plan to be in your house long enough to refinish the floor, use an engineered with a 3mm+ top veneer.
Can we install hardwood flooring in the basement?
Yes, but only if the flooring is engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood floors should not be installed below grade due to excessive moisture that will cause them to contract and expand.
Where can one find cheap engineered hardwood flooring in the US?
One can shop at a number of home improvement stores in the US for engineered flooring. Lowes and Home Depot both carry several brands of engineered hardwood for flooring. One can also shop online at Build Direct, Simple Floors, and Can Floor for engineered flooring.
How do you clean engineered hardwood floors?
Use broom to weep all durty then after mopping never walk on the floor during this time
Why is it impossible to glue down click and fold engineered hardwood flooring?
Some manufacturers allow glue down of their click and fold / lock engineered wood floors. Check websites for info.
Where can a guide for refinishing hardwood floors be found?
I need to refinish my hardwood floors. Where can I find a guide for refinishing hardwood floors?
Are cannister vaccuums better for cleaning hardwood floors?
yes they are excellent and better for cleaning hardwood floors. It is highly recommended from many sources to use them on hardwood floors. They work best on hardwood and tile floors.
How to Select Wood Flooring Supplies?
Today, no other flooring material is as popular as hardwood floors. The natural warmth and beauty of hardwood is hard to resist and will create an elegant look in any home that will last for years. Anyone who has shopped for hardwood flooring supplies knows how many choices are out there and may feel overwhelmed by the number of choices. Luckily, the only real choice that a person shopping for wood flooring supplies needs to make is the decision among choosing solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, or laminate floors.Solid hardwood planks are the most traditional types of hardwood flooring and are constructed out of solid pieces of lumber. They are either glued or nailed into place, depending on the structure of the subsurface. Engineered hardwood floors are slightly different than solid hardwood floors. This type of flooring is created from chips and strips of wood that have been compressed and held together with some sort of binding agent. The top layer is a thin slice of wood, which gives the finished plank the look and feel of solid hardwood. Finally, homeowners can buy laminate flooring, which is made out of resin that has been treated to look like real wood.As far as price goes, solid and engineered hardwood floors are much more expensive than laminate flooring. Although one might expect solid hardwood flooring supplies to cost more than engineered floors, this is not the case. In fact, they are almost equal in price.Many people are also concerned about the durability of their hardwood floors. The one negative aspect about having solid or engineered hardwood floors is that they can be damaged after prolonged use. They can scratch and discolor over time. Solid hardwood floors can be sanded and restained many times. On the other hand, engineered hardwood floors can only be sanded and restained a couple of times due to the way that they are constructed. At the opposite end of the spectrum, laminate flooring supplies never need restaining or sanding. They are highly resistant to impacts, scratching, and discoloring, making them ideal choices for high-traffic areas like kitchens and entry halls.Finally, the choice on flooring supplies may also depend on the underlying substructure upon which the floor will sit. Solid hardwood floors can be difficult to install over concrete slabs since they need to be nailed into place. In order to install a solid hardwood floor over a slab, contractors will have to glue down plywood and possibly sand the slab down to the correct height. Engineered floors can be glued directly to concrete, though. As for laminate flooring, it can be installed above any type of substructure without any problem.
