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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.
