All About Engineered Wood Floors
By Jeff Hosking – Hosking Hardwood Flooring
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Engineered wood floors - How are they made?
Engineered wood floors are built having multiple thin ply layers (see picture below) that are glued together. The inner cores are generally either a hardwood and/or soft plywood type of material, which incorporates the tongue and groove system. The top thicker hardwood veneer wear layer is glued on top surface of the core and is available in almost any hardwood species.
There are some engineered wood flooring manufacturers that allow their flooring to be floated as well as glued down. Their boards generally range in width from 3 to 5 inches and up to 48 inches long. Examples can be seen here Mannington Engineered flooring.
Engineered wood floors are slightly more resistant to higher moisture levels than solid wood flooring, which adds to their appeal to use in damp basements, or in tropical regions of the country. Engineered flooring can be direct glued-down over a concrete slab above or below grade, or stapled down over a wood subfloor. Engineered flooring can be installed on any grade level.
Engineered wood floors come in a wide variety of domestic and exotic hardwood species. Some brands of engineered flooring have a thin wear layer that can only be re-coated and cannot be sanded and refinished new again once they get worn. They have an average lifespan of between 30 - 40 years depending on traffic.
Engineered wood floors are also manufactured two ways, one having a more expensive Sliced cut where the hardwood wear layer is sawn like regular lumber this shows truer look of the wood and finer graining.
Engineered wood floors can also be Rotary cut, which the veneer hardwood wear layer is peeled off the log using big lathes. This peeling method shows dramatic wilder graining.
Some engineered wood floors have a very thick wear layer. These floors can be sanded and refinished new again, up to 4-5 times if needed, which adds to their appeal, or our Mannington engineered wood floors. These thicker wear layers should last 60 - 100 years before needing replacement depending on the amount of wear and tear the floor will get. Engineered wood floors are an easy DIY installation.
Q. What's the advantage of using an Engineered wood floor over the other types such as a Floating engineered floor or a Solid nail down floor?
A. Most engineered wood floors are recommended to be glued down, but some brands can also be stapled to a wood subfloor. They can also be installed over most (flat) ceramic tile, concrete slabs, vinyl flooring, providing these floorings are secured well to the subfloor and that any surface wax or glaze is completely removed and the surface is roughened up so as to provide adhesion for the glue. Because of the better stability of engineered flooring than Solid wood flooring, they can also be installed where there is slightly higher moisture content like over slabs and in tropical regions of the country.
Q. Does it matter what size width board or color to use? Is one width better than another?
A. No. I would suggest using whatever width board you prefer aesthetically. The rule of thumb is that a narrower board will give you a more formal look and feel to your home. A wider board (over 4 inches wide), will give you a more Country look and feel.
Floor Color is a personal choice that would have more to do with your personal tastes and decor. A natural light colored wood floor will go with any décor and will lighten up any room. I usually suggest not using dark colored flooring if your room decor is very dark.
Q. Can I use a Engineered wood floor in my basement?
A. Yes, as long as the moisture content of the concrete does not exceed 4%. Basements are known to have slightly higher relative humidity due to being under the ground. It is recommended to use a Floating engineered wood floor with a 4-6-mil plastic vapor barrier in any areas where there is a slightly higher moisture conditions.
Q. Can I install a Engineered floor over other floor coverings such as vinyl or tile?
A. Yes, as long as the other flooring is a hard surface, secured well and is flat. You cannot install any wood flooring over carpet.
Q. Can I glue down an Engineered wood floor over my concrete slab that is on grade?
A. Yes, you should make certain that your slab is dry and that the moisture content does not exceed 4%.
Q. Are all Brands of Engineered floors the same?
A. No, like anything else you purchase there can be big differences in quality. Some manufacturers use a lower quality wood along with low grade, cheaper bonding glues for their ply layers. Their milling could also be off and their finish quality could be poor. I suggest staying away from names you never heard of and only use Name Brand hardwood flooring from manufacturers that have been around for a long time. They will be the ones who will generally stand behind their flooring if something should go wrong.
Q. Can I install my own Engineered Floor?
A. Yes, installing prefinished wood flooring is very easy. If you can measure a board, cut and glue it to another board, then you can install our hardwood flooring. It is an easy and rewarding way to save a lot of money -- doing it yourself. Our flooring comes with easy to follow instructions. Standard tool knowledge and common sense would naturally help. If you purchase your flooring from Hosking Hardwood Flooring, we will gladly take the time to walk you through your installation.
Q. How much flooring do I need to order? Why do I have to add 5% to my square footage?
A. We provide easy to follow instructions as to how to measure your rooms, see our Measuring Tips page. It is important to remember that all manufacturers recommend adding 5% to your actual square footage. This added 5% is recommended to cover boards that you may not want to use, that may have gotten by the inspection process at the factory and for cutting and fitting waste.
If you want to run the flooring at a 45-degree angle in the room then you would want to add approx 15% for a waste factor for the added cutting waste.
Q. What tools am I going to need to install an Engineered wood floor?
A. You will need some small basic tools such as, a Combination Square, Miter saw, Hammer, a tapping block, Jig saw, Small table saw, a pull bar, a few Packages of small wood shims and either a proper sized trowel (for glue down installation only), or a flooring stapler and 15 lb. black felt paper, if you are stapling the flooring down to a wood subfloor. All of these items are available for purchase at your local lumber yard or for rent (inexpensively) at your local rental store. Remember if you purchase your flooring through Hosking Hardwood Flooring, we will walk you through the entire installation process.
Q. Are there different grades of Engineered flooring?
A. Yes, manufacturers make a second and third grade available, which would show more light and dark boards along with more pronounced character -- with the possibility of small pinholes and knots. In our descriptions, we note whether natural character should be expected.
Q. What are the benefits of using Prefinished flooring rather than Unfinished flooring?
A. Purchasing prefinished flooring eliminates the time consuming chore of the sanding and refinishing and gives you the added benefit of a perfect finish all done for you at the factory. Most of the brand name manufacturers carry a variety of stained colors to choose from and are coated with a durable 7-10 coats of the Aluminum oxide finish, which is far more durable for wear than anything that can be purchased in a hardware store, or home center. Using prefinished flooring allows you to move right back into the room after installation. No waiting for days while the finish is being applied and drying!
All wood floors will react to the presence of moisture. In the dry winter heating months, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract, which can leave unsightly gaps between each plank. In the summer months when the humidity is higher the wood will expand and the gaps will disappear. If there is too much moisture it may cause the wood planks to cup, or buckle. This is why it is important when installing a wood floor to and to acclimate the wood prior to installation and leave the proper expansion area around the perimeter. It is also important to keep the relative humidity at between 30 - 65% with all engineered flooring.
At Hosking Hardwood Flooring we Only Retail 1st Quality Hardwood Flooring, we do not sell 2nds, or mis-milled flooring.
Re-cap on the benefits of buying an engineered wood floor
- Engineered floors have a Lifespan anywhere from 30 - 100 years.
- Using an engineered wood floor allows you to have a wood floor on any grade level.
- Can be used on wood subfloors or dry concrete slabs.
- Better suited for humid areas of the country.
- Engineered floors are very easy and fast to install.
- Engineered wood floors are more dimensionally stable than solid wood floors.
- Engineered floors are available in many different sizes, colors and styles.
- Some engineered floors can be sanded and refinished if ever needed.
- Hardwood flooring is the only floor covering that increases the value of your home.
- Hardwood flooring does not cause allergies, recommended to use by allergists.
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