All About Engineered Wood

What Is Engineered Wood? Engineered wood is 100% real wood.  It is comprised of layers of 1/8” to 1/16” real wood with finished wood on the top layer (or “veneer” of almost any hardwood species) and layers (3 or more) of non-finished plywood underneath.

What is Solid Hardwood? Solid Hardwood is real wood in a solid ¾” thick piece of wood top to bottom and can be sanded and refinished over several decades of years of use.

What is Laminate? Laminate is a photographic layer of melamine-infused paper on top of wood chip composite (typically a High Density Fiber or “HDF”).

Engineered vs. Laminate

 Engineered hardwood is 100% wood but made in layers- the layers are laid cross-ways to add strength to the flooring.  The flooring can be installed 3 different ways depending on the thickness  purchased.  For 3/8” thick it must be nailed down to enhance stability.  For ½” thick floor it can be nailed OR Glued.  For 5/8” planks they are thick enough to act as a floating floor, or you may Glue or Nail-Down.

The top layer of engineered wood is pre-finished, which means it has already been sanded and sealed and requires no additional labor after installation.  Depending on the finish layer thickness, it can be sanded between 1-3 times to remove any scratches and revive the wood grain.  When refinishing, it is recommended to have a professional take care of the sanding because of the minimal sanding threshold of the veneer.  Typically the professional sanding procedure removes 1/32 of an inch-so if your floor has a 2mm veneer layer you are able to sand the floor 1-2 times.

 Laminate is basically a picture that reproduces the look of wood, tile, vinyl, etc. on top of wood chip composite.   It is typically 3/8” thick and is installed as a floating floor with a tongue & groove locking system.  With this installation you may install and uninstall several times if wanted.  It is generally very budget friendly but cannot be refinished if damaged.

Benefits

Engineered wood is more expensive than laminate flooring, but it provides better value in the long run because it can be minimally sanded to refresh any imperfections it may have due to scratching or scuffing-thus adding to the life of the floor.  It is cheaper than solid hardwood and has a few advantages over solid hardwood.  Solid hardwood is very sensitive to moisture changes in your home.  Aside from seasonal gapping from changes in humidity, when there are poor conditions that cause drastic changes in moisture content, solid wood can warp, cup, split apart, or swell.  No wood will hold up well in wet areas like bathrooms or basements that flood, but engineered hardwood handles the problems of excess warping and movement better because of their multiple-ply cross-grain construction.  This makes engineered wood a great solution for installation in moist climates, over concrete, above and below grade or over radiant heat sources.

Laminate Flooring: What is it good for?

Laminate flooring has many practical applications.  It is typically made from synthetic materials, such as melamine resin, or from recycled composite materials in multiple laminated layers.  It is most often manufactured to have the look of hardwood, tile, or natural stone, but sold at a lower cost.  So, what is it that REALLY sets laminates apart from other flooring options?

Laminates are Strong

Laminate flooring is incredibly resilient and durable. The aluminum oxide finish commonly used on the surface of laminate planks is extremely hard.  I have seen a handyman drop a hammer on a freshly-laid laminate floor.  The terror on his face was priceless!  But to his relief, he could not find so much as a dent when he bent over to retrieve his hammer.

The hard finish on Laminate floors performs well against pets, children, office chair casters, and heavy traffic in general.  The finish is UV resistant, which means it will not bleach or fade in the sunlight.

Laminates are Easy

Easy to prep for, easy to install, easy to clean and maintain, and easy to remove and replace.  Laminates are often installed as a floating floor, which means they are not fastened to the subfloor, but merely snapped together. This makes it easy for do-it-yourselfers to install it without a lot of construction experience.  The everyday cleaning and maintenance is also simple.  For most laminate floors, a simple dust mop once a day is all that is needed.  In kitchens and bathrooms the floor can be mopped much like tile or vinyl.

Additional Pros and some Cons

As mentioned before, high quality laminates are often less expensive and easier to install than hardwood or tile. They can often perform better over radiant heat than solid wood floors and usually require less maintenance (no re-sanding and finishing every 5-10 years).  They also perform relatively well in wet areas, although they are not considered to be waterproof.  So, why doesn't everyone buy laminate?  1. They can be noisy; when walked across, they create a distinct clicking sound that is undesirable (special padding installed under the floor can reduce this noise significantly).  2. Upon closer inspection, one can often tell that the floor is man made and not a natural product. 3. When damaged, they can be much more difficult to repair than a wood or tile floor.  While repair kits are available, they are often hard to find and seldom hide the damage completely.

Have more questions?

If you live in Colorado and are interested in more information on laminate flooring, call us!

We'll get you in touch with one of our friendly flooring specialists.

(719) 391-9319

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