Barham and Sons | What Is Engineered Wood Flooring

When it comes to choosing wood flooring, there are many quality options you can install. Engineered wood flooring has become an increasingly popular overall floor choice that is versatile and can even incorporate underfloor heating. Here is what you need to know about what is engineered wood flooring.

What Is Engineered Flooring?

It is a constructed wood made up of multiple layers. The top layer is a natural decorative top made of real wood that can come in a range of thicknesses but must measure over 2mm. if the natural wood is less than this, it is classified as veneered wood flooring. The thicker the top layer, the more durable the engineered floor. This is different from laminate flooring that may have this as a print and once worn through cannot be refinished.

The most significant aspect of engineered wood flooring lies in its core board that lies beneath the top layer. This core is what sets it apart from solid wood flooring as it makes it better able to cope with fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Different materials can be used in its construction, creating different types of engineered wood flooring.

Types of Engineered Wood Floor

1. High-Density Fibreboard (HDF) Core Engineered Wood Flooring

This type of engineered wood flooring has a core made up of wood chips that lies below the solid wood top layer. The wood chips are made from grinding up defective hardwood that is then mixed with resin and compressed to create the HDF core. This core board contributes to the strength and stability of the engineered hardwood flooring. This engineered wood floor is more durable than traditional plywood, especially when harder woods like oak are used in the construction.

2. 3-Ply Engineered Wood Flooring

These engineered wood flooring boards are made up of three ply construction that can easily accommodate narrower boards. The top layer is called lamella. It is made of your choice of solid wood or real wood. It is what can make this wood floor indistinguishable from other types of wood floors when seen from above. The middle layer or core board of this engineered flooring is made of softwood or soft plywood. The bottom or base layer is made from a harder variety of wood. The grain of each layer is set at 90 degrees of the one above.

3. Multi-Ply Engineered Wood Flooring

This is considered the best option of engineered hardwood flooring as it feels just as good as solid wood flooring when underfoot. The construction of this wood floor uses anywhere between 4 to 12 layers of plywood that are cross layered, glued. and compressed to create highly durable boards. The many layers mean more choice when it comes to the total thickness of the boards. The top layer is made of solid or real wood that may be stained and finished in a variety of colours.

Benefits of Engineered Wood Flooring

Good Stability

Quality engineered wood floors are very stable even when subjected to wide fluctuations in humidity and temperature. This is not the case with solid wood floors that can easily become warped under humid conditions and spills. This makes this hardwood flooring ideal even for older properties that cannot have their climate as easily regulated. Even with damage to the top layer, it can be refinished by being sanded, making it durable. The lack of shrinking and warping action also adds to their durability.

Versatility

You can install engineered wood floors of varied total thicknesses. They are also suitable for use in just about any room in the home. You can also source for this flooring in a variety of wood species, besides oak, and finishes.

Easy Installation

Being dimensionally stable makes these engineered boards easy to install as flooring. The boards can simply be laid loose on underlay, with the planks being clicked or glued together. They can also be glued, nailed or screwed down to a suitable subfloor.

Easy Maintenance

The solid wood top layer is as easy to clean as other hardwood floorings. As a general rule, you simply need to sweep with a soft brush and mop with a microfiber mop or cloth. Avoid spills and clean up quickly if they occur.

Caring for Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring can last for decades when properly taken care of. Though not a completely solid hardwood floor, the top layer is made of hardwood material and can therefore be treated like other hardwood floorings.

It is important to choose a hardwood variety and factory applied finish that best suits your lifestyle. The more foot traffic you will experience, the thicker a top layer you will want. This will allow for it to be sanded when needed to refresh its look.

Opting for a lacquer finish can help protect the hardwood layer as it is applied severally. This creates a useful protective barrier that can better withstand frequent movement over it.

Oil finishes provide a more natural wood appearance. When you apply several layers, more of it is absorbed into the wood, helping to better protect it and prevent drying. It however not an ideal option for any room with wet areas as it may also allow absorption of other liquids that may warp the wood.

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