Engineered wood flooring is a highly popular and sought after wood flooring solution these days and in it’s easy to see why. At Wood and Beyond, we’re often asked about the benefits of engineered wood flooring and we love a challenge, so we got the team together over a coffee in the office and set ourselves the task of finding 10 advantages of engineered wood flooring. Here’s what we came up with:
1. It looks just like real wood.
One of the great things about the engineered wood flooring that you can buy today is that it looks just like real wood. When engineered wood was first introduced, it was considered by many to be the poor relation to solid wood, but even its harshest critics can’t say the same today. A good quality engineered wood floor will fool even the toughest skeptic into believing that the floor is or could be solid wood.
2. It doesn’t expand and contract to the same extent as solid wood.
Aside its great looks, this is arguably one of the most significant advantages of engineered wood flooring over solid wood. Thanks to its clever construction, engineered wood flooring doesn’t expand and contract to the same extent as solid wood. What this means is that it’s safe to lay in environments where solid wood would risk damage. In particular, kitchen and bathroom environments, where moisture levels and temperatures fluctuate enormously, the right engineered wood floor won’t even bat an eyelid.
3. It is extremely durable.
Engineered wood flooring is made up of layers and layers of plywood that are bonded together before being topped off with a solid wood lamella or top layer. The making of engineered wood flooring boards in this way means that they are incredibly tough and will stand up to heavy footfall in both domestic and commercial environments.
4. It can be sanded.
Although the number of times that engineered wood flooring can be sanded depends on the thickness of the lamella or top layer, there’s no getting away from the fact that engineered wood can be re sanded during its lifetime. Re sanding a floor enables you to bring the floor back to life when it’s looking tired. It is also a good way to get rid of surface staining or marking.
5. It can be refinished.
Once you’ve re-sanded your engineered wood floor, you can refinish it to protect it and make it look like new again. What this means is that you are completely free to change the look of your floor every time you re-sand and refinish it, giving you real flexibility.
6. It comes in a whole range of species, grades and finishes.
In the same way that solid wood flooring comes in a whole range of species and grades, engineered wood flooring has the same range for its lamellas or top layers. This means that you can achieve the look you want as well as choosing the best finish to suit your lifestyle. Different grades of wood mean that you can adapt your choice to suit your budget too. So, no matter whether you want a tough, lacquered low budget option or an aged, oiled top quality option, the choice is there for you.
7. It lends itself to wider boards.
The way wood floor boards are made, in order to achieve a wide solid wood board, you need a seriously big tree. This isn’t the case with engineered wood flooring. Because the core boards are made of plywood, the boards can be made much, much wider than solid wood flooring without breaking the budget. What this means is that you are able to find two or three strip engineered wood flooring that will allow you to have fewer joins across your floor and install your floor in a fraction of the time.
8. It comes in chevron and parquet look.
It is becoming more and more common to find engineered wood flooring boards in parquet and chevron styles. What this means is that you can buy boards that already have your desired finished style in place, allowing you to complete a detailed parquet or chevron floor project in next to no time.
9. It’s easy to install.
Easy to work and quick to lay, engineered wood flooring lends itself perfectly to both DIY and professional installation. In fact there is even a click system, which is even simpler than standard engineered wood flooring for anyone who fancies taking on a project of this nature for the first time.
10. It won’t break the bank.
The final, great advantage of engineered wood flooring is that even though it might look as if it cost a fortune, it won’t.
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FAQ
1. Does engineered wood flooring look like real wood?
Yes, engineered wood flooring is designed to closely mimic the appearance of real wood, to the extent that it can fool even the toughest skeptic into believing that the floor could be solid wood.
2. How does engineered wood flooring respond to changes in temperature and moisture?
Engineered wood flooring does not expand and contract to the same extent as solid wood. This makes it safe to lay in environments, such as kitchens and bathrooms, where solid wood might risk damage due to fluctuating moisture levels and temperatures.
3. Can engineered wood flooring be sanded and refinished?
Yes, engineered wood flooring can be sanded and refinished during its lifetime. The number of times it can be sanded depends on the thickness of the top layer or lamella. This process allows the floor to be brought back to life when it’s looking tired and to get rid of surface staining or marking.
4. What variety does engineered wood flooring offer?
Engineered wood flooring comes in a whole range of species, grades, and finishes. This means you can achieve the look you want while choosing the best finish to suit your lifestyle. Different grades of wood mean that you can adapt your choice to suit your budget as well.
5. How easy is it to install engineered wood flooring?
Engineered wood flooring is easy to work with and quick to lay, making it suitable for both DIY and professional installation. There is even a click system which is simpler than standard engineered wood flooring for anyone taking on a project of this nature for the first time.