What to Know About Engineered Wood Floors

What to Know About Engineered Wood Floors

Engineered wood flooring is a long-lasting floor material with a classic look. It has a top or "wear" layer made of solid wood, which covers a multilayer plywood core. The thickness of the wear layer typically reflects the caliber of the product, with a thicker wear layer generally indicating a more premium product. It is available in a wide range of wood species, including oak, maple, hickory, birch, cherry and walnut, as well as exotic woods like African mahogany and tigerwood. It is more stable than solid wood due to having multiple layers in its core, making it less likely to expand, contract or shift when exposed to moisture, humidity and temperature shifts.

It is also a good choice in places where solid wood should not be installed, such as over concrete floors or radiant heating systems. Engineered wood flooring is a great way to get the look of wide-plank wood floors, and is often the only option if you want planks wider than 5 inches. It is sustainably harvested and can be installed using staples or glue, or by simply laying them on top of the subfloor. Solid wood flooring must be nailed down and can't be installed over these types of subfloors.