Why Engineered Wood Flooring Is A Good Option

By Author: Flooring Republic
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If you love wood flooring then hardwood may be your first choice. But, there is a better option and that is engineered wood for your floor.
Wood Flooring options

If you like wood flooring then you have several options. The age-old choice is hardwood. If price is a consideration then laminate flooring can be attractive, and it also gives you wider choice of colors and patterns apart from the natural wood finish. The only drawback is that it is not durable. It may be difficult to sand and re-polish laminate. Hardwood is ideal in terms of durability due to the fact it can be sanded and polished a number of times. However, it is becoming more expensive and installation is a time consuming process.

What is engineered wood?

Engineered wood used for flooring purposes has three distinctive layers.  There is a base layer made of pine and the central core made of veneer strips of birch or similar softwoods bonded together under high pressure and heat using a thermosetting resin. The third layer is a hardwood that ranges in thickness from 2 mm ...
... to 4 mm.

A better grade of engineered wood is made up of shaved veneers of hardwood laid lengthwise with a top thick layer of hardwood 2 to 6 mm thick, the three layers are glued together with a thermoset resin and bonded using heat and pressure. A thicker top layer of real hardwood used in the engineered wood flooring means it can be sanded and polished at least 3 times during its lifetime. This is in addition to the other advantages of engineered wood mentioned below.

The resin used makes engineered wood impervious to moisture. It will not warp or rot when used in areas with high humidity.
Unlike hardwoods, there is no risk of cracks, deformation and other age-related issues.
This type of wood is less vulnerable to termite and pest attacks.
It is easier  and quicker to lay this type of floor

Floors made of engineered wood

Floors made of engineered wood cost less than genuine hardwood floors. The difference between the two floors are indistinguishable. As a matter of fact, you can customize the look you want and the floor can have a uniform appearance. You can lay out the floor using untreated and unpolished engineered wood and then apply the finish of your choice whether it is an oiled look or a glossy mirror finish.

Install with underfloor heating

One of the big advantages, is that if you have underfloor heating the flooring will not warp or become damaged due to the heat. Just use 14 mm or thicker and it will retain its shape and look.

Polish and sand it again and again

If you select flooring with a thicker hardwood layer of about 4 to 6 mm then you can sand and polish it 3 to 4 times. Engineered woods are designed to last for at least 30 years under normal conditions.

Easy to fit

It is easy to fit engineered flooring because it is available in uniform thicknesses and widths. It takes less time to lay compared to genuine hardwood, this means that the Installation costs are less.

Maintenance

Cleaning and maintaining floors are easy when they are made of engineered wood. The resin used for bonding is impervious to water and most chemicals. Just use a wet mop. You only need to be careful if a topcoat of lacquer has been applied to the floor.

There are a few things you need to be aware of when choosing engineered woods. When you select this type of flooring, it is essential to make sure that the top layer of wood is thick enough to allow for re-polishing. It is also essential to make sure the inner layers are made of hardwood if you want long lasting durability. Regardless of this, engineered hardwood is the ideal choice when it comes to looks, durability and cost.

Flooring Republic is a direct factory outlet with shops in Wales, Midlands, South and East of England besides their online wood flooring store. They specialise in engineered hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, vinyl flooring and solid wood flooring.