THE PROS AND CONS OF ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORS

It’s hard for most people to differentiate between an engineered wood floor and a solid plank floor once it’s installed. With both types of wood, you can achieve the desired look of natural wood in your home. However, engineered wood offers a different kind of flooring system and it’s important for you to know what you’re getting beforehand. Whether you are planning to also invest in floor heating systems, learn the benefits and drawbacks of engineered wood before you settle for it.

EASE OF INSTALLATION

Engineered wood floors are preferred by many homeowners because they are usually easier to install than solid planks. As a result, the cost of renovating your home with engineered wood is likely to be lower than using solid wood. However, the engineered warm floors still need to be properly installed in order to add warmth and character to your home while improving the value of your property.

VERSATILITY

With the advancements in engineered wood flooring technology, this type of flooring can be used in just about anywhere. Whether you are looking for a perfect flooring solution for your basement or a concrete slab, engineered wood can still work for most types of environments.

DURABILITY

In many cases, engineered floors tend to resist moisture and offer better stability that most species of wood used to make solid planks. This is because engineered wood has undergone processing to ensure it offers a better protection and is able to tolerate water and moisture better than natural wood species.

COST

Engineered wood flooring systems vary in prices. If you install floor heating, it’s going to cost you a lot more. This type of wood floor is made using different layers of veneer. When you buy very thick veneers of wood, you are likely to pay more. Good thing with buying the thicker veneers is that they can be refinished multiple times helping your flooring system to last much longer. Thinner veneers of engineered wood will be cheaper to install but cannot be refinished. This means that you will need to replace the floor due to extreme wear after a couple of years. The type of engineered wood you install will also determine if you can install heated floors.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING ENGINEERED WOOD FLOOR

While most people focus on how the top layer of the engineered wood floor looks, it is quite important to know how the floor was made because this will determine how long it lasts. Engineered wood floors can be made with up to 12 layers of plywood underneath the veneer top layer. This is done so that engineered floors can be used in different applications.

If you would like to use the engineered floor in a home with different flooring materials, ensuring that it has the right thickness is important to facilitate a smooth transition. Engineered wood can be used over concrete as well as other flooring materials like wood subfloors. Choosing a high quality engineered wood floor is always worth the cost. Just make sure that the floor is nailed down by a professional to avoid costly mistakes.