Friday Flooring Feature: What is engineered hardwood? Is it real or is it fake?

Many of my customers get confused about engineered hardwood flooring vs. laminate flooring. Which is real? Which is fake? What is the difference?

 

First, laminate is fake. It usually looks like hardwood (and occasionally tile) but it's not real. It's a picture of hardwood covered by a melamine wear layer and on top of a high density core board. The pieces click together and lock into place to create a floating floor. Laminate has really come a long way and looks rather real; but, when you walk on it, you can often tell by the clicking noisy/tinny sound that it's fake.

 

Engineered hardwood, sounds fake, but it's NOT. It's hardwood through and through, but it's constructed in layers (similar to plywood). It's a terrible term because a lot of customers mistakenly interpret engineered hardwood as fake, but believe me it's real.

 

Advantages to engineered hardwood flooring:

• Does not require a plywood subfloor. So, if you have a concrete floor, you can easily glue or float an engineered hardwood floor.
• Because of the plys of wood (which are mounted perpendicular to each other), much of the expansion and contraction that you see in solid hardwood is reduced, so the boards are typically a tighter fit
• Believe it or not, some engineered hardwoods are stronger and more stable than their solid hardwood counterparts. And, because of this strength, it's easier to go wider in the planks (which is more in style and makes the room look larger).
• Engineered hardwood can be installed below grade (i.e. below the ground level, so it could go in a basement...provided, of course there are no moisture issues).
• Some engineered hardwoods can be installed over radiant heat. (Always be sure to check this); most solid hardwoods can't.
• There's more flexibility from an installation perspective. With most engineered floors you can nail it (if there's plywood), or glue it (if there's concrete) or float it.
• Some engineered hardwoods are less expensive; and, if you don't have a plywood subfloor, these will also be less expensive from an installation perspective.

 

Disadvantages of engineered hardwood

• Some engineered hardwoods can not be sanded & refinished. If you just need the hardwood for a short period of time, this may not be an issue; but, over the long term it can be. Check the wear layer - some engineered hardwoods are top notch and can be sanded 3-4 times; others 1-2 and others can't be sanded at all.
• Some engineered hardwoods are in fact very cheap/flimsy products, so be careful and do your homework. I mentioned above that hardwoods are real through and through - they are just layers of wood. That is usually the case, but there are a few cheap ones out there that have wood filler in them.
• Some engineered hardwoods (especially the less expensive ones) look more fake because they are rotary sawn (visualize peeling an apple and the wood keeps spinning).

 

As with any purchase decision, it depends on which of these factors are most important to you, and the cost/benefit trade-off. Try to select a flooring expert that is knowledgeable and that you can trust. We'd be happy to help (we are in NY/CT area), and my company has about 100 locations across the US and Canada so there may be someone in your neck of the woods.

Related hardwood information:

What is a floating floor?

What is the difference between prefinished an unfinished hardwood?

What types of hardwood flooring are best for pets?

 

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What is engineered hardwood?  Is it real or is it fake?

Hardwood Flooring - Carpet - Tile/Natural Stone - Laminate - Refinish Hardwood - Backsplashes

Debbie Gartner, President and Owner

"The Flooring Girl"

Floor Coverings International Westchester County

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We install hardwood floors, carpet and runners, tile flooring. Call us for a free estimate 914-937-2950. 

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