Is engineered hardwood real?

I know some of my customers get confused about laminate vs. engineered hardwood.  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. 

There are many including the following:

• Does not require a plywood subfloor.  So, if you have a cement floor, you can easily glue or float this 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, many 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).
• It 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 cement) 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.

Now there are also some 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 at all.
• Some engineered hardwoods are in fact very cheap/flimsy products, so be careful and do your homework here.  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 (esp 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 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 90 locations across the US and Canada so there may be someone in your neck of the woods.

For information on prefinished vs. unfinished hardwood, pls read my previous blog.

Also, feel free to download our free flooring guide.  Or, email us with any questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie Gartner, "The Flooring Girl" and owner of Floor Coverings International Westchester NY

 

Angie's List Super Service Award winners for 4 years in a row.

 

You can download our free flooring guide.  Or, visit our flooring selector - 2,000 options.  We install hardwood flooring, carpet and runners, tile floors and backsplashes.  We also refinish hardwood floors.

 

Call us for a free estimate 914-937-2950.

"We bring the store to your door."

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WC19920-H07, HIC619252