Engineered Wood Flooring Basics

Engineered wood flooring is made up of an inner core of hardwood and/or softwood plywood or HDF and a top layer of real hardwood that is glued on the surface of the core. These cores also incorporate the tongue and groove system. These layers are formed in a cross-grain pattern and bonded together under heat and pressure. As a result, engineered wood flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity.

Engineered wood flooring is slightly more resistant to higher moisture levels than solid wood flooring. That's why it can be installed on any grade level whether the installation site is above, below or at ground level. This moisture-resistance feature also allows the engineered wood floor to be installed in basements.

Engineered wood floors are manufactured in two ways, a 'sliced' cut where the hardwood wear layer shows an original look of the wood and finer graining. The other is a 'rotary' cut, which shows a dramatic wilder graining.

Engineered wood flooring is usually an easy do-it-yourself installation material. Engineered wood flooring lines come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and species. Some brands have a thin wear layer that can only be re-coated and cannot be sanded and refinished after the use. The other species have a very thick wear layer and can be sanded and refinished up to 4 - 5 times if they wear out. Engineered floors can be nailed, stapled or glued down, or floated over a wide variety of subfloors, including some types of existing flooring.