| Although natural hardwood floors have been around | | | | Most people are reluctant to consider hardwood |
| for a long time, modern engineered hardwood | | | | floors in humid or damp areas of their homes |
| flooring has become a more popular option. The way | | | | because they are afraid of them becoming damaged. |
| engineered flooring is manufactured gives it | | | | You won't have that worry with engineered |
| characteristics that aren't inherent in natural | | | | hardwood floors which makes them perfect for use |
| hardwoods. It is also much less expensive to install in | | | | in bathrooms and basements. They can also be put in |
| your home, and it can even be used in places, such | | | | right on top of a radiant heat system with none of |
| as basements, where moisture is a problem. | | | | the shrinking, buckling, or cupping you would expect if |
| Engineered hardwood and natural hardwood flooring | | | | you used natural hardwoods. |
| materials are constructed in different ways. With | | | | Engineered hardwood floored doesn't require the use |
| natural hardwood floors, the planks are entirely made | | | | of glue or nails for its installation, so it can be put |
| from a piece of hardwood. Engineered flooring, on | | | | down over any type of surface. This is known as a |
| the other hand, only employs real hardwoods in the | | | | floating floor, and the technique lets you install a floor |
| top layer. This layer gives engineered hardwoods the | | | | in which you'll have no gaps between hardwood |
| same look and feel as solid hardwoods but at a | | | | panels. The only compensation you'll have to make |
| substantially-reduced cost. Engineered hardwoods are | | | | before putting down your new engineered floor is to |
| available with top layers made of oak, pine, ash, | | | | add a vapor barrier between the flooring and the |
| teak, or bamboo. The bottom layers of the product | | | | surface it's going to be installed on. |
| are fabricated from other woods which can be easily | | | | The reason that engineered hardwood flooring can |
| replenished in nature and are much more | | | | be installed as a floating floor is that it's constructed |
| budget-friendly. | | | | using tongue-and-groove technology which easily |
| The core layers of engineered flooring could be | | | | locks the planks together. This type of construction |
| medium- or high-density plywood or fiberboard, and | | | | makes the floor a snap to install quickly. In addition, if |
| the number of layers can be different depending on | | | | you decide to move to another home, it's easy to |
| the manufacturer. Most commonly the floors will be | | | | take your engineered flooring apart so that you can |
| fabricated with three layers of wooden core. | | | | reinstall it in your new place saving you the expense |
| However, it's possible to find flooring that has a core | | | | of adding it in the future. If a plank gets damaged, |
| consisting of five to seven layers of wood products. | | | | it's a fairly easy task to replace it with a new one. |
| The number of layers used in the core has a definite | | | | Engineered hardwood flooring is finished with a very |
| impact on the durability of the engineered hardwood | | | | durable coating that will help your floors continue to |
| flooring. | | | | look beautiful even after they've been used for |
| Weather changes can affect the condition of natural | | | | many years. If they should become worn, they can |
| hardwood floors causing it to expand or contract to | | | | be refinished. Think twice before you try to refinish |
| the point where it can warp or buckle. An advantage | | | | your floors yourself. Do you really want to subject |
| of engineered hardwood floors is that the core gives | | | | your floors to your own lack of expertise? A |
| the flooring more ability to expand and contract | | | | professional refinisher will be able to do a much more |
| without causing serious damage. Since engineered | | | | durable job in far less time. Keep in mind, though, that |
| flooring can adapt to all climates much better than | | | | engineered flooring can only be refinished so many |
| natural hardwoods can, it can be used in far more | | | | times as the hardwoods are only one layer deep. |
| places and conditions. | | | | |