The construction is what provides engineered-wood floors its strength and stability, creating a floor that is less predisposed for the expansion and shrinkage brought on by variances in temperature and humidity. Because of these qualities, engineered-wood flooring is usually installed in places that solid-wood flooring typically cannot be applied, for instance over concrete sub-floors or in basements.
Let's not confuse these with all the fake real wood laminates, which are just pictures of wooden encased in vinyl. Laminate floors have a photographic layer which shows the image of any material you want to have in your household, be it hardwood or something else. Nevertheless that is deceiving as when you touch it, you'll realize that it isn't genuine strong real wood, even though the engineered type is.
With all the dual features of an attractive best layer which is a true hardwood species, and also a core which is created to shift and move with climatic changes, engineered hardwood flooring is ideal for any basement installation, or an installation in a summer residence or cottage that is not environmentally controlled all year round.
When purchasing engineered wooden flooring, choose a item created without urea formaldehyde adhesives. No sense introducing more toxings into your environment.
Prefinished hardwood flooring minimizes the effort and time required for installing a sound or engineered strong wood floor, as the boards are already finished and require no sealing. You can find a number of widths readily available in hardwood from 2" to 7" and all can be nailed onto plywood, glued or floated onto concrete, above, at or below grade.
Stay clear of engineered flooring solutions which includes a surface layer thinner than 18 inch because it will be nearly impossible to ever refinish the floor in the future. Additionally, do not choose low-quality engineered woods that use a particleboard laminate rather than plywood in any layer. They're very sensitive to moisture. .
High quality engineered wooden floors are made of numerous layers of hardwood stacked and glued together under heat and pressure, they're much less likely to be affected by extremes in humidity. This makes them suitable for basements or other damp surroundings.
Another wonderful thing about engineered wood flooring is that it's possible to find it inside a multitude of species. You can go with the standard oak or go all out which has a stunning maple.
Engineered solid wooden flooring has a lower initial charge, but the thin top layer of high-quality wood resting atop a number of layers of cheaper stable solid real wood enables for only one to 3 refinishings. Experts say solid wooden flooring adds morel value to a property than engineered wood floor. When installed, I cannot tell the difference, so don't always believe the experts. Our eyes do not lie. I will let you be the judge, You get the look of hardwood, with out having the expense. You can also get engineered flooring in bamboo if you would like to go environmentally safe. Bamboo is less expensive too because it's technically a grass and grows at a much faster rate. Bamboo floors do not deplete our forests.
Many companies still hand craft their floors from old growth solid wood. The end result is absolutely stunning!
Along with these functional advantages, engineered hardwood floors are frequently less costly than their stable hardwood counterparts, making them worth serious consideration on a budgetary degree. With all of its capabilities that enable these advantages, engineered hardwood truly stands as being in the class by itself.
It has been our knowledge that engineered hardwood floors begin to show signs of structural de-lamination in as soon as 5 years but mostly somewhere within the 7 to 10 year old variety. A thick and solid wooden sub floor can assist support the flooring and make it degree and stable to a excellent extent.
