What is Engineered Wood Flooring

Is it time for you to give your home a makeover with some new and stylish flooring? If so then it is first important to understand what kind of flooring options are available to you, and which one will fit best in your home. Are you aware of the different wood types which you can select when installing new flooring? If not then we want to give you a helping hand and today we are going to focus specifically on engineered wood, its benefits and how you can use this attractive, natural engineered wood flooring to give your home the look it deserves.

Let’s take a look then, at the details, uses and styles, of this popular type of flooring.

What Is Engineered Wood Flooring And How Is It Made?

Engineered wood flooring is a multi-layered flooring made from a top layer of real hardwoord which gives its natural appearance followed by a further 3-12 perpendicular plies of wood material underneath that can be made using a mixture of softwood, hardwood or plywood. This type of engineered flooring gives its properties of durability, stability and making it suitable for underfloor heating without sparing any expense on the real wood finish.

What Are The Benefits/Disadvantages of Engineered Wood Flooring?

Engineered wood flooring is one of the most popular on the market and whilst it does have a few disadvantages in comparison to other flooring types, the benefits far outweigh them. Appearance is the first thing to bear in mind, this type of flooring looks just like hardwood but doesn’t come with the same cost thanks to its design. Another benefit of engineered wood is that it won’t swell and contract with changing temperatures as solid wood will, making it a great choice for the home. Damages can be easily fixed with some light sanding and this wood flooring is extremely durable which means that you will be very much investing in the future when you buy this flooring.

In terms of disadvantages, the only negative aspects of this flooring are the limited choice in terms of styles, popular and common styles are available but if you want something very individual to you, then you may not be able to find it. The only other issue is to ensure that you are buying from a well respected company as some manufacturers have been found to use inferior quality adhesive to trim costs.

Where Does This Flooring Work Best In The Home?

In truth you can use this flooring anywhere in the home, depending on what style you want in each of the locations in the house. The moisture and temperature resistant nature of engineered wood makes it the perfect fit for bathrooms and utility rooms around the home. With other wood types, you may have to select different flooring for various rooms depending on environmental concerns but that is not the case with this flexible and multifunctional flooring. The durable qualities of engineered wood flooring means that laying it in busy rooms or areas like the hall and stairs which will have a lot of foot fall, is more than recommended and you can find some great styles to put in around the house, giving each room a different feel.

How Hard is this Flooring to Install?

Another benefit of this type of flooring is that it is very easy to install and as long as you have a little bit of time and some adhesive, just about anyone can put this flooring down. The flooring can be glued directly on to concrete and each plank will fit into place with a simple snap and lock connection. If you have doubts about the intricacies of the installation such as corners or strange angles then enlist the support of a professional.

Other flooring types may have a little more prestige attached to them in terms of the style and the quality of the wood but if you are looking for flooring type which will pass the test of time, and still look great many years down the line, engineered wood flooring is the perfect option for you.