How to Choose Engineered Hardwood Floors for Your Needs

Selecting an appropriate Flooring material is one of the most important decisions that a homeowner has to make when undertaking a new home construction or renovation project. There are many materials such as vinyl, tile, hardwood and engineered hardwood available in the market today. Each flooring option has its own advantages and disadvantages. You have to select the appropriate option based on the location for your room and expected foot traffic. Before staring your flooring project, research about the different flooring ideas and the benefits they offer. 

Of all the available choices, there is a traditional favorite: hardwood. Due to its natural feel and durability, it is a flooring choice for many homeowners. But what should you consider when choosing between engineered and solid hardwood? Learn more aboutengineered hardwood to make the right choice.

What is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Engineered hardwood has been experiencing an increased demand and occupies a major share in the wood floor market. It has become a go-to flooring choice for many homes and businesses because of its diverse width sizes. A conventional hardwood floor is around 2-1/4-3-1/4 inch breadth but engi-neered hardwood can be 2-1/4 inch to 12 inch wide.

Engineered hardwood flooring consists of a top layer of solid wood that is made up of oak, maple or hickory. The core layer consists of a high-quality plywood or HDF. The top wood layer varies in thickness depending on the quality of the flooring and home decor style; it is typically between 3-7mm or can go up to 15mm.

How to Select Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Here are some features that you need to know before choosing an engineered wood floor that will complement your home style and décor:

1. Type of Wood
Engineered wood offers plenty of choices. Some of the wood species you can select from are:
• Oak: It provides you with a reddish undertone and is the most stable among the wood flooring options. For average wear and tear, oak is a good choice.
• Maple: If you expect extensive foot traffic, maple is a good choice. Known for its durability and natural color, it works well in kitchens, mudrooms and other areas.

• Hickory: As this species resists moisture, it can be used in places such as kitchens, which experience temperature fluctuations and significant foot traffic.

2. Wood Thickness
Engineered hardwood floors differ in thickness. They usually have three layers that are cross-stacked, fixed and compressed together. High-quality flooring has several layers that are about three-quarters of an inch deep. Each layer serves a purpose. If you’re contemplating a kitchen renovation, the wear layer or lamella is very important and has to be thick to match the refinished floors.

3. Core Layer
If you’re looking for a flooring material which provides long term endurance and stability, choose the core layer wisely. Plywood offers comfort, durability and works best for most flooring needs. HDF is assembled with alternating layers of plywood, making it rigid and durable.
You can also add surface effects to your floors to enhance their texture.

• Hand Scraped: These floors are scraped by hand or machine to give it a distinct look. Due to the heavy texturing, they’re perfect for households with a lot of foot traffic.

• Wire Brushed: Wire brushed provides you with a textured look without any heavier markings.

• Smooth: Smooth surface effect gives a clean and sleek look. It does not go well with major foot traffic.

Engineered hardwood flooring will last a lifetime depending upon the thickness, quality and maintenance of your floors. Engineered hardwood changes your living space perfectly and can be installed in any room as long as there are no extreme moisture issues. At Maple Leaf Flooring in Calgary, we help you determine what style works best for home and business. Call us to learn more about durable flooring options or visit our showroom today.