Choosing between the vast array of options can be daunting when deciding on hard surface flooring to use on your next construction project. When the topic of Prefinished Timber Flooring canberra comes up, the mystery of engineered wood tends to emerge. There are several aspects of engineered wood that are far more favorable than their solid wood counterpart. So, before you purchase a single board, you should understand what those are.
Engineered Wood vs. Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is usually sold in long planks in a tongue and groove fashion made entirely from a single species of timber. Engineered wood flooring looks almost identical to solid wood, but its construction consists of a thin layer of solid wood with a high-quality plywood foundation. This provides the board with excellent stability while costing less than solid wood. For help identifying the difference between engineered wood and natural wood flooring, we suggest you call or email several Woodcut timber flooring specialists that can explain what the major differences are and help you make an informed decision on your flooring purchase.
Appearance
Because the top layer of engineered wood is a thin layer of solid wood, you can find them with just about any species. One of the more convenient aspects is that they generally come pre-finished, tongue, and groove, so installation is a cinch. Engineered boards also tend to come in wider sizes to give your home a more modern look.
Durability
Engineered boards do exceptionally well in humid environments due to plywood, which reduces the risk of warping. Additionally, engineered wood is also just as good as solid wood when it comes to water and heat resistance, and usually at a cheaper cost. Wood species determines much of how durable a board will be, but engineered wood holds well in the war of the woods
Maintenance
Keeping your engineered wood floor clean can be done via sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. There is not much you can do to cause harm here, and if you get engineered wood with a thick enough layer of solid wood on top, you can sand any imperfections away. One potential drawback is that engineered wood does not have as much material as solid wood, so the number of times you can sand is limited in comparison.
Installation
This is where engineered wood shines bright. Installation is simple for anyone and can consist of a couple of different methods to secure it. Engineered wood uses the tongue and groove style boards, but some forms come with the “click-lock” edges that are installed in a “floating floor” manner. A floating floor simply means the wood floor will not be secured to the subfloor and can simply float in place, allowing it to move naturally in its environment. You can also nail down engineered wood just like solid wood, but many prefer gluing it to the subfloor because that tends to be the more natural method. Finally, you can also apply engineered hardwood to concrete floors since its base is plywood, something solid wood flooring cannot do
Conclusion
When it comes to engineered hardwood, arguing against it is rather tricky due to its low cost, durability, ease of installation, and matching appearance to solid wood. Some will prefer the purity of a solid wood board, but for those who want something close that they can install themselves, engineered wood is the ideal option.
