GardenGap.com » Gardening » Engineered Wood Flooring Options Explored

Engineered Wood Flooring Options Explored

Who wouldn't want the richness of hardwood floors if it wasn't for the expense? Well now you can get that natural look without breaking the bank. As engineered hardwood offers the visual appear of traditional flooring yet is not nearly as costly. Plus, as you will see in a bit, it comes with added benefits on top of it.

So just what is engineered hardwood flooring anyway?

Engineered hardwood flooring is a manufactured product made up of layers of core woods covered by a veneer top wood. It looks and acts like traditional hardwood floors do. But given it is like five layers that have been glued or laminated together under high pressure it offers the homeowner improved durability. With a flooring product that can still be sanded if need be.

What other benefits does engineered hardwood flooring offer?

Speedy installation due in part to the fact the flooring is pre finished. Translation? Installing a floor like this takes hours not days.

Sounds quieter due to the inherent density. How this product is made gives it excellent ability to absorb sounds when compared to laminates.

Superior durability is another plus. You get a product that can last from 30-60 years depending, of course, on how much traffic it gets. And the care it is given. Plus the way it is manufactured gives it more strength and stability.

Sand-ability is another question you want to get a feel for. Because you may need to refinish the floor to remove scratches and other signs of wear. While not infinitely sandable, most of the time you get as many as three refinishing opportunities before the flooring would have to be replaced. Plus you'll find if you pay more you get a thicker top layer which can be sanded more than one that is thinner, obviously.

Stability is enhanced as engineered hardwood tends to expand and contract less than solid wood as each layer is grain reversed with one layer running east-west and the other north south. And if you opt for thicker engineered floors with five to seven layers - then you get even more strength, stability and durability.

Screw-less installation is possible as some products can easily be installed either by glue or tongue and groove due to each strip having locking joints. So in some cases no nails or screws are required to affix this to the floor.

Still no matter how good this sounds there are a few drawbacks worth mentioning. Such as the fact the veneer can only be sanded a few times before you'll have to replace the floor. Don't want to gloss over that. Or that such floor can be marred by dents, scratches and scuffs more easily at times too.

And just like any hardwood floor some care is required to help it keep that just installed luster shining on. Which is to say you can't simply put it down and then ignore it. Nor can you skip some minor preventative maintenance either.

Yet given just a reasonable amount of TLC such floors can offer you years of enjoyment. So why wait? Don't you want to have your home graced with the timeless beauty of hardwood flooring?

Article Source: GardenGap.com

About the Author

And for anyone wanting to find out more about a hepa vacuum cleaner, or one that is light enough to lift with one hand or who just wants to read some useful vacuum cleaner reviews then how about vacuum review site AskTheVacuumGuy.com. In no time you'll find out which models are state-of-the-art in looks and function and which ones are just big on looks.