Is engineered wood floor real wood?

A common misconception when discussing flooring is that engineered floors are not real. The mere word “engineered” tends to confuse, many times misleading people to think engineered wood is a man-made product. So… let’s dig deeper into the question “Is engineered wood floor real wood?” To be quick, the short answer is YES, but let’s go even further in detail and explain what it means.

Solid and engineered floors look similar to the naked eye, but the construction is quite different. As the image above explains, solid wood flooring is made from one piece of solid lumber. On the other hand, from a solid piece of wood, multiple engineered boards can be made, making it more sustainable than its counterpart.

Engineered wood flooring is built with a core of plywood or recycled wood and a real wood top layer. The thickness of the board can vary from 1/2in to 9/16in. The wear layer is normally around 1 to 6mm in thickness and the thicker it is the more times a floor can be refinished. As a matter of fact, a 6mm wear layer can be refinished the same amount of times as a solid wood floor.

Some of the most asked questions are:

Can engineered wood flooring be refinished?

Below, there is a simple guide about how many times a wear layer can be refinished:

1-2mm wear layer: This floor should not be refinished, there is a risk of sanding through the wear layer.

3mm wear layer: This floor can be refinished most definitely at least once.

4mm wear layer: This floor can be refinished 2-3 times.

6mm wear layer: This floor can be refinished up to 4 times.

Is engineered wood flooring more stable than solid?

The inner core is what makes engineered flooring much more stable than solid wood flooring.

It minimizes expansion, contraction, and warping. Therefore, longer and wider planks can be created making engineered planks suitable for any interior style.

If you are considering installing underfloor heating, engineered wood flooring is the way to go as this can’t be achieved with a solid floor.

Maintenance

Cleaning engineered wood floors is the same as cleaning solid wood floors. Vacuuming or sweeping is a must and mopping the floor with a wood cleaning product to keep your floor in its best condition. Remember to avoid using water or a steamer as this will damage your floor.

Is engineered wood flooring waterproof? Can I install engineered wood flooring in a basement?

Engineered wood flooring is quite versatile with the proper care and maintenance. It can be used in basements with an appropriate moisture barrier, in kitchens, living rooms and more. However, bathrooms are a total “no-no” when it comes to wood flooring. In a powder room, you can get away with it, but not in a full-size bathroom with a shower or tub, as there would be too much moisture for a wood floor.

How much does engineered wood flooring cost?

When purchasing wood flooring take into consideration there are other costs besides the material.

A good quality prefinished wood floor can vary from $7-20 sf or more. Along with this cost, you need to add the installation cost of approximately $3-8 sf, demolition (getting rid of your pre-existing floor), a painter (painting your base boards when the installation is done), plumber (removing dishwasher, toilets, kitchen etc).

When discussing pricing with your contractor, ask them what is included in the installation so there are no surprises or hidden costs.

We hope this article has clarified your questions about engineered wood flooring.

If you are considering purchasing a new floor and you still have questions or would like to speak to someone, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

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