When renovating, many homeowners lean towards solid wood flooring, however this type of flooring is typically difficult to install without the help of a professional. Moreover, solid wood flooring can be sensitive to moisture and heat as the planks can contract and expand. What many people do not realise, is that engineered wood flooring is a solid or real wood flooring!
Engineered wood flooring, in contrast to laminate flooring, is a sandwich of 1/16” to 1/8” of finished wood on top with non-finished plywood underneath, so in reality what you see is 100% real wood. In many ways, it is actually better than solid wood flooring as the plywood underneath is a benefit as it provides additional strength to the flooring. This is because the layers of plywood are laid cross ways, much in the same way the bricks are laid when building a house in order to strengthen its foundations.
Engineered wood flooring also comes in many types, much in the same way that there is a variety of solid wood flooring to choose from. The top level of the flooring is pre-finished, this means that it's already sanded and sealed, the benefit of this is that as soon as the floor is laid you are able to walk on it! Moreover, it can also be sanded after scratches and nicks develop, which is inevitable, this is also one of the main advantages it has over laminate flooring. Despite this, sanding is limited and based on the thickness of the finished layer. Additionally, professional sanding is recommended, as it is very easy to reveal the plywood underneath as well as gouge part of it.
There are also benefits to engineered wood flooring as it can be put in areas that have light moisture such as kitchens, basements as well as bathrooms. If your basement is liable to suffer from flooding then, even engineered wood flooring may suffer consequently. There are also multiple ways to install engineered wood flooring, it can be nailed down (this can enhance stability), glued down or it can be a floating floor.
In terms of value for money, it is possible to say that engineered wood flooring can offer great value for money when it comes to renovating your home. For more information on the benefits of the different wood flooring types, please call our expert team on 0800 055 6265.
