An engineered hardwood floor has a lot of benefits the regular solid hardwood floor does not, even though they are both real wood. A traditional hardwood floor is one solid piece of wood, while an engineered floor is three to ten layers, or plies, of very thin wood. This is arranged in a cross-ply design for added strength and glued, with the very top layer ranging from 1/16th” to 1/6th” thick and the overall thickness of it is 1/4th” to 3/4th” thick.
Engineered hardwood floors are more stable because of the extra strength from the cross-ply design. They are not as affected by the shrinkage and expansion problems caused by changes in the temperature and humidity to the same degree that solid hardwood floors are. They are versatile enough to be placed both directly over concrete as well as below ground level, making them invaluable at times. Engineered floors can be re-coated as needed; however, they cannot be refinished if the top layer is thinner than 1/10th” thick.
If you are interested in doing your own hardwood floor installation, the engineered hardwood flooring lock and fold system is about the easiest. This requires no glue, staples or nails to install, but you do have to install an underlayment to make sure it “locks” in place. The other engineered hardwood floor requires glue, staples or the floating installation system and is not for beginners. In fact, if you are not experienced they recommend you hire a professional for this one.
One of the biggest benefits of installing hardwood floors is being able to use the existing sub-floor. Most of the instructions advise you of being able to use whatever sub-floor or existing floor structure that is already there, depending on which floor you are laying, and installing the new floor on top of it. Carefully read all your instructions to make sure you do not misunderstand this.
Even though you may be able to use the existing structure, it should be very carefully checked and prepared. Check for any squeaks in the existing floor and fix them before you start. Replace any worn or sagging flooring and make sure all nails or screws are secure. Thoroughly clean the area before installing your new floor. You will still save a lot of money if you do not have to lay a whole new sub-floor, but taking an extra half hour or so to check it over, could keep you from having problems later on. Any imperfections in the sub-floor could decrease the longevity of your new floor.
The beauty of hardwood plank flooring goes beyond what the eye can see. They are easily installed and have a very low maintenance schedule, with a long life expectancy. The variety of types of wood, combined with the different shades of stain available promises that everyone will be able to find the perfect one for them. It is the only type of flooring that works well in every room of your home, or accents any other flooring it is next to.
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