The Pros And Cons Of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

A yellow sofa in a room with framed pictures and hardwood flooring.

Engineered hardwood flooring seems to have an interesting effect on homeowners. They look so good that some homeowners wouldn’t even hesitate to get rid of carpet flooring so they can see as much of the floor as possible. Perhaps you’re one of those homeowners and you plan to get hardwood floors for your home. If you are, then you should know that engineered hardwood floors could be the perfect flooring for your home.

Of course, you can’t just buy flooring without taking a good look at it. To help set your expectations. Here’s a quick guide to engineered wood flooring, as well as its pros and cons.

What Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Many people think engineered hardwood is ‘fake,’ unlike solid wood, but the former is just as authentic as the latter. Solid wood is created from a single piece of wood, whereas engineered wood is built from a thin layer of a solid wood layer set on a laminated plywood core. This gives engineered wood flooring the sturdiness and flexibility of composite wood while also having the luxurious appearance of solid wood.

As long as you keep your engineered hardwood flooring options limited to reputable flooring brands, you can get the look, durability, and feel of solid wood flooring at a lower price. For Manufacturers like Southern Luxe engineered hardwood flooring are known for using cutting-edge technology in making hardwood flooring products that has garnered positive feedback from countless satisfied customers.

That said, the next thing you need to know are the advantages and challenges associated with choosing engineered wood flooring.

The Pros Of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring owes its popularity to a number of unique pros. Here are some of the biggest advantages of installing such flooring.

More Affordable Pricing

Compared to solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring is less expensive not just in terms of the price of the material, but also the cost of installation. However, this mostly applies when comparing the two types of flooring made from the same type of wood. Engineered oak flooring will cost less than solid oak flooring, but it can still be more expensive than solid teak.

Resistance To Moisture And Temperature

Because of its laminated layers, engineered wood flooring is less susceptible to humidity and weather conditions compared to solid wood flooring. Even if engineered wood gets exposed to moisture, it will swell and contract much less than solid wood. This makes engineered wood a viable option for homes in most kinds of climates.

Environmental Friendliness

Engineered wood flooring is your ideal option if you care about the planet. These floorings utilize less hardwood per board than solid hardwood floors, which may be a decisive factor if you prefer exotic or uncommon wood. Thanks to the reduced use of harmful glue and little to no sawdust, these floorings are sustainable and environment-friendly. This varies from provider to provider, so make sure to check the company’s environmental credentials you purchase from.

Fast, Simple, And Affordable Installation

Who wants to spend a week walking on eggshells around unfinished wooden floors, dodging installers, and draining sticky points? Luckily, one of the most significant advantages of engineered hardwood is how quickly and easily it can be installed, especially if installed as a click-together floating floor.

Click-together flooring is pretty easy to understand: floor planks that are pre-built to click together in a flash. These solutions, known as ‘floating flooring,’ may be installed over existing flooring and don’t need to be glued or fastened down.

This easy installation process can significantly reduce the cost of installing your engineered wooden floors; however, consider discussing it with the builder for specifics. Also, disregard everything you’ve heard about the dangers of floating floors. Click-together engineered floors may be as durable as nail-down hardwood flooring when properly installed.

A close up of various hardwood flooring.

The Cons Of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

While the pros of engineered wood flooring are great, that doesn’t mean you should rush out to your nearest flooring store just yet. You still have to know the challenges of getting engineered hardwood flooring or you might regret not realizing them now. Here are a few of the most important cons of this type of flooring.

High Degree Of Upkeep

Because the outer layer of an engineered wood floor is made of wood, you’ll have to put more effort on taking care of it just to preserve its quality. Thinning, scratches, and cracks are all frequent problems with wood floors, but they can be kept to a minimum if you know how to care for your wooden floors using protective coating, routine cleaning, and regular floor inspections.

Poor Quality

In order to save time and expenses, some companies may employ low-cost materials to make flooring products. Unfortunately, this could compromise the durability and performance of your new floor. This is why it’s very important to make sure that you’re getting your hardwood flooring panels from reputable manufacturers. Start by checking the reviews and feedback from their previous customers.

May Sound Hollow Underfoot

Another downside of engineered hardwood flooring is that it might sound hollow when you walk on it. This usually happens because engineered wood flooring is often thinner than solid hardwood floor panels. This is more noticeable on cheap engineered wood floors, they’re usually lighter and less dense, especially if they’re constructed of wood veneers and other materials.

Furthermore, engineered hardwood is commonly used as a ‘floating floor.’ This implies it isn’t cemented or glued down like other solid wooden floors. As a result, floating hardwood flooring installations could occasionally sound hollow due to air pockets between the base floor and the panels. Denser, sturdier, and higher-quality engineered flooring panels, on the other hand, are less likely to create that hollow noise when stepped on.

Moisture and UV Damage

Because of how they are made, engineering panels may curl or get warped if they get exposed to too much moisture. While they do a better job of withstanding damage than solid wood flooring, even the most well-engineered hardwood flooring will eventually experience problems if it stays wet for too long.

It’s also important to note that engineered hardwood might get discolored as a result of exposure to Ultraviolet rays. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to this concern: Talk to a professional consultant about UV-resistant coatings to keep your engineered hardwood floors safe from the effects of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. You should also install curtains or blinds to help limit the amount of UV light entering your home during the daytime.

The Bottom Line

Engineered wood is a very popular option among homeowners who want hardwood flooring in their homes. However, you have to understand that choosing this material presents a few challenges that you have to prepare for. Considering the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, choosing engineered wood is usually well worth the money.

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