Engineered Wood Flooring Guide: Pros and Cons

Before you decide to invest in an engineered wood floor, you want to consider all the pros and cons of this type of flooring and see how it will fit into your home improvement project. It is a fact that cannot be denied by anyone that engineered wood flooring comes with a bunch of benefits and can contribute a lot to the attractiveness, functionality and cosiness of your home.

This type of flooring comes with a long custom and tradition in durability, high quality, and stylish and elegant appearance. It is hard to go wrong with an engineered wood floor, however, this does not mean that this amazing type of real wood flooring is suitable for each and every home and project. In order to help you make the best choice and choose a floor that best meets your requirements and needs, today we will discuss more all pros and cons of engineered wood flooring.

Engineered wood flooring has been a very popular choice in recent years. It is an innovative and advanced product that is the best substitute for solid wood flooring if it cannot be installed in a space for some reason or if you are shopping on a budget. Unlike solid wood flooring, engineered wood floorboards are not cut from a single timber but rather come with a more advanced and unique structure. The core of every engineered wooden floorboard is made out of layers of plywood or softwood that are glued together crisscrossed and then topped with a layer of hardwood that is called lamella.

Thanks to the hardwood top layer, engineered wood floors look exactly like solid wood when installed and come in a great variety of wood species, colours, textures, and more. The hardwood lamella also allows for the engineered wood floor to be re-sanded and refinished a couple of times in its lifecycle. The core part of the structure helps the engineered wood floor to be highly resistant to the impact of moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations. Thanks to the crisscrossed layers core, engineered wood floors are less prone to moisture damage, experience less movement due to increased humidity and temperature fluctuations and minimise the risk of serious issues and major damages beyond repair.

A number of homeowners resonate with the idea of having a beautiful, durable, and hard-wearing engineered wood floor installed in their home. It is easy to see why. However, every home improvement project and replacement of floor should be approached with a lot of caution and enough consideration. It is important to take your time, do your research, and consider whether or not engineered wood flooring is the best type of flooring for your home.

Despite the fact that engineered wood flooring is durable and beautiful, it does not mean it is necessarily the best option. Before you decide to go ahead with the installation of any type of flooring, make sure to first discuss the project with an experienced and reliable specialist and they will be able to answer all your questions and provide you with recommendations on your best choice.

So if you are considering engineered wood flooring installation, here is what you need to know about this type of flooring:

Engineered Wood Floors – Pros

• Significantly less prone to moisture and water damage compared to traditional solid wood flooring
• The structure of layers withstands and minimises the movement of the floorboards caused by increased moisture content and temperature fluctuations
• Lower risk of warping, ballooning, cupping, and bulging of the floorboards
• Competitive cost of both purchase and installation
• Engineered wood flooring is very durable, hard-wearing, and lasting, you will enjoy it for many decades
• Resistant to stains
• Easy to maintain in good condition and keep clean, dusting with a dry mop, and vacuuming is enough for keeping the floor free of dust and grime
• Because of the fact that engineered wood flooring is resistant to moisture impact and water damage, it can be installed in the bathroom, kitchen, basement, conservatory
• Great for installation over underfloor heating system
• Attractive and beautiful appearance
• Comes in a great variety of wood species, colours, textures, patterns, finishes, etc.

Engineered Wood Flooring – Cons

• Some engineered wood flooring offers may cost more than solid wood flooring
• When it comes to the materials used for the manufacturing of engineered wood flooring, not all manufacturers invest and use high-quality materials
• Some engineered wood floors come with a really thin top layer, which means the floor could not be refinished and re-sanded
• Some adhesives used in the manufacture of engineered wood flooring could cause allergic reactions