A Modern Marvel: What is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood floors have long been the gold standard for elegance and durability. But in recent decades, a modern innovation has risen to challenge the dominance of solid hardwood: engineered hardwood flooring. This product offers the timeless beauty of real wood with an added layer of versatility and stability that makes it an ideal choice for many homes in the Kennewick, WA Tri-Cities area. 

 

So, what is engineered hardwood flooring? This guide from Murley's Floor Covering will demystify this popular flooring option, explaining its unique construction, key benefits, and how it stacks up against traditional solid hardwood.

 

 

Demystifying the Construction of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

 

To understand engineered hardwood flooring, you need to look at its unique layered construction. Unlike solid hardwood, which is a single, solid piece of wood from top to bottom, engineered hardwood is a composite product with three to five distinct layers.

 

The Top Layer (Veneer): 

 

This is the part you see and feel. It's a thin layer of real, solid hardwood (called a veneer), which can be virtually any wood species, such as oak, maple, hickory, or walnut. The thickness of this top layer varies by product, and it determines how many times the floor can be refinished.

 

The Core Layers: 

 

Beneath the veneer is the core, which is the heart of engineered hardwood’s stability. This core is typically made of several cross-stacked layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard (HDF). This cross-grain construction makes the flooring highly resistant to expansion and contraction, which are common with solid hardwood when exposed to moisture.

 

The Back Layer: 

 

The bottom layer is a stabilizing veneer that helps prevent the plank from warping or bowing.

 

This clever, layered construction gives engineered hardwood flooring its unique properties and makes it an incredibly popular and practical choice for modern homes.

 

Key Advantages of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

 

Once you know what is engineered hardwood flooring, its benefits become clear:

 

• Exceptional Dimensional Stability: The cross-stacked core layers are the most significant advantage. They provide superior resistance to changes in temperature and humidity, which means engineered hardwood is far less likely to warp, gap, or buckle than solid hardwood.
• Versatile Installation: This stability allows engineered hardwood to be installed in places where solid hardwood cannot, such as basements, over concrete slabs, and over radiant heating systems. It can be installed using a floating method, glued down, or nailed down.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Engineered hardwood is often less expensive than solid hardwood because it uses less of the top-tier, valuable wood species for its veneer. This makes a real hardwood floor more accessible to a wider range of budgets.
• Sustainability: The manufacturing process for engineered hardwood uses less of the prized hardwood species and utilizes faster-growing woods for the core, making it a more environmentally friendly option than solid hardwood.
• Durable Finishes: Engineered hardwood often comes pre-finished with multiple layers of a highly durable, scratch-resistant coating, which is applied in a factory-controlled environment for a perfect, long-lasting finish.

 

Potential Downsides to Consider

 

While engineered hardwood is an excellent product, it's important to be aware of its limitations:

 

• Refinishing: The ability to refinish engineered hardwood depends on the thickness of the top veneer. A thicker veneer can be sanded and refinished several times, while a very thin veneer may only be able to be refinished once, or not at all.
• Less of an "Heirloom" Feel: While durable, engineered hardwood does not have the same generational longevity as solid hardwood, which can be sanded and refinished many times over the course of a century or more.

 

Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood: Which is Right for You?

 

The choice between engineered and solid hardwood ultimately depends on your specific needs and the unique characteristics of your space.

 

• Choose Engineered Hardwood if: You want a real wood floor for a basement, a concrete slab, or a humid area. You’re working with a tighter budget but want the look of genuine wood. You prioritize stability and resistance to warping.
• Choose Solid Hardwood if: You have a wood subfloor and no moisture concerns. You want a floor that can be refinished multiple times over decades. You prefer the traditional feel and the generational longevity of a single-piece product.

 

Ultimately, both options provide a beautiful and lasting foundation for your home. By understanding engineered hardwood flooring, you can make a confident decision that combines the natural beauty you desire with the practical performance you need.

 

 

Find Your Perfect Hardwood Floor at Murley's Floor Covering

 

Whether you're interested in the timeless tradition of solid hardwood or the modern versatility of engineered hardwood flooring, the experts at Murley's Floor Covering are here to help. 

We have a wide selection of both products in our Kennewick, WA showroom, and we’ll help you choose the best option for your home, lifestyle, and budget. Call or Visit Murley's Floor Covering. We have a showroom location in Kennewick, WA. We service the areas of Kennewick, WA. We've been serving the Tri-Cities area with beautiful floors and top-notch services since 2005.