Authenticity Underfoot: How to Tell if Your Hardwood Floors are Real

Hardwood floors are a valuable and beautiful asset to any home, providing timeless elegance and warmth. However, with the rise of incredibly realistic and durable alternatives like engineered hardwood, laminate, and luxury vinyl, it can be challenging to determine what's truly underfoot. 

 

Whether you're a new homeowner in the Kennewick, WA Tri-Cities area trying to assess your home's value or you're planning a renovation and need to know what you're working with, understanding how to tell if your hardwood floors are real is a crucial skill. The experts at Murley's Floor Covering are here to share the key clues and tests you can use to identify genuine hardwood.

 

 

The First Clue: Examining the Surface

 

The first and easiest way to assess your flooring is by simply looking at it.

 

Look for a Repeating Pattern

 

Real hardwood planks are cut from individual trees, so no two planks will have the exact same grain pattern. Look for a large area of the floor and see if you can find any planks that have an identical, repeating pattern. 

 

If you find a pattern that repeats every few planks, it’s a strong indication that you have a laminate or luxury vinyl floor, which uses a printed top layer.

 

Examine the Grain and Texture

 

Real wood grain is a result of the tree's natural growth, so the grain will have a natural flow and depth. You can often feel the slight texture of the grain. If you have laminate, the texture is often an embossed pattern that may not perfectly align with the printed grain.

 

Look for Wear and Tear

 

Real hardwood will show signs of natural wear, such as small scratches, dents, or a slightly worn finish in high-traffic areas. This wear will be inconsistent and will expose the natural wood underneath. 

 

Laminate and luxury vinyl floors, while durable, will chip or gouge instead of denting, and the damage will reveal a core material (like particleboard or a plastic layer) rather than natural wood.

 

A Closer Look: The Plank Profile

 

If the surface examination leaves you with questions, you need to get a closer look at the side of a plank.

 

• The "Side View" Test: Find an area where you can see the side of a plank. This could be near a floor vent, a doorway, or even a damaged area of the floor.
• Distinguishing Solid Hardwood: Solid hardwood will be a single, solid piece of wood. The grain pattern you see on the top will be continuous on the side, showing the full thickness of the plank.
• Identifying Engineered Hardwood: Engineered hardwood is made of several layers. On the side, you will see a thin top layer of real hardwood (the "veneer") and a series of cross-stacked plywood layers underneath. This layered construction is a dead giveaway for engineered hardwood.
• Spotting Laminate: Laminate flooring is a composite product. You will see a thin top layer that's a printed image, a core layer made of high-density fiberboard (HDF), and a backing layer. You won't see a wood grain that goes through the entire thickness of the plank.

 

The Sound and Feel Test: Sensory Cues

 

Your senses can also provide valuable information.

 

• The Sound Test: Lightly tap on the floor with your knuckles. Real hardwood has a solid, resonant sound. Laminate and other floating floors, which sit on a foam underlayment, often have a more hollow, "clicky" sound.
• The Feel Test: Touch the floor with your hand. Real wood is a natural insulator and will feel warmer to the touch than a synthetic product. In contrast, vinyl and laminate tend to feel cooler.
• The Squeak Test: While not definitive, real hardwood, especially in older homes, can develop natural squeaks and groans over time as the wood expands and contracts. This is not a characteristic of most laminate or luxury vinyl floors.

 

Other Indicators to Look For

 

• Refinishing Potential: Real hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times to remove scratches and change the stain color. Engineered hardwood with a thick veneer can be refinished a few times, but it is not as robust. Laminate and vinyl cannot be refinished; any damage to the top layer requires a replacement of the plank.
• Baseboard Height: In older homes, if the baseboards seem a little low or close to the floor, it could be a sign that a new, thinner floor (like laminate or vinyl) was installed over the original hardwood.
• The Water Test: While not recommended as it can damage your floor, if you have a damaged, unseen area, a drop of water can reveal clues. On real hardwood, it will eventually soak in and darken the wood. On laminate or vinyl, it will bead up on the surface.

 

 

Talk to the Wood Floor Experts in Kennewick, WA at Murley’s Floor Covering

 

Unsure about what's underfoot? The experts at Murley's Floor Covering can help you identify your floors and provide a free, no-obligation consultation. Whether you're looking to refinish your existing hardwood or install a beautiful, new alternative, we have the knowledge and products you need. 

 

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.