Engineered Hardwood Flooring
with Titanium Finish

Hardwood floors are one of the most popular flooring options. A good hardwood floor has a look that is difficult to resist. But naturally, many buyers are worried about the care and maintenance demanded by a hardwood floor. Hardwood floors are susceptible to scratches and moisture damage.

The dimensional instability and susceptibility to moisture damage makes solid hardwood floors unsuitable for installation in the basement and other damp areas. If you’ve set your heart on a new hardwood floor in your basement, then engineered wood floors offer a great solution.

An engineered hardwood floor is not affected by moisture the same way solid hardwood floors are. They can be installed as a floating floor below grade level. Besides moisture damage, another issue with solid and engineered hardwood floors is that they are susceptible to scratches from furniture and pets. A strong penetrating finish made from aluminum or titanium dioxide can help you protect your hardwood floor from the most common damages.

Facts about Engineered Hardwood Flooring

• An engineered hardwood floor is made from layers of wood glued together.
• The lower layers are of less expensive woods that are fast growing and moisture resistant. They could also be made from scraps of wood produced during sawing wooden planks.
• The upper most layer of an engineered floor is made of a beautiful finished piece of hardwood like maple, Brazilian cherry, mahogany and maybe even reclaimed wood.
• The thickness of the upper most layer determines how many times an engineered floor can be refinished.
• Engineered wood floors are easy to install and offer greater dimensional stability than solid hardwood floors.
• Engineered wood floors can be installed below grade i.e., in areas like the basement as they tolerate moisture well.
• Engineered wood floors with a thin wear layer of hardwood are likely to be dented easily in a house with pets and children.
• The life of an engineered wood floor is dependent on care and maintenance, but also depends on the type of finish applied to the floor.

Facts about Titanium dioxide Hardwood Finishes

• Metal oxides are mixed with a penetrating base and applied to the wood. These penetrating finishes impregnate the upper layer of the wood and improve its appearance and its capacity to handle traffic.
• Titanium dioxide is a metal oxide that makes the upper layer of a wood floor stronger. Aluminum oxide is another metal oxide finish that is used to improve the longevity of a wood floor.
• Titanium dioxide is non toxic, inert, and stable at high temperatures. Another advantage is that it does not migrate within the finish and provides meaningful protection to a wood floor for a longer time.
• Titanium dioxide is transparent and does not hide the grain of the wood. It also protects the wood from UV light damage.
• Compared to titanium dioxide finishes, aluminum oxide finishes are more common. Both these finishes improve the quality of a wood floor.
• When wood floors are refinished it may be necessary to sand the floor to remove the older layers of finish on the floor. The metal oxide particles in the finish become airborne during the sanding process and may be inhaled. Aluminum oxide is a known lung irritant. Titanium dioxide which is a component of cosmetics is likely to be a safer product.

Engineered wood floors let you enjoy the pleasure of a high quality wood floors without the high cost. When coupled with a titanium dioxide finish, hardwood floors last much longer than they would otherwise. Titanium dioxide finishes are not as common as aluminum oxide finishes but have some advantages.

A titanium dioxide finish actually reduces the cost of owning a wood floor as refinishes are less frequent. They also protect the wood floor from the harmful effects of UV light. When buying a hardwood floor you will need to consider the Janka rating of the top most layer of wood and the finish that has been applied to it. The finish becomes especially important if you are purchasing a finished wood floor as you have to depend on the manufacturer’s word. The most important thing to remember about finishes is that what matters is not the number of coats of finish that have been applied but the type of finish that has been applied to your hardwood floor. Penetrating finishes with metal oxides are best when it comes to choosing the right finish for you precious hardwood floor.

Visit our Los Angeles Flooring showrooms for more information about Flooring.