Engineered Wooden Flooring

Do you have your heart set on buying a new hardwood floor? Have you spoken to your friends and heard their horror stories of hardwood floors warping, getting damaged by moisture and about how unstable a solid hardwood floor can be in general? Do you think hardwood flooring is too expensive? Well, engineered wood flooring is one option that can calm most of your fears.

Engineered Wood Flooring Benefits

• Moisture resistant – Engineered floors are not as easily damaged by moisture as solid wooden flooring. A moisture barrier can protect a wooden floor from most of the moisture but it is still difficult to install solid wooden flooring in areas like the basement. Engineered wood floors can be installed in basements.
• Durability – The ply board in an engineered wood floor runs in the opposite direction to the wood and it has a sandwich construction. This makes an engineered floor stronger than most hardwood floors of comparable thickness.
• Variety of species and finishes – Almost any species of wood like maple, oak or Brazilian cherry can be sourced as an engineered board. The finishes vary from surface finishes to penetrating finishes that enhance the longevity of the wood floor. You can opt for a prefinished floor or a finish on-site floor according to your needs. Whatever the décor or color scheme you have in mind – you will find an engineered wood floor to fit in with your plans.
• Easier, faster and cheaper Installations – Compared to solid hardwood, installation of an engineered wooden floor is much easier. There is no need to glue or to nail it to the floor. It can be installed as a floating floor directly over a moisture barrier. Boards can be locked in place by the snap and click mechanism to get a floor that is as beautiful as any solid wooden floor. With engineered floors, you will save money and time, as minimum on-site finishing and preparation is needed.
• Eco friendly – The boards underlying the engineered floor are made from fast growing species, the veneer of rare hardwood on top is sliced rather than sawn minimizing waste. An engineered wooden floor has less of an ecological impact compared to solid hardwood floors. Engineered floors are not easily damaged by pests or moisture and are therefore less likely to demand replacement.

Tips for Buying Engineered Wooden Flooring

Thickness of the veneer

A thin veneer may be cheaper but is more likely to dent and will not allow you to sand it down to refinish it a few years from now. A thicker veneer can be refinished more often.

Quality of wood of the underlying board

Do not settle for boards made from inferior woods or fiber boards. The life of your engineered floor is directly proportional to the quality of the wood and glue used to make the ply boards.

Look for reputable manufacturers

Buying a reputable brand of hardwood flooring and from a knowledgeable seller are mandatory when purchasing an engineered wood floor. You might have heard stories about engineered wood floors coming apart layer by layer. These are stories associated with engineered wood floors sourced from shady traders and shadier manufacturers. Substandard glue and manufacturing processes are used to produce cheap flooring products that are best left untouched. An online seller who is not worried about facing upset customers or one who is selling the last pieces in his collection in a fire sale are unlikely to be models for customer service.

Installing an Engineered Wooden Floor

It is easier to install an engineered wood floor by yourself, but do keep in mind that you have invested a significant amount in the floor and a small investment in professional hands will improve the look and life of your engineered wood floor. You can contact the professional floor installation services offered by Contempo Floor Coverings. Contempo Floor Coverings has a history of customer satisfaction. You can visit any store of Contempo Floor Coverings and choose from amongst a wide range of engineered flooring from reputable manufacturers.

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