One of the biggest misconceptions about engineered flooring is that they are fake wood. Engineered flooring is made of several layers of real wood, creating one solid piece. Here are the basics of how engineered floors are made.
The basic construction of engineered floors
Engineered wood is made up of several layers of plywood and solid wood.
Engineered floors are constructed using layers of plywood and solid wood to create one solid engineered floorboard. Plywood is used in engineered flooring due to its strength and durability. Plywood is made up of several layers of wood. Each layer of wood is placed so that the grain direction alternates from layer to layer. This method of construction is called cross-ply, and it’s what makes engineered flooring more versatile and less temperamental than solid wood. The top layer of engineered floors, the part that will be visible in your home, however, can be any type and species of wood. This gives the buyer unlimited choices in species, and styles of hardwood floors.
Cross-ply construction
Plywood is used in engineered flooring due to the cross-ply construction. Alternating the direction of the grain will make the board much more resistant to moisture. In a solid piece of wood, moisture will cause the wood to expand. With engineered wood, the cross-ply construction will allow each layer to work together to prevent expanding and shrinking.
Versatility
Because engineered floors are more resistant to humidity and moisture, you can install engineered floors in basements and below grade rooms. There is often much more moisture in the air in rooms that are below grade, making engineered floors your only option if you want real wood floors. Engineered floors can also be installed over most subfloor types, using any installation method.
Wood species
T&G Engineered White Oak comes in 8 standard colors but custom colors can also be created.
Now that you understand how engineered floors are made, you can start to think about the right type of wood for your home. Choosing a species will determine the look, feel, and characteristics of your floors. Engineered floors are made using a variety of domestic and exotic species of wood, so you can get the floors you fantasized about, but in a more versatile, strong, and budget-friendly engineered wood.
Limitation of engineered floors
There is one limitation to engineered wood floors. In the event that your floors do get damaged, you will only have a limited number of times where you can refinish engineered floors. Since only the very top layer of engineered floors are made with your wood species of choice, you can only refinish so many times before you wear the top layer down. However, if well maintained, you never need to refinish your floors.
T&G Flooring is one of the largest hardwood flooring retailers in the Front Range. To learn more about the differences in various types of hardwood flooring, schedule a free consultation with a wood flooring expert at our Denver showroom.