Are Engineered Wood Real Hardwood

It is always nailed down to the subfloor a process that requires some skill.

Are engineered wood real hardwood.

Solid wood flooring comes in long planks usually made of a hardwood species. Engineered wood flooring. Solid hardwood flooring is available in a wide array of wood species including oak maple and black walnut as well as regional specific choices like pecan mesquite and others. Each board of solid hardwood flooring is made from a single piece of hardwood that s about 3 4 of an inch thick.

Real wood floors make the whole process easier for us novices one company that has put my brain to rest is real wood floors. It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed. Engineered wood on the other hand is a much more convincing replica of solid hardwood for the simple reason that the surface is genuine wood. Sometimes this is simply because the solids are more popular and sell more and hence are put on special more often.

Rather than being solid hardwood through and through engineered wood floors bond a relatively thin layer of true hardwood over a substrate of high quality plywood. Engineered hardwood consists of several layers with only the top and bottom consisting of real wood. Solid wood flooring vs. Shaw engineered hardwood flooring shaw s engineered hardwood core is made up of multiple layers of wood stacked in a cross grain configuration which minimizes expanding and shrinking.

Like epic plus engineered hardwood shaw engineered can be installed above on or below grade. Often solid hardwood is less expensive this all depends on what you are comparing it to but sometimes solid is less expensive than a sandable engineered product. How long will an engineered wood floor last. Depending on the thickness of the veneer that tops the flooring the quality of flooring used and how well you maintain your floors engineered hardwood can last a lifetime.

As the graphic above illustrates engineered hardwood flooring is comprised of layers of wood. The top is a solid hardwood veneer with substrates of high quality plywood layers. The inner layers are made of plywood high density fiberboard or sometimes actual hardwood. Yes it s possible to find cheap engineered flooring but if comparing mid to good enginee.

Engineered flooring is typically between 3 8 to 3 4 thick whereas solid hardwood is 1 2 to 3 4 thick. The top layer is usually hardwood veneer but can also be composed of any hardwood you want such as cherry maple or oak. Engineered hardwood provides an advantage over solid hardwood. Like solid wood planks engineered wood planks usually measure 5 inches wide but are generally thinner with a depth of 3 8 1 2.