There are two basic types of wood floor in selecting hardwood floor, solid and engineered hardwood. Often the two have been confused because durability and appearance of both are similar. However, engineered hardwood is more dimensionally stable due to the method used in manufacturing. The focus of this article is to explore and understand more about engineered hardwood flooring in selecting hardwood floor. Engineered hardwood flooring is made using a real wood for a top layer (wear layer) and combined with multiple layer of wood for the core. The stability of engineered wood is achieved by running each layer perpendicular to each other (90° angle to adjacent layer). As a result, it makes a perfect product for using over concrete, and in below or above grade spaces. Engineered hardwood can be sanded and refinished only once or twice due to the limited thickness of the top veneer. The veneer which is a top layer is a 2-3mm of a real wood species.
Wood species type:
There are different types of wood species to choose from such as maple, birch, red oak, white oak, walnut. Selecting any of those will depend on the style of your house and personal preference. The most common species are maple, birch and oak, while maple and birch are more clean look and modern, the oak has a more traditional look. Walnut is the most expensive one and it looks so elegant and attractive, it has a brown color and tends to lighten with age. Once, you have chosen the wood specie, texture and appearance are something to look into. Choose from different finish which are hand scraped, wire brush, and smooth.
Installation methods:
The installation of engineered wood may vary depending on the application and manufacturer specification. It is recommended to read installation instruction prior to install in order to keep your manufacturer’s warranty valid. There are four methods of installation for engineered hardwood which are nail down, staple down, glue down, and floating. One of the important points to consider before installation is the wood acclimation. This is necessary to allow the wood to acclimate to the environmental conditions of the installation area. The acclimation time for each wood is usually vary. So, it is best to read the floor manual to find out how much do you need to have prior to the installation. The standard time for acclimation is between 48 – 72 hrs.
