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Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood floors are real wood floors that are manufactured using three to five layers of different wood veneers. The sub layers can be of the same species, or of different species. The graining of each layer runs in opposite direction, which makes it very stable. This means that the wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring during fluctuations in humidity and temperature. This superior resistance to movement means that they can also be used below grade, though the top layer of engineered wood flooring always consists of high-quality wood.
Engineered floors are more versatile than solid hardwood flooring; they can be glued, nailed, and floated (some are designed to be floated only) on a wide variety of sub floors. Engineered floors are excellent choices for radiant heat installations or where a floor is needed to span two differing subfloors like plywood and concrete, ideal for slab and basement installations. It is also a much better use of our dwindling natural resources as engineered flooring can yield up to four times the amount of flooring per weight of wood compared to a solid floor.
This type of flooring can be sanded and refinished, but not as many times as solid wood flooring. Here are the two options you’ll have with engineered hardwood floors:
- Unfinished
A job-site finish is one that is applied on the job site, in your home. With a job-site finished floor, you can choose the type of finish to be applied to your floor, which will impact maintenance, as well as the colour, stain, and sheen of the final product. However, because your floors will be sanded and finished in your home, expect noise, dust and some disruption to your home. You also will need to allow time for the finish to dry on-site, during which time you will not be able to walk on your floor.
The good news is that many dust containment systems have been developed to help control dust and debris, so ask your contractor if one can be used in your home.
- Prefinished
With factory finished wood floor, the finish is applied in the factory, long before the wood reaches your home. While many options are available with factory finished floors, you will not be able to achieve the same level of customization as you can with job-site finished wood floors. Of course, minimal dust and noise during the installation process is the major benefit to factory finished wood floors.
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