What is Engineered Wood Flooring?

The aesthetic qualities of engineered wood flooring compare very favorably with those of solid wood flooring.  The treatments and styling finishes used these days for this type of flooring are similar in all respects to those applied to solid wood flooring. Once installed, it is impossible to distinguish between a solid wood floor made and one made from engineered wood. The main advantage of engineered wood flooring is its dimensional stability: the cross-ply construction means the wood is largely unaffected by swelling and does not warp significantly. A further and by no means insignificant advantage is the lower supply cost compared to solid wood flooring, for which the raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce.

The Look of Engineered Wood Flooring:
The look of engineered wood flooring depends on four main aspects; the species of wood, the grain's grade, the surface finish and the size of the plank.

The floating installation: The wood flooring strips are glued or clipped together but lie free with respect to the laying surface. The floor is therefore not glued to the laying surface but floats on top of it, hence the term “floating installation”. Any DIY enthusiast should be able to lay a wood floor using this method. It is also an easier and more flexible method to use when laying over an existing floor-covering (plastic flooring, carpets, tiles, stone…). An insulating underlay is essential for this type of floor installation.

Glue-down installation: All types of engineered wood flooring can be laid, as with solid wood flooring, using glue-down installation. This method takes a little longer and requires the purchase of glue. However, it results in a quieter floor by considerably limiting the amount of resonance above the floor.

Note: where underfloor heating is installed, the glue-down method must be used. In either case, an insulating underlay is necessary.

Acclimatization Period: As a natural product, engineered wood flooring needs to become used to the conditions of your home before it is installed. Even though more stable than solid wood flooring, engineered wood floors will still move slightly, so it is best to let your engineered wood floor ‘settle’ into its new environment before you install it. We recommended a minimum of seven days between receiving your floor and installing it.