7 Incredible Benefits of Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Are you displeased with your current residential or commercial flooring? Or, do you need to replace it because it’s in very bad condition?
If so, we’d like to present you with 7 excellent reasons why engineered hardwood flooring is the solution to your problems. For example, engineered hardwood floors are much cheaper than solid wood floors and other floor options.
And yet, they look identical to solid wood floors. That’s because the top layer actually is a thin plank of real hardwood.
They’re also more attractive than other budget-friendly floor materials. Plus, the engineered hardwood planks are easy to replace when necessary.
Want to learn more? Get the full details on the benefits of engineered hardwood floors by reading this guide.
Table of Contents
1. Engineered Hardwood Is Cheap
As amazing as solid wood floors look, they’re very expensive. So are tile flooring and many other floor types.
But engineered hardwood is one of the more affordable floor materials you can buy. Besides, it also gives you all the other benefits on this list, too. And it will boost your home value better than laminate and other budget floor options.
2. It Looks Expensive
Furthermore, most cheap flooring looks cheap. Specifically, most budget floor options:
- Look fake/unappealing at the start
- Are easily scuffed, which causes their appearance to degrade over time
- Are prone to warping, scratching, and other damage
But despite its low cost, engineered hardwood looks identical to expensive solid wood flooring. And the real wood veneer on the surface offers natural beauty that man-made flooring could never achieve.
Also, engineered hardwood floors aren’t prone to warping. And the hardwood veneer is resistant to scratching and scuffing. So the floor’s attractive appearance should last as long as the floor itself.
3. It’s Moisture/Temperature-Resistant
One of the biggest drawbacks of solid wood flooring is that it’s easily damaged by moisture. You should never choose solid wood floors in rooms that encounter a lot of moisture. Nor is it a good choice for very humid homes.
It also expands and contracts a lot whenever the temperature changes. This can also cause warping as well as creaking. Such environmental fluctuations cause a solid wood floor to wear out faster.
Conversely, engineered hardwood planks consist mostly of plywood, which is very resistant to moisture and temperature changes. That is, such changes have little effect on engineered hardwood and won’t cause them to warp. For this reason, engineered hardwood is the superior choice for homes where the temperature is unstable and the moisture level is high.
4. It Lasts a Long Time
Given certain conditions, your engineered hardwood floor should last longer than other floor types. To reiterate:
- It lasts longer than solid wood in moist environments
- It lasts longer than vinyl against factors like scuffing
Engineered hardwood floors generally last 20 years or so and are usually covered by a warranty for at least 15.
5. It’s Versatile
Engineered hardwood comes in an enormous variety of materials and styles. You can choose any hardwood in any stain you like, for example.
Also, let’s say you already have a specific type of exotic hardwood flooring in mind. Normally, exotic wood is among the most expensive flooring options there are. Fortunately, you can get the same wood flooring for much cheaper as engineered hardwood planks.
Additionally, engineered hardwood is compatible with underfloor heating since it doesn’t warp with temperature changes. Plus, you can install it directly on top of plain concrete or other subflooring without any additional underlayment required. But if you want some sort of underlayment, or one already exists, you can install it over that, too.
Additional Features
Some engineered hardwood has bonus features in addition to all these benefits. For instance, some types have a thicker layer of hardwood on top so they can be sanded and refinished as necessary. Obviously, all this variety means you have a broad price range to choose from, too.
6. It’s Easy to Install/Maintain
Some of the features we just mentioned illustrate how easy engineered hardwood is to install. Namely, you can install it with or without underlayment.
Plus, many engineered hardwood planks are specifically designed for easy installation. Some will conveniently click into place or fit into grooves that guide them to the proper position.
Most can also be nailed or glued like solid wood flooring. And some can be installed using staples. For these reasons, some homeowners find they can install engineered hardwood flooring without any professional help.
Cleaning
To clean engineered hardwood floors, sweep them every 1 or 2 days. And wipe them down with spray cleaner once a week. That’s all there is to it.
Big messes can be vacuumed. Better yet, get a Roomba. Then, you don’t even have to sweep at all.
Repairing/Replacing
Damaged/cracked engineered hardwood planks can’t really be repaired. And it’s true that they aren’t as dent-resistant as, say, rift cut white oak flooring. However, it’s very easy to replace damaged planks (because they’re so easy to install).
7. It’s More Sustainable Than Other Floor Options
Plywood, the primary material in engineered hardwood, is mostly made of recycled/repurposed wood. Thus, engineered hardwood is almost always your most eco-friendly flooring option.
Consider Engineered Hardwood For Your Flooring Needs
Most likely, the benefits described above have given you a lot to think about. Namely, if you’re unhappy with your current floor, consider replacing it with engineered hardwood.
Instead, simply bookmark this page so you can refer to it later.
Next, read our guide about home improvement projects that boost your home value. Or, learn about your various roofing material options. Find lots of helpful guides and tips like these on our Home Information blog.
Biswajit Rakshit is a professional blogger and writer. He loves to write on various topics.