Most types of flooring materials can be used in the home. In fact, although it may not be common, you could use carpet in the kitchen and hardwood floors in the bathroom or toilet. But there are a number of reasons why people choose to use some materials in certain rooms over others. This article will list some of the best features of engineered wood flooring that make it a versatile floor for most rooms. It is primarily marketed as a cheaper option to hardwood flooring that will have the same aesthetic appearance as hardwood.
So if you want the look of oak flooring in your dining room, you can opt for a prefinished engineered wood floor that has an oak top layer. Unlike traditional hardwood floors, there is no need to cover a prefinished oak floor. It is also more adaptable to the room and easier to install.
Engineered wood flooring is typically a laminate of three layers of wood. The top layer is a veneer of popular hardwoods such as oak, pine, maple, beech, and many others. The other layers are usually made of materials like plywood.
The layers are glued with the grain of each wood perpendicular to the other woods. Engineered wood flooring produced this way is durable and will not expand or contract in changing climates or conditions like flooring made from one type of wood.
This type of flooring is also produced for ease of use. It comes in plank or strip flooring varieties and can be installed by gluing, stapling, or as a floating floor to some type of foundation. Instructions on how to install the floor come with the product and are aimed at do-it-yourselfers.
In terms of benefits over traditional hardwood, the engineered variety will be cheaper and easier to install. They may not have the durability of a solid wood floor, but they are still strong enough to withstand heavy wear and tear.
In fact, if the floor is marked or stained, it can be sanded. However, the sanding cannot be deeper than the top layer or bottom layer of plywood. This is an advantage over a laminate floor that might look the same as hardwood but will have a man-made material as its top layer.
