Hardwood flooring comes in two versions: solid and engineered. They may look similar, but their construction is different, performing very differently in humid spaces. Engineered wood is taking a significant share of the wood flooring industry because it appeals to homeowners who want beauty and practicality.
A crosswise structure
Solid hardwood is the same thickness throughout. Engineered is layered. At the top is your desired species of choice: oak, maple, cherry, ash, hickory, and walnut, to name a few. This veneer gives you all the grain and undertones and swirls you desire in your wood floor. The planks are a little wider and shorter, but more manufacturers can offer you more plank sizes.
Underneath the veneer is at least three, sometimes more, layers of genuine wood that are combined with a bit of resin. These layers are placed in crosswise positions that give the wood floor more stability and better handle water. It can be set in a higher-than-normal moisture area, where solid hardwood wouldn't farewell. It needs no acclimation since the engineered floor won’t shrink or contract to adjust to the weather. Like a solid hardwood floor, engineered floors add to the value of the property.
Installation
With solid hardwood, it’s always a tongue and groove system. Engineered offers a different option: the floating floor. This process has a locking mechanism that is fast and uncomplicated. The pieces click together, mat, and hover over the existing subfloor with no nails or glue needed, and the subfloor may need to be prepared. In addition, it may need cleaning, drying, and leveling.
At Urban Floors, we know wood flooring. We are a hardwood flooring company that wants to be your source for wood floors. Our showroom is in Walled Lake, MI. We serve the Metro Detroit area. If you are interested in solid hardwood flooring or engineered flooring, talk to our staff about your options. They will be glad to help you. Call us today!
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