There are a number of common concerns regarding nearly every type of flooring in the marketplace; tiles and stone are too cold and uncomfortable-- hardwood flooring scratches too easily-- carpet is hard to keep clean-- laminate flooring ruins with water-- these are the most common concerns we hear every single day and that is why we continue to point our customers in a more technologically advanced direction. Consider TORLYS Everwood & Evertile when you start shopping for flooring in your home. It really is "The Ultimate Flooring"...

1. It is Waterproof - Neither the core or the top layer can be damaged/altered by water. 
2. It is Warm - The cork underlay attached to the product makes it warm to the touch, even when the room is cold.
3. It is Durable - The ultra-thick wear layer is designed for commercial use. 
4. It is Quiet - The attached cork underlay allows the room it is installed in as well as the room below to remain quiet.
5. It is Dent-Resistant - The high-density core and top layer resist wear-and-tear damage.
6. It is Easy to Maintain - Spills and messes are easily wiped up with a damp mop -- stains don't easily penetrate. 

TORLYS Everwood & Evertile is built tough for kitchens, bathrooms and basements while also being beautiful and comfortable for living rooms and bedrooms -- Plus, it's easy to install -- it just clicks together and floats on top of your subfloor (for all you DIYers). 

Before we start talking about the benefits of engineered hardwood flooring versus solid hardwood flooring, lets talk about what the difference is between the two popular flooring options. Solid hardwood flooring is a 100% natural product made only of the wood material and the finishing products (stain/varnish/oils/etc.). Engineered hardwood flooring consists of 2 or more layers that are adhered together with incredibly strong adhesives. The top layer is called the "wear-layer" and is made of wood veneer. The following layers (anywhere from 2-9) can be made up of plywood, HDF (high density fibreboard), softwood or even more layers of hardwood. The bonding of these layers under extreme pressure make for an incredibly dimensionally stable product. That means that engineered hardwood flooring will respond less to changes in temperature and changes in humidity levels, whereas solid hardwood flooring is more likely to change with the temperature/humidity. With our Canadian climate where we can have extremely dry winters and painfully humid summers, solid flooring--especially with wide planks--tends to expand and contract if the relative humidity in the installed area is not regulated somewhere between 35-55%.  This can cause buckling in the floor during summer months and gapping in the floors during winter months. Relative humidity for specialty engineered products can be a lot more broad, ranging anywhere from 20%-85% (depending on the product/brand). If you don't want to be worrying about regulating your relative humidity strictly from month to month engineered hardwood flooring is for you.

With that being said, there are ways to make sure your solid flooring stays in perfect condition. First of all, the flooring must be installed in the correct manner with an expansion gap around the entire perimeter (as recommended by the manufacturer). Most importantly during and after installation is to make sure that you are using your heating and air conditioning properly when needed. Just as important is ensuring that you have a properly functioning humidifier in the winter and dehumidifier in the summer. This will add/subtract moisture as needed to regulate the relative humidity. Furthermore, you can make sure that your cleaning processes are not adding too much moisture to the floor--no wet mops or soaking of the flooring whatsoever. All of these points go for engineered hardwood as well!

The greatest part about engineered hardwood flooring is that once it's installed, it's impossible to tell whether it is solid or engineered until a piece is removed--the top layer is real wood! You get the beautiful look and feel of solid hardwood, but with less denting, less expansion, less contraction and much more dimensional stability--and at all price-points so it won't break the bank!

Have any more questions about solid or engineered hardwood flooring? Contact us!