 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!
1 Comment
|