One of the questions that we get asked often here at Delano-London when a client is carrying out a flat or house refurbishment is “what is engineered flooring?”, closely followed by “how is engineered wood different to solid wood?”. So we’ve teamed up with Megan Reece at Luxury Flooring to bring to you a few facts about engineered wood flooring and how it differs from wood flooring.

What is engineered wood?

Engineered wood is similar to laminate since it is made up of layers, however unlike laminate flooring where the top layer is an image that has been printed onto the wood, the top layer of engineered wood is real wood of varying thickness. The rest of the board is made up of plywood that has been cross layered, glued and pressed together. This manufacturing process is what makes engineered wood so special, because the strength of the core of the floor is so strong and ensures maximum stability in the floor.

How is it different to solid wood?

Because engineered wood consists of layers that have been bonded and pressed together they offer more stability. This means is that the floor itself is able to remain the same even when the surrounding conditions change, unlike solid wood which contracts and warps when moisture and humidity levels alter. This means that engineered wood can be installed in rooms like the bathroom or kitchen whereas solid wood can’t, although it is key to point out that engineered wood can be affected if the conditions are extreme.

Engineered wood can be sanded and refinished if they become damaged however the process cannot be carried out as many times it can with solid wood floors, it’s also important to check with the manufacturer before undertaking this process. Engineered wood can also be installed above underfloor heating whilst solid wood cannot.

There are a few more installation methods available for engineered flooring rather than just the one for solid wood (nailing down), engineered wood can be installed using stapling or nailing down, click method or glue.

In a nutshell, engineered wood is suited to those who crave the appearance of a stylish wood floor finish but would prefer a sometimes more budget-friendly but often more practical option! As with solid wood this type of flooring is seen as an investment but it sometimes doesn’t have the long lifespan that comes with solid wood.

The benefits of engineered wood:

Engineered flooring can be installed using various methods. Why is it that engineered wood is so easy to be installed? Well unlike other flooring options it doesn’t require any plywood sub-flooring in advance, it can also be laid as a floating floor or nailed directly over joists. Another great thing about engineered wood is that it has already been sanded and sealed by the manufacturer, this means that once it is fitted you’re good to go and no extra work is required until you feel the need to do so!

Like its solid counterpart, engineered wood flooring is relatively easy to keep clean and pretty low on the maintenance front. This is important when it comes to flooring, the maintenance of a floor is key to its longevity, although it can’t be guaranteed that engineered wood won’t get damaged over time we can tell you that there are easy methods to spruce it up and bring it back to life.

With such a huge range available you won’t be limited when it comes to choosing an engineered wood floor, there are so many styles and finishes available that you’re almost guaranteed to find a floor to suit you and your home.

Go here to see some engineered wood flooring at Luxury Flooring.