Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood Flooring

The term “Hardwood” applies to varieties of wood flooring that are made entirely of wood. Hardwood is the preferred choice for many homeowners since ages because of its natural warmth, aesthetics, and durability. There are two types of hardwood flooring:

• 1.Solid Hardwood Flooring
• 2.Engineered Hardwood Flooring

In this article, you can learn about Engineered Hardwood Flooring. Link to Solid Hardwood Flooring ishttps://thearchspace.com/2019/11/17/solid-hardwood-flooring/

2.Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered wood is made from planks that are made from different layers of wood top layer being hardwood species bonded to other layers.

Offers elegant and luxurious appearance

Add character to any room

Pros of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

• Durable
• Provide warmth and give authentic charm
• Suitable for any style of interiors
• Different layers help in preventing the shifting of the floor during expansion and less susceptible to moisture damage

Cons of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

• Durable
• Cannot be sanded or refinished (maybe once or twice depending on veneer)
• Time-consuming to install.

Types of Wood Species

Many varieties of wood species are available as per location. Most common varieties are

• Ashwood
• Acacia
• Beech
• Birch
• Cherry
• Douglas fir
• Hickory
• Mahogany
• Maple
• Oak
• Pine
• Poplar
• Teak
• Walnut

Aesthetics

Colors:

Available in light, medium and dark in various colors as per location and supplier.

Light colors like white and grey create an airy and spacious atmosphere. It appears modern and sophisticated.

Medium colors like light brown and brown offers natural look and suitable for varied styles.

Dark colors like dark brown and black makes a difference with a natural look.

Sizes:

WIDTH: They are available as strips and planks. Strips are less than 3”. Planks can be narrow, wide or long depending on the supplier.

THICKNESS: Thickness of Engineered wood ranges from ¼” to 3/8”.

Shades:

Available in dark shade, light shade, medium/neutral shade.

EDGE DETAIL

Edge details may vary according to manufacturer or supplier. Square, eased, micro-beveled, beveled, etc.

TEXTURE

Texture is of smooth/embossed or hand scrapped.

Flooring Pattern

Different flooring patterns are available in the market. Herringbone, chevron, parquet, horizontal/vertical.

FINISH SHEEN/GLOSS LEVEL:

GLOSSY, SEMI-GLOSS, SATIN, MATTE

The more glosser, the light reflects off the floors, this, in turn, shows more dirt/dust as well as imperfections on the floor. Satin has some sheen and creates a classic and contemporary feel.

Grade:

according to no. and size of knots, amount of sapwood present in the wood and its color variations.

PRIME GRADE(ab): cut from center of log, highly uniform, very few knots.

SELECT GRADE: contains knots up to 20mm in size, sap up to 10% of plank and has slight color variation.

NATURAL GRADE: contains knots up to 30mm in size, some sap.

RUSTIC GRADE: contains knots up to 35mm in size, has sap.

Installation and Finish

1.Flooring Type

A) PREFINISHED: satin/sanded and top layer is factory finished.

Pros:

Finish samples can be visualized before buying.

Less time to install.

Less messy ad no smell.

B) SITE FINISHED: Sanded and Finished on site

Pros:

Various options to choose finishes.

Control over stain and sheen.

2.Installation Method

Engineered hardwood:

TONGUE AND GROOVE: The tongue and grooves of the two planks interlock each other and form a strong bond.

NAILED: Floor is nailed If the subfloor is wooden.

GLUED DOWN TO A SUITABLE SUBFLOOR: involves the use of bonding agent or adhesive, which is applied directly to the subfloor and can be applied directly to either concrete or wooden subfloors.

LAID IN A FLOATING: A floor that is not fixed to a subfloor. It is normally installed over a layer of underlay which itself is laid over a subfloor.

3.Type of Finish

Type of finish can vary-

UNFINISHED: It is available as a raw material in its natural state without any finish.

BRUSHED AND OILED: Brushed to reveal the natural grain of wood and finished with several layers of oil to prevent surface from wear and tear.

LACQUERED: Adds strength and protects the surface from wear and tear.

HAND SCRAPPED: surface can be scraped by hand to give more texture and rustic effect.