Here are some comparisons between engineered and solid oak flooring.
Engineered vs solid oak flooring.
It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed.
In order to restrain this natural movement of timber wood flooring producers use engineered wood.
The term hardwood doesn t always refer to solid wood though.
Even though engineered wood looks pretty much the same as solid wood to notice the difference you will have to look under the surface.
The contraction and expansion activity of a solid wood plank will depend on the floor s grain pattern and average moisture average equilibrium moisture contents of a said region.
It can also refer to engineered flooring a manufactured type of flooring with a hardwood veneer.
Solid hardwood flooring is available in a wide array of wood species including oak maple and black walnut as well as regional specific choices like pecan mesquite and others.
This thin veneer means it can only be refinished a fraction of the times of solid wood flooring if at all.
Engineered oak flooring requires more preparation and production than the solid oak flooring does.
Engineered oak flooring certainly has come a far way from a decade or so ago when it was made from cheap wood pulp and covered in spar varnish.
Depending on the level of humidity it is always either expanding or contracting.
Engineered hardwood can go in the same rooms as solid hardwood but its engineered construction also makes it a great choice for basements and over radiant heating and concrete floors still avoid bathrooms and laundry rooms because engineered flooring is slightly thinner than most solid hardwood it can also be good for projects where your hardwood needs to match the height of an adjoining.
Engineered oak flooring is usually more expensive than solid oak which may seem strange to the less experienced wood floor customer but when the advantages and construction method are explained properly the reasons become clear and understandable.
It is always nailed down to the subfloor a process that requires some skill.
Unlike solid hardwood planks engineered wood floors aren t as susceptible to moisture and heat.
It is relatively easy for a non professional to install and can be put down over a thin foam floating floor as required.
Engineered wood flooring.
This benefit makes them suitable for use anywhere in your home including basements and sub floors.
Solid wood flooring vs.