Engineered wood looks similar to solid wood and has become a popular choice for many homes. So what is engineered wood flooring, and why should you consider it an option for your wood floor?
What Is Engineered Wood Made Of?
Engineered wood flooring is made of multiple layers, called plys, which are bonded together. Typically, there are between 3 and 12 layers of ply that are cross layered, then glued, and pressed together to form a really strong bond.
The grain of each layer runs in different directions, and that makes it very stable. As a result, the engineered wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring when exposed to changes in moisture and heat. It’s not as prone to shrinking or warping as much as solid wood is. The top decorative layer of engineered wood is a beautiful veneer of solid wood. It’s the layer you’ll feel and touch.
Engineered hardwood flooring comes with a click fitting system or a tongue with groove profile, so it’s quick and easy to install. You shouldn’t confuse it with laminate flooring. Engineered hardwood is composed of a top layer of real hardwood, and laminate wood flooring has just a high-quality picture of wooden flooring laminate onto high-density fiberboard (HDF).
Due to innovative manufacturing techniques, engineered hardwood can be installed in any room in your home, including your basement and bathrooms. With proper care and maintenance, this material generally lasts 20 to 30 years.
What Is the Style of Engineered Wood?
Engineered hardwood flooring is almost always sold pre-finished and can offer a variety of styles and surface effects for your home. If you are looking to install this material on your floor, at our store, you will have a choice of different wood species, styles, colors, finishes, and plank sizes.
Whether you are looking for oak, maple, hickory flooring, or more, we’ve got you covered. There are multiple finishes available in matte, semi-gloss, and high-gloss, and you can choose from any design, such as sleek and smooth or rustic and scraped, to find flooring material that best suits your home.
What Is Engineered Wood Fiber?
Engineered wood fiber (EWF) is sometimes confused with the engineered wood, though it’s a totally different material. It’s an economical playground surfacing that is used on the majority of playgrounds in the US. EWF is considered a “loose-fill” playground surface and is made from the 100 percent virgin softwood at the heart of the tree.
Engineered wood fiber is also free from hard parts like bark and twigs, and the fibers are cut to one to two-inch lengths. EWT mulch flooring for playgrounds is engineered to knit together and form a surface soft enough to cushion falls, and it also has high-impact absorbing qualities.
Being low-cost to install and low–cost to maintain, EWF is often chosen as flooring for playground surfaces due to its natural, rusty look because it still resembles wood. It can also be used for landscaping purposes.
