What kind of hardwood flooring will you choose?
There is nothing more beautiful than hardwood floors in your home. But when you are having new floors installed, you may have to decide between two different types of hardwood floors: engineered or solid hardwood floors. While each of them is beautiful, they are actually completely different. Let’s take a look at these floors and how they differ from each other.
Engineered Hardwood Floors
Engineered hardwood flooring planks are made from plywood or recycled wood fibers. These fibers are mixed with organic material and form the layers within the flooring planks. These planks are usually made up of three to five layers that are pressed together using an intense heating and pressure process to make a single surface. Many planks have a top wear layer of hardwood floors with three to four layers of plywood below for the look of hardwood without the costs. Unlike natural solid wood floors, humidity does not really affect these hardwood floors. This flooring can be used in areas around your home where the humidity fluctuates like in bathrooms and kitchens. They can also be installed using a floating floor method that doesn’t use any nails or glue, making them easy to install.
Solid Hardwood Floors
Solid hardwood planks are made from individual pieces of hardwood and are finished with a thin layer of protective materials like aluminum oxide, ceramic, or acrylic. Solid hardwood planks are usually ¾” thick and can be refinished over the years without thinning down the board too much. This flooring should not be used around extreme humidity on in places where it could be wet like in the kitchen or bathroom. Humidity and water could cause this flooring to warp. Unlike engineered hardwood floors, solid wood gives the buyer many different options when choosing their floors. Hardwood flooring should be placed over a plywood or OSB subfloor and installed above grade.
When choosing hardwood floors for your home, there are many different options for you to choose from. For more information on choosing hardwood floors, call JKE Hardwood Flooring today!
Engineered versus Solid Hardwood Floors with John K. Eareckson & Co!
When you work with John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring, we will ensure your hardwood floors fight fading for decades to come. From a seamless and beautiful installation to years of maintenance, John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring has the expertise to care for your home’s hardwood floors. For a consultation and more information visit us online or give us a call at 410-788-4200. You can also follow us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.