Is engineered flooring right for you? Engineered vs. hardwood flooring

amanda hoye

March 7, 2016

Home remodel we completed in 2015 with engineered flooring.

Are you in love with the pictures of the beautiful hardwood floors filling up Pinterest and Houzz? You aren't alone! There's a reason that the floors are so popular. They are gorgeous and easier to keep clean than carpet. Well, the truth is most of what is being used in those pictures is either engineered hardwood or laminate! Most people are shocked to find out it isn't actually real wood, especially the 5 inch wide planks.

Several years ago, the wider the hardwood the better. That is a trend that is still around today. It looks beautiful, so you can see why. It didn't take that long for manufactures to stop making it, though. Why? Because it turns out that solid wood flooring is very sensitive to environmental factors. If the house is too warm, humidity will rise and the hardwood edges will curl up (or "cup"). If the house is too dry, the boards could split. It's very susceptible to moisture. No matter how good the install, if the conditions in the house aren't perfect, there could be excessive joint separation or actual splitting. Even if you did maintain a perfect household environment, some things you can't control. The changing of seasons, for one.

Enter engineered wood.

It isn't bothered by environmental factors. You install it and it stays put. It's way more affordable, since many manufactures aren't even making hardwood floors anymore. And, with all the advances in building, engineered wood can look exactly like the real deal!

But what is engineered wood?

It's worth mentioning right away that engineered wood is not Pergo. There have been negative connotations with engineered wood flooring simply because people think "Pergo" when they hear "engineered". However, Pergo is laminate. So what is engineered wood, then? Like real hardwood, it's made from real wood. The thing that makes it different is the way it's constructed. Solid hardwood is made from a single piece of wood, and then covered with a protective coating. Engineered hardwood is made from an engineered core (usually plywood), multiple layers of wood (under extreme heat and pressure), and then it's given a protective coating. Engineered wood is also very environmentally friendly! Because it uses less wood than solid wood, it saves trees. Engineered wood floor only uses the wood needed to make a beautiful wood floor.

Engineered wood flooring is a great option. The price can't be beat when compared to real wood, and it's much more durable! If you're looking for a beautiful, cost effective and low-maintenance option, think engineered wood. It could be the best thing you've done for your house!

Serving Tri-Cities, Washington. Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Benton City, Burbank, and Finley Washington.