5 Tips for Buying Engineered Wood

If you’re considering investing in engineered wood to upgrade your interior, there are a few factors you need to consider. To help you make the best decision, here are five tips to help you choose the right flooring for your next project. 

In this article: 

• What is Engineered Wood? 
• Where Can You Install Engineered Wood?
• 5 Tips for Buying Engineered Wood

When it comes to engineered wood, you have a ton of colours, varieties, shades, tones, and finishes to choose from. Quality engineered wood features a construction of multiple layers of timber with a solid hardwood top veneer layer. The surface or top layer of the flooring is the part you can see. You can sand and refinish the hardwood layer as needed. 

One of the main differences between engineered wood and solid wood is that it allows for expansion. The stable core means that it’s compatible with underfloor heating and can tolerate higher moisture levels than solid wood. Engineered wood looks beautiful and creates a high-end finish without a costly installation. 

Nowadays, people want their flooring to be more durable, stable and provide better overall performance. To get the most out of your flooring, it’s important that it’s installed in a suitable in the right environment. For example, solid wood flooring isn’t suitable for areas with high moisture levels or underfloor heating systems. The composition of engineered wood makes it suitable for a wide range of environments, including: 

• Living rooms
• Stairs and hallways 
• Open-plan kitchen and dining areas 
• Bedrooms 
• Commercial use 

There are many reasons why people choose to install engineered wood from increased stability to quick installation. If you’re looking to create a beautiful, high-end finish that’s both durable and stable, engineered wood is a great option. Here are five tips to help make the buying process easier. 

When buying engineered wood, look at how thick the top layer of solid wood is. It’s important to have a thick top layer. Over the years, you might want to buff out any marks, sand it down, or even refinish it to give it a new lease of life. A thick top layer makes all this possible and allows you to expand the longevity, finish, and performance of your flooring. 

You have a few different finishes to choose from when buying engineered wood flooring. This is when the flooring is factory finished using certain oils and lacquers. The benefit of this is that you don’t have to treat the flooring. You can install it straight away without any hassle. Pre-treated boards are protected from damage immediately from accidental marks and scratches. You also have a range of tones, colours, and styles to consider. All of which can impact the room differently. 

Although you don’t see the core in the final product, it’s an important part of choosing engineered wood flooring. High-quality flooring should feature an uber stable core that provides structural stability and expands and contracts. If you’re laying flooring in an area that’s prone to changes in temperature and humidity, a stable core is a must-have feature. 

Installing flooring is a big decision. It’s difficult to see how your flooring will look. That’s why it’s important to ask for samples. From the samples, you can get a better idea on the look, feel and texture of your top choices. Samples can be a valuable tool when narrowing down your choices and comparing different board layers and overall thickness and construction. 

Engineered wood comes in a range of board lengths and widths. These can create different effects and finishes when you install them. The right board dimensions really come down to personal preference. Wider and longer boards may be a little more expensive but easier to fit and install. While shorter and narrower boards can create a more traditional feel, so many be suited to certain projects more. 

There are a few things you need to think about before investing in engineered wood flooring. By choosing a high-quality flooring with a thick top layer, you can find something long-lasting, durable, and beautiful.