Hardwood flooring can make your home look elegant and stylish. Of course, this comes with a hefty price tag as hardwood can get pretty pricey. Luckily, there is an alternative that gives you the look you’re trying to achieve without blowing your budget. Engineered hardwood is a great alternative that will fit in most budgets and saves you from potential damage due to wear and tear. Here are many benefits of choosing engineered hardwood flooring for your home.
What is Engineered Hardwood?
Engineered hardwood planks are made up of layers of wood. They are bonded together through high heat and pressure. The core of the planks is made of hardwood or plywood and a hardwood veneer is attached to the top. This process gives you the beautiful appearance of hardwood that can last a long time with proper care and maintenance.
Benefits of Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Stability
When choosing flooring, it’s best to pick something with versatility that can be used in multiple places. Engineered hardwood is stable no matter what room it is installed in. Humidity can cause solid wood to shrink, expand, and buckle. This isn’t the case for engineered hardwood so you can use it in kitchens, bathrooms, and even basements.
Ease of Installation
Flooring can feel overwhelming especially when it comes to installation. Who wants to uproot their lives in order to get new flooring? Installing engineered hardwood is less complex than other flooring types. It can be installed directly over concrete, wood, or even in-floor heating systems.
Style & Quality
Deciding to use engineered hardwood flooring doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or quality. Your flooring is one of the first things visitors will notice about your home. Engineered hardwood comes in a variety of styles that mimic regular hardwood. A good engineered hardwood can pull your entire home together and give you a fresh update. Plus with engineered hardwood, you’ll be able to pull off trendy styles like wide planks and chevron patterns.
Environmentally Friendly Flooring
Engineered hardwood is more environmentally friendly than traditional hardwood offerings. The veneer is sliced rather than saw cut. Through this process, no sawdust is produced meaning all the tree’s wood can be used. Additionally, the wood used to make up the core of engineered hardwood is different than the wood used for hardwood. This means fewer trees are used up to create engineered hardwood flooring than regular hardwood options.
Maintenance
Caring for engineered hardwood is easier than caring for solid hardwood. You can purchase a specific cleaner for heavy duty jobs or sweep and mop on the regular. While engineered hardwood is less susceptible to damage from water, prolonged exposure to spills can cause damage. It’s important to protect the wood from UV rays to prevent fading so pull drapes and blinds during peak sunlight hours. Taking good care of your engineered hardwood can mean they stay looking beautiful for years to come.
Refinishing & Sanding
When it’s time to change up your style, solid hardwood can be pretty limiting. Engineered hardwood flooring, on the other hand, can be sanded and refinished. This means breathing new life into your floor when it’s looking a little tired. Of course, the amount of sanding that can be done depends on the top layer of the planks. Once sanded, you can refinish the wood to protect it and bring a new style to life. This flexibility allows you to get rid of staining and utilize the engineered hardwood flooring for longer than many other types.
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