Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is one of the most popular types of flooring installed in modern homes. At Stories Flooring, we are often asked about the benefits of engineered wood and what it offers compared to other flooring types.

To help you decide whether to invest in an engineered wood floor, below, our flooring experts have revealed 8 advantages of engineered wood floors you’ll want to consider…

1. Realistic Wood Appearance

One of the main benefits of engineered wood flooring is that it looks strikingly similar to solid wood floors. This is because the top layer is made from solid wood, giving it the exact same aesthetics as a real wood floor.

Product: Natures Own Hand Carved French Barn Engineered Oak Flooring 190 x 20/6mm

2. Withstands Temperature Fluctuations

One of the biggest disadvantages to solid wood floors is that they expand and contract when exposed to temperature and moisture changes.

Although engineered floors feature a solid wood top layer, they don’t expand or contract in the same way. This makes them suitable for use in rooms where solid wood floors could become damaged. The only exception is the bathroom.

Although they are more moisture resistant, engineered wood floors are not fully waterproof, so they shouldn’t be installed in high-moisture environments.

3. Exceptional Durability

When you invest in an engineered wood floor, you can expect it to last decades with adequate maintenance. This is largely down to its multi-layered construction, creating a tough and stable core. They also come finished with a lacquered or oiled surface, helping to protect against high levels of daily foot traffic.

4. Engineered Planks can be Restored

Although engineered wood floors are highly durable, they will wear down over time. To expand their lifespan, you can re-sand and re-finish them. While this does take a bit of effort, it leaves you with a new-looking floor that will last for at least another decade when cared for properly. We have more information on how to restore engineered flooring here.

The only type of engineered floor you’ll find difficult to re-finish is brushed or Handscraped. You’ll find it difficult to create the same effect yourself.

5. Variety of Different Designs

Did you know engineered wood floors come in a variety of parquet designs? You can choose basket-weave, Versailles, chevron, and herringbone-style engineered floors alongside standard straight plank designs. Read more about what parquet flooring is here.

Product: Lusso Bentley UV Oiled European Oak Herringbone Engineered Wood Flooring 125 x 15/3mm

This ensures no matter what style of décor you currently have in the home, there will be an engineered floor to match it.

6. Manufactured from Different Species

Engineered wood floors are mostly created from oak, but you can find other species too such as walnut and maple. The different species don’t just affect the floor’s appearance, they also impact the durability and hardness of the floor. For example, maple is slightly harder than oak, making it ideal for high-traffic areas of the home.

Product: Natural Unfinished Engineered European Oak 190mm x 14/3mm

7. Wider Boards are Available

Compared to solid wood, engineered wood floors offer wider plank variations. This is because only the surface is created from real wood rather than the entire planks. It would take a large tree to create wide solid wood floors, whereas engineered floors mostly use plywood.

8. Easy Installation

Engineered wood floors are easy to install compared to solid wood flooring. Most feature a tongue and groove installation system, allowing you to fit them as a floating floor. You don’t need to secure them down with nails or adhesive, and you should find it simple enough to do by yourself.

Some engineered wood floors even come with a click system for even easier installation. This allows you to just click the planks together for a simplistic and speedy fit.

9. Affordable

One of the biggest benefits of engineered wood flooring is the cost. Though it looks just like the real thing, engineered wood is sold at a fraction of the cost. This is great for those looking to achieve a real wood finish on a budget.

Conclusion

Engineered wood flooring offers a plethora of benefits. Capable of being installed in domestic and commercial environments, this strong and durable flooring type is a firm favourite with our customers.

Engineered wood flooring has a number of advantages, including:

• Looks just like solid wood flooring
• Resistant to temperature changes due to the multi-layer construction
• Cheaper than solid wood floors
• Made using a real wood veneer, unlike laminate planks
• Suitable to install with underfloor heating, unlike solid wood flooring
• Suitable to install over an underlay for extra comfort and sound reduction
• Easy to install due to a simple click/tongue-and-groove installation method
• Can easily be restored by sanding and refinishing the real wood veneer
• Comes in a range of species, including oak, ash, maple, walnut and acacia
• Available in multiple styles, including parquet and straight plank
• Comes in several different finishes such as oiled, lacquered, waxed, brushed, smoked, distressed, hand-scraped, and unfinished
• Comes in various plank sizes to suit your room

You can check out our full range of engineered wood floors here to see the vast range of styles and finishes available.

Further Browsing

Browse our engineered wood flooring collection here.
Read more about what engineered wood flooring is here.