Top 10 Engineered Hardwood Flooring FAQs
Engineered hardwood will help you create an inviting and stylish space. (Jasper Engineered Hardwood – Handscraped Hickory)
1. What is engineered hardwood flooring?
Engineered hardwood flooring features a top layer of hardwood veneer over a plywood, hardwood, or HDF (high density fiber board) core. Because engineered hardwood veneers are made from real wood, and not a photographic layer, they have the natural characteristics of the selected wood species.
2. What are the benefits of engineered hardwood flooring?
Engineered hardwood flooring offers more versatility than solid hardwood flooring because its construction allows it to be installed in many areas where solid planks aren’t recommended (like basements). This is due to its ability to resist moisture and humidity better than solid hardwood, which might be dimensionally unstable under the same conditions. Many engineered options are also able to be installed over underfloor heating systems that would otherwise dry out and damage hardwood.
3. What does greater stability mean?
The instability of solid hardwood flooring is generally moisture or heat related. In unsuitable conditions, solid hardwood can warp, cup, swell, or split apart. Engineered hardwood is more stable because it overcomes many of these problems with its the multi-ply plank construction that counteracts twisting and remains flat and intact.This makes engineered hardwood a better candidate for installation over underfloor heating and concrete, whether it’s above or below grade.
4. How many layers are present in engineered hardwood flooring?
Most types of engineered wood flooring have at least three layers beneath the hardwood veneer. Some options have as many as five to seven layers. More layers provides greater stability.
5. How thick is the hardwood veneer?
The top layer of hardwood, also known as the hardwood veneer, ranges in thickness from 0.5 mm to upwards of 6 mm. Thicker veneer layers are priced higher as they can be refinished multiple times, extending the life of your floor.
6. What’s the thinnest veneer layer that can be refinished?
The top veneer needs to be at least 2 mm thick for refinishing to be possible; if sanding is desired, professional sanding procedures typically remove 1/32 of an inch. The thicker the veneer, the more you can sand it without destroying the floor. However, homeowners with engineered hardwood flooring typically find that they never need to refinish it as these floors come with high quality finishes. If serious damage occurs, its often easier to have the area professionally removed and replaced.
7. What is the Janka hardness test, and what does it tell me about engineered hardwood floors?
The Janka hardness test measures the force needed to lodge a .444-inch steel ball in wood to a depth of half its diameter. This rating is helpful when you’re comparing various wood species because it tells you how hard each type of wood is and their ability to withstand wear and dents.
At the bottom of the scale are species like douglas fir, southern yellow pine, and black cherry with ratings under 1000. Brazilian cherry and mesquite are at the top of the scale, rating over 2300 on the Janka hardness scale. Hardness ratings are particularly important in high-traffic areas.
Janka Hardness Chart:
8. What does it mean when flooring is sold in random lengths?
Depending on the floor manufacturer, lengths will vary. Some will provide boards of all one length, generally at a higher cost because of the quality control measures required. Others will provide boards of random lengths, indicating the shortest board and the longest board lengths per box. With random board lengths, all the boards in the box will fall in between those two lengths. Some manufacturers will note the average board length.
9. How do you install engineered hardwood flooring?
In general, engineered flooring can be installed in one of three different ways:
- nail down if installing over a plywood subfloor
- glue down if installing over a plywood or concrete subfloor
- float if installing over a plywood or concrete subfloor
For nail down installations, the plywood subfloor should be 3/4″ thick, and a 15lb roofing felt or moisture barrier (such as MoistureBlock) should be placed underneath.
If you’re glueing the floor directly on the subfloor, use 100% urethane based adhesive with an integrated vapor barrier.
For floating installations, use an underlayment with a vapor barrier. Usually for this type of installation, the seams will still need to be glued together using regular wood glue such as Elmers or Titebond, unless the flooring is designed for a glue-less click-lock installation.
Please note, the above explanation is a very general guide. Always refer to manufacturer installation instructions for details.
10. What is the maximum variance allowable for a subfloor?
A well-prepared subfloor helps ensure a successful installation of your engineered flooring. The variance should be no more than 3/16-inch over 10 feet.
What other questions do you have about engineered hardwood? Let us know in the comments.
Browse our selection of versatile Engineered Hardwood Flooring here.
Carolyn West
How should engineered hardwood be cleaned?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Carolyn,
For regular cleaning you can use a vacuum or a broom with a microfiber cloth like a Swiffer. If you would like to do a more thorough clean I would use a solution of one part vinegar to ten parts water very lightly spritzed on a microfiber cloth. You can use this to wipe down the floor and it will clean up any dirt and dust and break through any oils from footprints. Just be sure not to use too much moisture because you can get water damage if the floor gets too wet. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Norton Stadler
How do I find out what engeneered wood floors you sell have formeldehyde?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Norton,
All engineered hardwood will have trace amounts of formaldehyde in the adhesive used to put the material together. That being said it, it doesn’t mean that the floor will be harmful to your health. It would be best to go with an engineered hardwood that has a plywood core over and HDF core because that minimizes the amount of glue used to manufacture the product. All of the flooring products that we carry on our website undergo a strict onboarding process and are tested by third party labs. All these products are expected to pass California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase II compliancy standards, which are among the strictest in the world. We even go as far as retesting products to make sure they remain at the same standards throughout their time on sale on our site. For more information please feel free to visit the link below:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/html/fact_sheets/composite_wood_flooring_faq.pdf.
Fay
We now have the caramelized bamboo floor which I hate and tested way high for formaldehyde. It shows every foot print. What would be a good slightly rustic engineered floating floor. Glueless.
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Fay,
Thank you for getting in touch! We have a few options in engineered hardwood that can be floated without glue. I have listed the link below:
https://www.builddirect.com/Click-Lock-Engineered-Hardwood-Floors/Result_N_4294967288+4294966291+4294960149.aspx
Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Sherry
Hi. The entryway has tile, there is a crack- line from door to carpet doorway to living room. Thought might try wood plank tile. The tile continues to the kitchen in one direction, cont. down hallway other direction. Question is can I use your product over my existing tile. If yes, how? I sure appreciate your time.
Thanks
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Sherry,
Thank you for your inquiry! You can install tile over tile but we usually recommend taking up the existing floor. You need to have a flat and level surface beneath and sometimes installed tile may not be as flat and level as it actually looks. I definitely suggest getting in touch with an installer in your area to get a better idea of what the scope of the project would be. You can use https://pro.com/builddirect to help find an installer in your area as well! Please let us know if you have any other questions!