Engineered Hardwood Buying Guide

Engineered wood flooring is a durable alternative to solid hardwood flooring, featuring a real wood surface layer and an engineered core.That&#;s right! It&#;s wood flooring 2.0.Discover how engineered hardwood adds value to your home with the different styles available, plus the pros and cons, so you know exactly what to expect with your flooring.

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Part wood floor, part engineering masterpiece, engineered wood flooring offers the best of both worlds. The real wood veneer layer offers the style and unique look of naturally occurring planks. Meanwhile, the engineered core delivers the durability you can&#;t find with genuine wood flooring. This core can be made of high-density fiberboard (HDF), stone-plastic composite (SPC), or engineered plywood. The floor&#;s core also offers resiliency, durability, and some moisture resistance that solid hardwood doesn&#;t have. I&#;m sure you&#;re excited to learn more about engineered hardwood. So let&#;s jump in!

The backing on most engineered wood planks is another type of wood similar to the veneer on top of the plank. This layer provides a sturdy foundation for your floor and works perfectly with your choice of underlayment. While some engineered hardwood comes with an attached underlayment, it&#;s more common to use a separate underlayment with a moisture barrier for added protection.

This is the powerhouse of the plank. The core increases the durability of your floor and is often specifically designed to reduce expansion and contraction with changes in ambient temperatures. Engineered hardwood&#;s high-density fiberboard (HDF), stone-plastic composite (SPC), or engineered plywood core offers moisture resistance, especially paired with wax and other water-repellent materials. The moisture resistance of an engineered core lessens the odds that your floors will buckle when installed properly.

Here&#;s where you find the veneer of genuine wood that gives your flooring its beautiful, unique look. While some engineered wood planks are made more durable by a scratch-resistant finish, the veneer layer hangs tough against wear and tear. Plus, the wood veneer can be almost any wood species you want. The manufacturer will determine in their instructions if this layer is thick enough to refinish or not. Always check the manufacturer&#;s instructions before sanding or refinishing engineered wood.

The moisture resistance of engineered hardwood comes from the layered design. This flooring will be more or less resistant to moisture depending on the composition of those layers.

Engineered wood floors are so versatile that they work well in every room and on every level of the home. They&#;re stylish, durable, moisture-resistant, and add monetary value to your home, so they have something to offer wherever you install them.Here are a few places you&#;re going to love the option of engineered hardwood where traditional hardwood floors typically can&#;t be installed.

With so many flooring options out there, it can be hard to single out exactly what you want. Here are a few things to consider about engineered hardwood as you continue your search for the floor of your dreams.And who knows? Maybe you&#;ve found your match.

Whether you want the versatility of oak, the depth of birch, or the unique character of hickory, there&#;s a type of wood suited to you. The color of the floor is determined by the stain, as well as the species of wood.Here are a few different wood species options for you to consider:This test measures the force required to embed a steel ball into a sample piece of wood. It then rates wood to determine if the sample is suitable for flooring. The more force it takes to embed the steel ball, the more durable the wood&#;s surface is against impact and pressure.Since engineered wood flooring is topped with real wood, the Janka rating scale is used to determine the durability of the floor.

The authentic look of rustic textures is really popular right now, and engineered hardwood delivers on that front. Take your pick of unique textures to enhance your space:Don&#;t worry about those intentional scratches getting messed up by the trials of everyday life. With a thick veneer layer and scratch-resistant finish, the texture of the wood will remain intact.

Nail Down This is the most common installation method for genuine wood flooring, but it also works with engineered wood. If you&#;re comfortable using power tools, the nail-down method of installation is a great option. However, we would recommend hiring a professional to make your life easier.

Glue Down Glue-down installation is a permanent solution, and it&#;s well-suited for high-traffic commercial areas where you want to make sure your flooring is stable. This method is best left to the pros.

Interlocking This installation method isn&#;t as common as the others, but it&#;s the most popular among DIYers. The locking mechanism built into each plank allows you to simply attach one plank to another, and lock them together. You don&#;t need to hire a professional for this installation, so you can save yourself some money. Interlocking floating floors don&#;t have to be secured to the subfloor, so they &#;float&#; above it.

Tongue and Groove The tongue and groove design is the most common installation method for engineered hardwood. Insert the tongue of one plank into the groove of another to attach the planks. Planks can be nailed down, glued down, or even installed as a floating floor. If you want to float tongue and groove planks, you will need to glue the planks together using tongue and groove glue.

There are four main ways to install engineered wood, depending on how the flooring is designed. For any method, you need to make sure your new flooring acclimates to its new environment for at least 24 hours. Engineered hardwood floors offer more dimensional stability than solid wood floors, meaning they don&#;t expand and contract as much with temperature changes. However, it&#;s still a best practice to let the planks get used to the temperature and humidity of the room.

Underlayments provide a layer of comfortable padding under the floor. Typically made of cork or foam, this layer can cover up some smaller imperfections in the subfloor. Your underlayment will also reduce heat transfer, so the floor won&#;t get too chilly in the colder months.Some engineered hardwood comes with an underlayment already attached. That can make life a little easier when it&#;s time to install.

Installing a moisture barrier over the subfloor is a must for any engineered wood floor. This barrier is crucial in protecting your floor, and you should never install engineered hardwood without a moisture barrier.

Engineered hardwood looks just like solid hardwood, but it&#;s more affordable and more durable. The core provides stability and the benefit of moisture resistance. Best of all, this flooring can be installed as an interlocking floating floor, meaning you can do it yourself! If you can&#;t tell, engineered hardwood is kind of a big deal. Real hardwood planks are alright, but they just don&#;t come with all the bonuses.

Engineered Hardwood FAQ

To make sure you have all the facts about engineered hardwood flooring, check out some of the most commonly asked questions.

Tongue and Groove

The tongue and groove design is the most common installation method for engineered hardwood. Insert the tongue of one plank into the groove of another to attach the planks. Planks can be nailed down, glued down, or even installed as a floating floor.

If you want to float tongue and groove planks, you will need to glue the planks together using tongue and groove glue.

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Further reading:
What is phenolic ductwork?

How is Engineered Wood Made?

How engineered wood is made depends on the type of core. Planks with an HDF core consist of the real wood veneer, a single, solid layer of HDF, and a backing layer all glued together. Engineered wood&#;s other core options use a different process by attaching fiberboard plies on top of each other in opposite directions under the real wood veneer.

Engineered hardwood is topped with real wood veneers that are cut and created using one of three methods, each creating different characteristics in the look of the floor.

• Dry solid-sawn: This allows the wood to dry out slowly at a low humidity level. While this method is more expensive, it allows the veneer to look and feel more solid.
• Rotary-peel: After boiling the log for a certain amount of time at a certain temperature, the log is then scraped along its side to create the veneer, then the veneer is pressed flat.
• Sliced-peel: This involves boiling the log for a certain amount of time at a certain temperature to prepare the wood. Then the wood is sliced from the end and pressed to create a veneer (source).

This slice of real wood is then attached to the core, creating an engineered hardwood plank.

How engineered wood is made depends on the type of core. Planks with an HDF core consist of the real wood veneer, a single, solid layer of HDF, and a backing layer all glued together. Engineered wood&#;s other core options use a different process by attaching fiberboard plies on top of each other in opposite directions under the real wood veneer.Engineered hardwood is topped with real wood veneers that are cut and created using one of three methods, each creating different characteristics in the look of the floor.This slice of real wood is then attached to the core, creating an engineered hardwood plank.

Does the Janka Scale Matter for Engineered Hardwood?

The Janka scale is determined by the force it takes to halfway lodge a .444&#; steel ball into a wood species. Ideally, the more force it takes, the higher the Janka rating, and the harder the wood species. The results are measured as pounds of force (LBF) required to embed the metal ball. This test is most commonly carried out by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the test itself is known as ASTM D.

Most people consider a Janka rating between 1,200 and 1,300 to be average. With a rating of 1,290, red oak provides a decent benchmark for comparing other wood species.

Even though engineered hardwood comes with just a veneer of real wood, the Janka scale can still be useful to you. By knowing the species of the wood veneer, you can determine the Janka rating for engineered flooring. If durability is a big deal for you, then you can choose an option with a higher Janka hardness.

Can I Install Engineered Hardwood Myself?

While all methods of installation can be done by a non-professional, the easiest way to install engineered hardwood is the floating floor method. This is the process of locking the planks together over the subfloor using its tongue and groove design. While this does not require the use of power tools this method might require tongue and groove adhesive to secure the planks if they don&#;t lock together. Other installation methods include nail-down, staple-down, and glue-down.

Choosing a method of installation depends on your comfort with flooring adhesives and power tools. Just be sure to contact your flooring manufacturer for complete installation instructions.

Does Engineered Hardwood Require Underlayment?

Underlayment is necessary when installing below ground level. For instance, in basements or on ground floors that are the first floor,

Underlayment is necessary when installing below ground level. an underlayment with an attached moisture barrier is required. For any floor above the basement or first-floor underlayment is not necessary but is highly recommended as it helps reduce noise and keep floors warm.

How Do You Clean Engineered Hardwood Floors?

Simple, very common cleaning practices help keep engineered wood floors clean. To ensure a long-lasting, gorgeous floor, practice this cleaning routine regularly.

• Sweep often: Dirt, if not removed, gets ground into your floors and can cause damage over time. Therefore, regularly sweeping your floor helps the floor last. While using a vacuum, set it to the bare floor setting, as a beater bar can scratch or dent your floor.
• Use a damp mop: When mopping engineered wood, it&#;s best to use a damp &#;but not wet &#; mop with a hardwood-approved cleaner, like Bona. Wet mops allow moisture to sit on your floors and seep through the planks, causing subfloor damage or warping. Mopping your engineered hardwood floor does not have to be intense. It just needs to be done regularly.

Pro tip: Avoid using steam mops on your engineered hardwood floors. Steam mopping uses hot water, which causes engineered wood planks to warp and allows moisture to seep through the floor, compromising the subfloor and the construction of the planks. Unless you want to replace your flooring every few years, steam cleaning is not a proper cleaning method for engineered wood floors.

Simple, very common cleaning practices help keep engineered wood floors clean. To ensure a long-lasting, gorgeous floor, practice this cleaning routine regularly.Avoid using steam mops on your engineered hardwood floors. Steam mopping uses hot water, which causes engineered wood planks to warp and allows moisture to seep through the floor, compromising the subfloor and the construction of the planks. Unless you want to replace your flooring every few years, steam cleaning is not a proper cleaning method for engineered wood floors.

What is the correct base for the building to be installed on?

The two different types of Tuff Shed floor joists are designed to be able to be placed directly on dirt, gravel, grass, concrete or other firm, dry and level surfaces. We always recommend that customers check with their municipality to see if there are any different local requirements for the building foundation.

If I do want or need concrete, how will this affect my building?

We need to know in advance if you plan to have concrete poured. Any required permits MUST be obtained before that concrete is poured. Additionally, you will need to share the precise measurements of the concrete with Tuff Shed prior to the installation. When building on a concrete pad, it&#;s important that this pad is square and level. See additional concrete pad measurement guidelines below.

How do I measure a concrete pad to ensure that it is square?

1. Measure the length of the pad on each edge, down the middle and several spots in between
2. Measure the width of the pad on each edge, down the middle and several spots in between
3. Diagonally from corner to corner

 

How do I check a concrete pad to ensure it is level?

Use an accurate leveling device (i.e. carpenter&#;s level 40&#; or longer) and take readings on the pad all along the perimeter.

What is a concrete curb?

In relation to a concrete pad, a &#;curb&#; is a raised concrete area generally around the perimeter of the pad where the bottom plate of the building wall sits upon and is anchored. Some garage customers prefer this option. Consult concrete contractor to determine if this is a good option for you.

What other considerations are created by having a concrete slab with a curb?

Overhead and entry door locations need to be clearly defined in advance of the having the concrete poured. It is vital that the concrete plans match those of the Tuff Shed building plans so the concrete contractor can make curb openings in the locations corresponding with doors. Concrete with curb

 

 

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