Engineered wood is great and it's highly appreciated wood flooring for the last few years and this fact makes us very happy. However, not long ago people still have mistaken engineered wood with laminate and this is hard from the truth, although both of them share a similar construction concept. Slowly for so many years and fast for the last few, engineered wood is winning over the hearts of more and more people that are just now discovering its long list of benefits for the house, workplace, or practically wherever where installed.

First of all, let us shortly explain once again, what engineered wood flooring stands for. Engineered wood is a man-made product, which differs from solid wood and a product that is made completely from natural ingredients, which differs it from laminate. Engineered wood planks are made out of thin-cut layers of lumber ingredients, softwood and plywood then glued together crisscrossed and then topped with a hardwood layer with varying thickness, depending on the price you are paying for your floor. Here are 10 of the main engineered wood advantages and why you would love to have it at home:

  • It looks like real wood – And by “real” wood we are meaning solid wood floors since engineered wood is completely real and natural. In most cases, it is even hard to tell for the experienced specialists whether it is solid or engineered wood when installed. Because of the solid wood top layer, engineered wood looks almost completely identical to solid wood.
  • Reduces the expansion and contraction – Remember when we described engineered wood’s construction above? Well, this construction of crisscrossed layers is the main reason for engineered wood to reduce expansion and contraction. Wood is a natural product and we don’t have to expect wood to change its natural reactions to the environment once it is cut and installed at our houses. In fact, solid wood floors that are made completely from one wooden piece show this natural character most significantly by “moving”, or contracting, expanding and shrinking due to a number of effects, mostly due to humidity and moisture. While these natural “movement” wood controls by itself and goes back to its initial form, there are many examples for the excessive movement that leads to loose and even broken boards and floor not sturdy and solid. Because of the engineered wood’s concept and the layers, this effect is reduced to a minimum.
  • Extremely durable – The special making of engineered wood means that it is incredibly tough and solid and survives heavy footfall very well.
  • Can be sanded – This may be a surprise for many of you, but engineered wood can also be sanded in order to improve its look and maintain a good condition. Depending on the thickness of the lamella (top layer), engineered wood floors can be sanded 2 to 5 times in their lifetime.
  • Can be re-finished – The previous fact leads us to the fact that engineered wood can also be re-finished numerous times. Whether you want to completely change its look, enhance its initial beauty, or add additional protection, you can go for a great number of re-finishing treatments.
  • You can choose between a wide variety of species, colours and textures – In general, almost all of the wood species used for manufacturing solid wood floors are also available for engineered wood floors. In addition, engineered wood can also be purchased prefinished and unfinished, which means that you have the freedom to customize your own floor with exclusive colour and texture.
  • Wider boards – Engineered wood most commonly lends itself with wider boards and this won’t break the bank, as it is with solid wood floors. Wider boards mean fewer joins across the floor and a more uniform appearance.
  • It comes in premade chevron and herringbone parquet pattern – This fact itself deserves a whole other article, but let us briefly mention how important and cool this is. Premade parquet patterns come with a number of benefits and mostly means that you can enjoy a beautiful floor without spending weeks on the project and paying extra money for someone to fit them for you.
  • It is easy to install – Besides the fact it is easy to install, it is also very flexible in terms that it can be fitted many ways and even floating over the uneven subfloor and underfloor heating system.
  • It is less expensive.