Hardwood floors are a classic choice that never seems to go out of style. They’re extremely popular in homes, and are also common in offices, restaurants and other places. Because hardwoods are so beautiful, warm and natural looking, many options from finish to structure have evolved.
Solid Hardwood or Engineered?
When you’re choosing the perfect wood flooring type, there come two basic options. Solid hardwood flooring and engineered manufactured hardwood flooring. We have been using solid hardwood flooring techniques in buildings worldwide for decades or centuries. Almost everyone is familiar with this type of flooring.
Engineered manufactured hardwood flooring is a newer technique and people didn’t really know about it commonly until now. This type of hardwood floor looks just as rich and welcoming, but it strategically built to outperform plain wood. Engineered hardwood has several layers, and only the top and bottom are always wood. The inner layers are either plywood, high-density fiberboard or occasionally hardwood. The top layer is often a hardwood veneer, but can also be any hardwood of your choice, like cherry, maple or oak. There are engineered hardwood floors with up to 9 layers! Unlike solid hardwood, engineered are often installed on wood or concrete subfloors. They cost less that solid hardwood and handle moisture better than it.
If you’re looking for hardwood flooring which is long lasting, durable, and can withstand a damn environment, then engineered manufactured hardwood flooring may be the answer for you.
Flooring Trends
These different styles of wood and wood-like flooring are popular in housing:
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- Wood look flooring: This is actually vinyl or laminate wood-like tiles or planks. Usually printed in high detail with the image of wood.
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- Wide plank flooring: Solid wood or engineered, these are longer and wider than traditional planks, this wood creates a larger, more rustic feel.
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- Blond flooring: Lighter colored woods which look stylish and bright in homes. These are either engineered or solid.
- Gray flooring: Grey colored woods, either stained or washed with an ashy color, are becoming more and more popular. Can be engineered or solid.
Engineered Flooring is a Durable Choice
Engineered hardwood flooring is just as durable – and in some cases more durable than– solid hardwood flooring. Available in a wide range of wood species, finishes, and stains, you can find an engineered hardwood that meets your performance needs wherever you intend to install it, and no matter what your building’s needs are. Consider installing engineered hardwoods in your office building or retail location to get a truly durable and exceptional flooring choice that meets all of your needs.
