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When it comes to flooring that effortlessly combines sophistication with versatility, look no further than engineered wood flooring. ... Read more
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Engineered wood flooring is made from of a high-quality plywood core with a thin layer of hardwood flooring on top. It's different to laminate flooring in that the decorative top layer is made of real wood instead of a print. This real wood layer means that, on the surface, engineered wood flooring looks and feels almost identical to hardwood flooring. The second component of engineered wood flooring is the plywood core, which provides a base layer to which the decorative, real wood layer is bonded to. This core board provides strength and stability to the overall floor.
Discover more about how engineered wood flooring and laminate flooring differ.
Before laying engineered wood flooring, you must remove all existing floor covering and check that the sub-floor is structurally sound. Once you’ve completed all the essential checks, you can start laying your floor. If your engineered flooring has a wood fibre or HDF base, it will likely be manufactured with a click system. Alternatively, a 2-ply or multi-ply engineered wood flooring could have either a click system or a tongue and groove end. If your engineered floor has a click system, it must be laid on top of an underlay. Whereas a tongue and groove floor can be installed by nailing or glueing it straight to the timber sub-floor.
However, each manufacturer will have specific requirements when it comes to laying engineered wood flooring. It's important to read and adhere to these specific instructions.
Like hardwood, engineered wood flooring is easy to clean. Usually, dry cleaning is the best way to clean engineered wood floors, rather than wet cleaning. Sweep and vacuum your engineered flooring regularly and occasionally use a damp cloth or mop to remove stains or dirt.
Find out more about how to care for an engineered wood floor.
Despite looking almost identical, engineered wood flooring has several advantages over solid hardwood flooring:
• Can be replaced more easily
• Usually sold in planks that are much wider
• A more budget-friendly flooring option
• Performs better in humid environments
• Less susceptible to warping and swelling
• Stronger and more stable
• Easy to install
Check out our detailed solid wood vs engineered wood guide to see the key differences.
Whether engineered wood or solid wood is better depends on a number of factors, including where you’re installing it, your budget, and style preference.
• Engineered wood flooring is a better choice in high-moisture and high-temperature rooms than solid hardwood.
• If you don’t want to break the bank, engineered wood will be much less expensive than solid wood.
• Solid hardwood might hold a slight prestige for some people and might add more value to your home in the long-run, but engineered wood looks just like solid wood once it's laid - and performs better!
If you want to learn more, our guide on solid wood vs engineered wood goes into even more depth.
Unfortunately, no, it’s not advisable to steam clean engineered wood floors due to their construction. The high heat and pressure will force moisture down into the joins and the lower layers of the wood, causing it to warp and bow, which will inevitably lead to your flooring needing to be replaced much sooner than you expected!
There are no ‘best’ cleaning products for engineered wood floors, but there are several you can’t use, such as those that are wax or ammonia-based, or those with harsh chemicals. There are specially designed engineered and hardwood floor cleaners you can buy that will be safe to use. Different manufacturers recommend different ones, and we suggest testing the cleaner on a spare board before using it on your floor. When it comes to cleaning engineered wood floors, we really know our stuff, but if you have any more questions about the best way to clean engineered wood floors or you’d like to take a look at our range of engineered wood floors, book a visit at your nearest Tapi store or contact us for more info. Alternatively, you can discover more of our care guides, including our laminate flooring care guide.
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