More about Engineered Wood Flooring
What are the Benefits of Engineered Wooden Flooring?
Engineered floor consists of plywood which is topped with a layer of real wood. This uses less wood when compared to a plank of solid wood flooring, making engineered wood cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Because of its top layer, engineered wood floor is the closest to solid wood flooring. So, it can create a timeless look in any home or office, without the hefty price tag.
On top of this, it’s easier to maintain than a solid wood floor and is suitable to be placed in most rooms, except bathrooms or rooms with high moisture levels. It’s a fantastic solution for living room flooring as it gives the effect of solid wood but without the upkeep. This means if you have children or pets, your floorboards are still safe.
Engineered Wood Floor Cost
Because this type of flooring contains plywood, engineered wooden flooring prices are significantly cheaper than solid wood flooring. Also, because the floor offers more durability than solid wood, you know you’re getting the best value for your money. Some of the cheapest engineered wood flooring deals can be found online, so you’ve come to the right place.
Do I Need Underlay for Engineered Wood?
Underlay is a sheet of insulation which goes between your new floorboards and the subfloor of the room. Engineered wood is usually a floating floor; this means the floorboards attach to each other instead of being stuck to the floor. For this reason, underlay is recommended when installing an engineered wood floor. This will help soundproof the room and give your engineered flooring a little more longevity. If your subfloor is concrete, ensure you get an underlay with a moisture barrier to keep your floor warm and dry at all times.
Read our engineered flooring Underlay Guide for more information.
How to Install Engineered Wood Flooring
Installing engineered floor is surprisingly easy to do yourself. Start by gathering your materials, including your pack of engineered wood, your chosen underlay, scissors, tape, a hammer and nails, and finally beading for the perimeter of the room.
- First ensure your subfloor is clean and dry, then lay the underlay. Do this by placing the sheets of underlay side by side and simply taping them together. Trim when you get to the edges of the room until the underlay provides a flat layer which covers the floor.
- Then start placing your floorboards from the corner of the room. Engineering wood floor is specially cut for easy installation. It features a click joint system, so you can fit each plank into place without the use of glue. When placing the floorboards, ensure you leave a 10mm expansion gap around the edge of the room to allow space for beading.
- Finally, add your beading to the expansion using your hammer and nails.
Read more about installing engineered floor here: How To Install Engineered Wood Floor
How to Maintain Engineered Wood
Engineered wood flooring is easy to clean. Simply use a damp cloth or mop to pick up any dirt. However, ensure you dry the floor afterwards. While engineered wood is more water resistant than solid wood flooring, it shouldn’t ever be completely wet.
If your engineered wood floor undergoes notable damage, you can easily fix the plank in question without replacing your floor. Do this by sanding away any stains and then refinishing the floor with lacquer or oil.
FAQs about Engineered Wood Flooring
We’ve included all of the most frequently asked questions about engineered wooden flooring in order to help you establish whether it is the right choice for your home.
Engineered wood flooring is potentially the most common type of floor found in UK homes today. However, despite its popularity very few people actually know what this type of floor is.
You should always leave at least a 10mm expansion gap around the floor during installation. This ensures there is enough room for the floor to expand during seasonal changes. This basically ensures that the gaps will be utilised and the boards themselves won’t have any gaps.
Yes. Most of our range of engineered flooring is suitable for both domestic and commercial use. We also supply different warranties to suit both types of application.
It is never recommended that you install engineered flooring in the bathroom. It is not designed to withstand high moisture levels and significant damage can occur over time.
The main thing you need to do before installing engineered wood flooring is to ensure it is acclimatised. This means keeping it in the home for at least 72 hours before you install it. Ideally the floor needs a constant temperature ranging from 18-28 degrees Celsius. You should also ensure that the subfloor meets the requirements provided in the installation instructions.
You should expect engineered flooring to be noisier than carpet. There are ways to minimise the noise such as investing in good quality, sound-proof underlay. The noise produced isn’t very loud, but underlay does help to reduce it, as well as adding additional comfort and stability.
Unlike solid wood flooring, engineered floors can be installed over underfloor heating systems. However, as there are a lot of different types of systems out there, it is recommended you seek advice on your particular system before you have the floor installed.
This would depending on the surface finish applied to the product, lacquer and UV oil has a much harder finish and water will not penirtrate this from the surface. We would not suggest using this type product in a bathroom as water sitting on the surface would seep through the joints.
Engineered flooring typically has a tough finish, making it scratch resistant. Keep in mind that this only applies to daily wear and tear. If you move heavy furniture across the floor, there is a chance it could cause deep scratching. If this happens you can either sand the scratch out or repair it with a specialist cleaner.
You can install engineered flooring in most rooms, though you are advised against installing them in bathrooms and other high moisture areas. This is because whilst they are slightly moisture-resistant, they can still become damaged when faced with high levels. It is also only designed for indoor use and should never be fitted in an outdoor environment.
As we have such wide variety of different brands and types of engineered wood flooring, it can be a little difficult to find the best style for your home. If you have any further questions about engineered wood floor, then please don’t hesitate to contact one of our flooring experts on 0330 100 00 15.
