There is no doubting that wooden floors are very beautiful, however they cannot be used in every room of the house for a number of different reasons. Wood flooring is not well suited to use in humid environments because it can cause the wood to warp and swell. However there was little choice until engineered flooring was first pioneered. With natural wooden flooring humid environments could cause damage to the flooring, this meant that many people were very cautious to use them in bathrooms and cottages.

Engineered flooring is very similar to laminate flooring, the top layer has a textured finish which resembles real wood. This top layer shows the color and texture which imitates natural wood. The actual flooring panel is constructed from fiberboard, it can be made from high or medium density fiberboard. The layers of fiberboard allow the flooring to expand and contract. This can equate in quite a flooring your home.

Engineered flooring is not as solid as hardwood flooring, it is laid in panels which can either be clipped or glued together depending on where it is being used. Most engineered flooring are forms of floating flooring which means it's not fixed to any of the walls. It is possible for many home owners to install this wooden floor by themselves, it's a suitable DIY project anyone can do it if they have just basic knowledge about hand tools and power tools. It normally takes less than a day to fully lay this floor in an average room.

Installation Options Vary By Product

Engineered flooring can be installed without the need to use any glue, it is simply clicked together. It doesn't need fixing down to the sub floor or walls. If installing these on top of a concrete floor then you need to purchase a plastic liner to prevent moisture affecting the room. If you are concerned about noise then you could install a foam sub floor to help dampen the noise.

Engineered flooring appears like solid hardwood flooring however it is much easier to clean and maintain. Engineered flooring can be sanded if required however it can only be sanded a few times because it has a thin veneer. If you damage any area of the floor then you can replace individual panels of the flooring.

You can purchase this engineered flooring with a number of different layers, these will determine the strength of the floor. If you purchase cheaper floors then they may not have many layers and so probably won't be very long lasting. High quality engineered flooring can have to up seven core layers which makes it last much longer.