Hybrid engineered wooden flooring-why we love it to bits?

We all love our solid wood flooring; there is nothing in the world which can beat the feel of classic solid wood. However, solid wooden floorings come with its set of problems. Right from installation to maintenance to purchasing costing, everything can spell havoc if you are not equipped for it. On the other hand, when one talks about the solid wood substitutes, even laminated flooring and vinyl can’t match the real thing.

So in such cases, what does one use? You need something which is durable as well as look and feel like wood along with the same features as solid wood. However, this substitute has to be sturdy and easy on the pocket as well. One can find all these qualities in hybrid engineered wood.

Engineered wooden flooring is the real deal (well, almost)

For all of you who think engineered wood is not real wood, you are sadly mistaken. The top most layer of engineered wood is veneer. This means that thin layer which constitutes around 1/6-1/8 of the top layer is real wood. Everything you see below the veneer is real, high quality plywood. This plywood, once fixed with the veneer, provides a high level dimensional strength which you will otherwise not get with your solid hardwood.

Some of the most popular engineered wood varieties include, but are not limited to:

·         Hickory: It is rich, hand scraped wood which gives your house the timeless feeling it deserves.

·         Oak: The traditional oak deserves a mention, since it is inexpensive and always looks good. Thankfully, it is the least expensive variety when it comes to hardwood.

·         Bamboo: Ingrained with immense strength when cross hatched, bamboo is the answer to all your wooden needs.

·         Maple: Another existing variety in the list of resilient wood, maple offers elegance wrapped in panache.

The top most layer of engineered wood flooring is prefinished, which basically saves you the cost and the effort involved in sanding and sealing the top layer. Imagine, laying down the floor and being able to walk on it almost immediately. However, solid hardwood first needs to be sanded and sealed, before it can be made available for use.

There is no hard and fast rule that engineered wood can’t be sanded too. In certain situations, when your flooring develops scratches and dings, you can sand the surface and make it look as good as new. Depending on the need of the hour, engineered wood can be sanded up to 3 times; the number of times you can sand the wood depends on its thickness.

Light moisture and engineered wood go hand in hand

Engineered wood is tailor made for areas with low moisture content. For example, this wood type is well suited for the kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and any other area where the moisture content is less. However, it’s best to avoid putting engineered wood in basements where there is frequent cases of flooding.

Use waterproof mats and shower doors with your flooring to avoid any unprecedented mishaps. At the end of the day, no matter which wood you use, bathroom flooring should always consist of tiles, concrete or vinyl, to avoid any unwanted issues later on.