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Flooring Questions? |
You may wonder what quality engineered wood flooring is the best, But this is not a simple answer. We will attempt in this section to help you understand some of the differences in engineered wood flooring products that are available today. Please be VERY aware that even more so than solid wood, the quality variations in engineered wood floors are MANY!! In the hardwood flooring section we attempted to be sure you understood that all wood flooring is not alike. This is also very true with engineered wood floor.
One of the first things to think about is is of course the quality of the finish (when referring to pre-finished engineered wood flooring). you can find out more about finishes in our wood floor finish section. Once you understand the important things to know about finishes we will next want to look at the milling. Milling basically has to do with how tightly together the boards fit, The squareness of each piece, how even two edges are when they are pressed together (also known as overwood). The next thing is the layer of veneer both in it's thickness and in how it is actually produced. Other considerations are what the core layer is made of, the integrity of the manufacturer, the quality of the bonding agent that holds the layers together, and a few others.
We could get very technical here, but it may get confusing to most people so let's keep this simple! The best way to look at the milling is to examine the samples, get at least two pieces and press them together, run your fingernail over the joint see it it catches (on square edge products). If the height difference between the two boards seems excessive that is likely a good example of what to expect in the floor. If the product has a micro bevel it is usually best as it helps to absorb a certain amount of milling tolerances. Also in the case of beveled edge engineered wood floors you will need to do a visual inspection to get a feel for the "fit". Another milling issue to consider is squareness, do not be afraid to take a square with you and check the boards (several if possible) for squareness. also look at how the tongue and groove fit together and be sure you are comfortable with the fit. Please know that all these milling issues can be less of an issue if we stay with premium brands Although they tend to be a bit more expensive the tolerances are tighter.
The Top layer of wood on an engineered wood floor needs to be considered carefully. first, look at the thickness of that layer. On some products we have seen top layers as thin as 1/16"-3/32" and on a product like this you need to be sure to understand you likely will not be able to sand and refinish this floor. The average thickness we see is about 1/8" which can allow for sanding but not much. These very thin layers can also easily be broken through by deep gouges causing nearly irreparable damage. Premium grade products will often have a top layer approaching 1/4" or even more. These engineered hardwood flooring products have every bit as much ability to be sanded and re-finished as any solid 3/4" product. Needless to say as long as the budget allows a product in this category is our recommendation.
Take a close look at the center or core layer of the engineered wood flooring you are considering. The main thing we are looking for here is voids, gaps, or spaces that are apparent. You can also look at it for its density, this basically means how porous the center material appears to be. the glue or bonding agents used to hold the product together is one thing you cannot really visually inspect. The best way to combat this is be comfortable with the brand you are buying and be very comfortable and be sure you completely trust the advice of whomever is offering you sales assistance and guidance. (perhaps the flooring professor?)
The method of making the top layer on any engineered wood flooring product is important for you to understand. There are basically three methods to make this top layer first we will tell you what they are. They are rotary peeled, sliced cut, and dry sawn. Now let's take a look at what each one is individually.
- Rotary peeled
To the right is an example of the rotary peeled method. Notice how the layer is peeled off in an opposite direction of the actual grain of the wood. This often results in a large floor having a "plywood" look
- Sliced cut
Shown here is the sliced cut method. This is cut with aknife and often has a thin wear layer as well as many damaged wood fibers from the cutting process. This can cause performance issues.
- Dry sawn
The dry sawn method gives you the exact same appearance of a solid wood floor. It allows for premiumengineered hardwood flooring manufacturers to offer 1/4" or more top layer thicknesses. This can be sanded 3-5 times and is by far a superior method.
As you can see there is more to a quality engineered wood flooring product than meets the eye. Any wood floor is an upgrade for many rooms, but keep in mind to buy quality engineered wood flooring it will not be "inexpensive." Our experience has shown that the real premium Quality engineered wood flooring is usually dry sawn and it is certainly our construction of choice. However, we do realize that sometimes the best can be cost prohibitive. We will assist you in making the best choice for YOU! As always we consider your job conditions, your budget, lifestyle and all necessary factors to make a wise choice.
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