Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is made from a real hardwood top layer (called the wear layer or lamella) bonded to multiple layers of plywood or softwood beneath. This layered construction gives engineered wood the authentic look and feel of solid hardwood while making it more stable and less prone to warping from temperature and humidity changes.

Engineered wood vs. solid wood

Solid wood flooring is a single piece of timber all the way through, while engineered wood has its layered construction. The key advantages of engineered wood for renovators:

• Dimensional stability — less likely to expand, contract, or warp with changes in temperature and humidity
• Underfloor heating compatible — the layered construction handles heat from below better than solid wood
• Thinner profile — useful when floor height is limited, especially when renovating older properties
• Cost — typically less expensive than equivalent solid hardwood
• Can be refinished — the hardwood top layer can be sanded and refinished, though fewer times than solid wood (depends on wear layer thickness)

Choosing the right product

The most important specification is the wear layer thickness. A thicker wear layer means the floor can be sanded and refinished more times over its lifetime:

• 2-3mm wear layer — can be lightly sanded once or twice
• 4-6mm wear layer — can be sanded multiple times, closer to solid wood longevity

Popular wood species include oak (the most common), walnut, ash, and maple. Finishes range from lacquered (harder wearing, slight sheen) to oiled (more natural look, requires more maintenance).

Installation methods

Engineered wood boards typically use a tongue and groove or click-lock fitting system:

• Floating — boards click together and sit on an underlay without being fixed to the subfloor. Fastest installation method.
• Glued — boards are adhered directly to the subfloor. More stable and reduces hollow sound.
• Nailed/stapled — fixed to a timber subfloor. Traditional method, very secure.

Subfloor requirements

Like all hard flooring, engineered wood needs a flat, dry subfloor. Concrete subfloors may need levelling with screed, and a moisture barrier is essential. Discuss subfloor preparation with your contractor early — it can affect both the quotation and the project timeline.