How Engineered Hardwood is Made
Unlike solid wood flooring, which is fairly self-explanatory as to what it is, engineered wood floors aren’t quite as simple. Rather than being just a single solid piece of hardwood, layers of hardwood veneer (usually 3 to 7 layers) are used to create engineered hardwood.
To make the product, the veneer layers, which are comprised of a thicker hardwood layer on top and an inner core (usually a hardwood and/or a soft plywood material) are stacked, with the grain of adjacent layers arranged perpendicular to one another. Crossing the grains helps to protect engineered hardwood from much of the effects of moisture and temperature change due to the fact that wood expands and contracts in the direction of the grain. This gives engineered hardwood “dimensional stability. The layers are glued together, cut to a specific width, and they are manufactured to have grooves or a tongue on the edges for installation. A stain and finish is then added to the product if necessary.
Unlike solid hardwood, the dimensional stability allows engineered hardwood to be glued directly to concrete above or below grade. These floors generally have a lifespan of 30-40 years and are not too difficult to install yourself. Manufacturers such as Bruce, Timberland, Mannington, Mohawk and many others produce great engineered floors that can be yours at a tremendous value.
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