A wood floor is a graceful addition to any home. The touch of elegance that a wood floor adds cannot be achieved by any other means. Wood floors are also very comfortable and act as excellent noise absorbers and dampers. Hardwood floors are also one of the costliest items in the house. The cost of installation and then maintenance is often beyond the reach of many homeowners. This is why engineered hardwood floors have gained popularity with both contractors and general public.
The major difference between the two is the material of construction. Hardwood floors are composed of tiles cut out of real wood. Usually it’s a ¾’’ in thickness. In contrast, engineered hardwood floor is made of several layers of wood bonded together under heat and pressure. The top layer is a piece of guanine hardwood that gives it its characteristic looks.
Another difference pertains to the tendency of natural wood. Because it is made completely of natural wood, hardwood floors expand and contract with changes in relative humidity. This is the reasons of the small gaps left between the tiles of hardwood floors. The gaps are filled with base molding or quarter round are usually used to hide these spaces. Engineered hardwood floors don’t have these issues. The layers of the engineered hardwood tile are staked in cross-grain. This ensures that the humidity does not affect the tile as whole.
Moisture resistance is another issue that determines the type of material used in floor. Hardwood floors usually are affected by the moisture present in the room. The degree of the effect varies with the species but natural hardwood floors are not the best option for the rooms that have a relatively highly levels of moisture. Experts recommend that hardwood floors should not be installed below ground level. Engineered hardwood floors are not affected by moisture and are therefore suitable for use anywhere in the house. The multilayer structure gives the tile great stability that does not allow the tile to contract or expand with the change in moisture.
The last point to consider is the option of refinishing of the floor. Hardwood floors are composed of one single piece of wood. This is great for refinishing the floor. In fact the floor can be refinished a number of times without causing any damage to the floor. The case with engineered hardwood floors is a bit different. The deciding factor is the thickness of the top most piece. This piece is usually not thick enough to withstand a single refinishing attempt. Many engineered hardwood floors are usually stained and then waxed without sanding them first. |
