hardwood flooring installations

Three Considerations When Choosing Between Engineered Hardwood and Natural Hardwood Flooring

There are a lot of things to take into account when it comes time to pick out new wood flooring for your home. There are some more obvious and enjoyable aesthetic things to think about like color, plank length and width, or species of wood, but there are also other important considerations to take into account that might be less obvious to the average layman. The choice between natural and engineered wood flooring, for example, is a crucial decision.


So, how do decide which type is best for your needs? That's exactly what About Floors n' More plans to answer with this handy guide. Here are three things you should take into account when making this important decision:


Budget

Your budget is the most important thing to take into account during any home renovation project, and flooring is no exception. If you are working on a tighter budget, but would still like the look of wood floors in your home, you will probably want to opt for engineered over natural hardwood.


While you can save money in the long run with natural, the initial buy-in price can be a bit stiff for some homeowners. However, if you can afford the investment, natural wood is definitely the way to go, because it has a longer service life thanks to the fact that it can easily be re-sanded over the course of its service life.


Location of Installation

If you are planning a wood flooring installation in a room where there is a risk of high humidity, or frequent instances of standing water, such as a kitchen or bathroom, you will probably want to opt for engineered, because it is more resistant to the problems that come from these adverse conditions. Now, this doesn't mean that engineered is completely immune to these problems, only that it is less likely to suffer problems such as cupping, warping, and spreading than natural hardwood.


You're Unsure About Your Subfloor

Along the same lines as the previous consideration, if you are unsure about your subfloor's humidity levels, you will probably want to go with engineered. In an ideal scenario, your subfloor's moisture levels shouldn't exceed 2-3% for wood flooring. If you are unsure about the moisture level or your subfloor's levels are borderline, you will want to opt for the engineered, for all of the same reasons mentioned in the previous entry.


Are You Considering a Wood Flooring Installation for Your Home?

If you are looking to install wood floors in your home and would like a helping hand making the important decisions you face, About Floors n' Mores team of flooring experts would love to help! We offer quality installation services, design advice, and guidance through every step of your project. Just call, email, or stop by our showroom in Jacksonville, FL, to arrange for your free consultation and estimate.