Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Moisture-resistant engineered hardwood with real wood beauty and multi-layer stability.
What Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Engineered hardwood offers the beauty of real wood with superior dimensional stability. Its multi-layer construction resists moisture and temperature changes, making it suitable for basements, kitchens, and over radiant heat systems.
At 2020 Flooring Solutions, we install engineered hardwood throughout Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia. It is our recommended choice for basements, kitchens, condos with concrete subfloors, and homes with radiant heat systems where solid hardwood is not suitable.
Benefits of Engineered Hardwood
Superior Moisture Resistance
The cross-grain plywood core resists expansion and contraction caused by humidity changes far better than solid wood. This makes engineered hardwood suitable for basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where moisture levels fluctuate. In the humid Maryland and DC climate, this stability is a significant advantage.
Installs Over Concrete
Unlike solid hardwood, engineered hardwood can be installed directly over concrete slabs using floating or glue-down methods. This opens up hardwood flooring options for basement remodels, condos, townhomes, and slab-on-grade construction where solid hardwood is not feasible.
Wider Plank Options
The layered construction of engineered hardwood allows for wider planks (up to 7 inches and beyond) without the cupping and warping risks associated with wide solid hardwood planks. Wide planks create a modern, open look with fewer seams that showcases the wood grain beautifully.
Compatible with Radiant Heat
Engineered hardwood's dimensional stability makes it the preferred hardwood choice for homes with radiant floor heating systems. The multi-layer construction handles the temperature fluctuations from heating cycles without gapping or buckling, keeping your floors warm and beautiful.
Understanding Multi-Layer Construction
Wear Layer (Top)
The top layer is real hardwood veneer, available in the same species as solid hardwood: oak, maple, walnut, hickory, and more. Thicker wear layers (4mm to 6mm) can be sanded and refinished 1 to 2 times, while thinner veneers (2mm to 3mm) offer excellent value but should not be sanded.
Core Layers (Middle)
Multiple layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard are arranged with the grain of each layer running perpendicular to the layers above and below. This cross-grain construction is what gives engineered hardwood its dimensional stability, preventing the expansion and contraction that affects solid wood.
Backing Layer (Bottom)
A final layer of hardwood or plywood on the bottom provides balance and prevents the plank from warping. The balanced construction ensures the floor lies flat and remains stable throughout seasonal changes in temperature and humidity.
Popular Engineered Hardwood Brands
Shaw
One of the largest flooring manufacturers in the world. Shaw's engineered hardwood lines include the popular Epic Plus and Repel collections, featuring enhanced moisture protection and a wide variety of species and stain colors. Their ScufResist Platinum finish provides excellent scratch and scuff protection for busy households.
Featured: Epic Plus, Repel Hardwood
Bruce
A trusted American brand with over 130 years in hardwood flooring. Bruce engineered hardwood is known for consistent quality and value. Their Turlington and Hydropel collections offer excellent water resistance for kitchens and entryways. Bruce floors are available in classic American species at competitive price points.
Featured: Turlington, Hydropel
Mohawk
Another industry leader offering engineered hardwood with their exclusive Uniclic locking system for easy floating installation. Mohawk's TecWood and UltraWood collections feature Scotchgard Protector for stain resistance and ArmorMax finish for superior scratch protection. Ideal for families with pets.
Featured: TecWood, UltraWood
Installation Methods for Engineered Hardwood
Float
Planks click or lock together and rest on an underlayment without being attached to the subfloor. The floor "floats" as a single unit, allowing natural expansion and contraction. This is the fastest installation method and works over concrete, plywood, existing vinyl, and radiant heat systems.
- Fastest installation method
- Works over concrete and radiant heat
- Easy to replace individual planks
Nail-Down
Planks are blind-nailed through the tongue into a plywood subfloor, the same method used for solid hardwood. This creates a very secure, permanent installation with no movement underfoot. Nail-down is preferred when installing engineered hardwood over wood subfloors on upper levels.
- Most secure attachment method
- No movement or hollow sound
- Ideal for wood subfloors
Glue-Down
Each plank is adhered directly to the subfloor with a flexible adhesive. Glue-down installation provides excellent sound reduction and a solid feel underfoot. It is the preferred method for concrete subfloors in condos and apartments where noise transmission to units below must be minimized.
- Best sound reduction
- Solid feel, no hollow spots
- Ideal for condos and multi-story
Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood: Which Is Right for You?
Both engineered and solid hardwood are real wood flooring, and both deliver the beauty and warmth homeowners desire. The right choice depends on your subfloor type, moisture conditions, and personal preferences. Engineered hardwood is the better option when installing over concrete slabs, in basements, in kitchens, or over radiant heat systems. Solid hardwood is preferred when you want the ability to refinish many times over the floor's lifetime.
Our team at 2020 Flooring Solutions will evaluate your space, discuss your priorities, and recommend the right type of hardwood for your specific project. We carry both solid and engineered options from all the major brands, so you are never limited in your choices.
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Schedule a free in-home consultation. We bring engineered hardwood samples to your home so you can compare species, widths, and finishes in your actual space.
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