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, 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 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.
Engineered Hardwood FAQs
Engineered hardwood has a real wood veneer (typically 2–6mm thick) bonded to multiple layers of plywood or HDF. This cross-grain construction makes it more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood, resisting expansion and contraction from humidity changes.
Engineered hardwood can go virtually anywhere — over concrete, in basements, over radiant heat systems, and in areas where solid hardwood is not recommended. It's the most versatile hardwood option for DMV homes.
Yes, most engineered hardwood with a veneer of 2mm or thicker can be refinished 1–3 times. Thicker veneers (4–6mm) can be refinished as many times as solid hardwood. We always check veneer thickness before recommending refinishing.
Engineered hardwood typically costs 10–20% less than comparable solid hardwood when you factor in both material and installation costs. It also installs faster (floating method), further reducing labor costs.
Spring 2026: Engineered Hardwood for Basement Renovations
Planning a basement finish this spring? Engineered hardwood is the ideal choice for below-grade spaces. Its layered construction handles the higher moisture levels common in DMV basements. Visit our Rockville showroom to see options.
Expert Tips From Our Installers
Look for engineered hardwood with a veneer thickness of at least 3mm. This ensures you can refinish at least once and gives the floor a more solid feel underfoot compared to thin-veneer products.
For radiant heat systems, engineered hardwood is your best bet. Its dimensional stability prevents the gapping issues that solid hardwood experiences when heated from below.
Current Pricing
Starting at $5 per sq ft installed
Wide range depends on veneer species, plank width, and brand. Premium brands like Mohawk and Shaw run higher. Budget-friendly options start around $5/sq ft installed.
Pricing updated March 2026
Explore Engineered Hardwood for Your Home
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.
2020 Flooring Showroom
2020 Flooring
5550-F Nicholson Lane, Rockville, MD 20852
Mon–Sat 10 AM–7 PM · Sun 11 AM–5 PM
Can't Come in Person?
We'll bring the showroom to you! Request a free in-home consultation and browse samples in the comfort of your own home.
Request Free In-Home ConsultTrusted by the DMV Community
For over 25 years, residential and commercial members of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia community have trusted 2020 Flooring. Check out what our customers have to say!
5.0on Google“We had a last minute major issue in the flooring we selected from another flooring installer on our kitchen renovation and addition. We had initially loved another flooring choice that we saw at 2020 Flooring. Unfortunately we found out it had been discontinued. Carol from 2020 Flooring went above and beyond to help us locate the amount of LVP flooring we needed by scouring the country. She found just the right amount and was able to get the order expedited so we could continue on the time schedule with our general contractor. Bobby from 2020 Flooring was great in helping us remedy an issue with the subfloor. We now have the exact flooring we wanted which has made our new kitchen and addition complete. Can't thank them enough!”
“As an architect, from the moment we walked into 2020 Flooring, upon seeing a standout recommendation on NextDoor, I was immediately impressed with Bobby and Carol's technical expertise, friendliness and professionalism. They asked the right questions, took their time to weigh flooring options for us without pressure and worked hard to meet our budget for new floors for our townhome. They committed to a date for installation and made it work. Their crew, led by Mariano, was highly competent, discrete, meticulous and worked long hours to complete the job in time. They stand by their work proudly and their warranty is better than anyone else's. Our new floors are fabulous and we wholeheartedly recommend 2020 Flooring!”
“I spent many hours trying to select a quality vinyl floor with the right color combination for my house and Carol at IDESIGN made the job easy with a great selection that I am very satisfied with. In general IDESIGN carries a good selection of quality floors but the added value of Carol's design expertise made the difference and I greatly benefited from her help. Thanks Carol😊”
Reviews sourced from Google. 2020 Flooring was given permission to publish reviews on this site.
Explore Our Flooring Services
Free In-Home Estimate
Our experts come to you with samples, measurements, and a detailed quote at no cost.
Schedule Estimate