Real wood over a cross-ply core: the hardwood that goes over concrete, into basements, and over radiant heat.
20+ brands. Free samples, always.
Engineered species we carry
12 engineered lines, 26 colours in total, and hundreds more we can order. Ask for any species, width, or finish and a sample comes to you free.
Three of the imported species have collections of their own: Brazilian Cherry, Mahogany, and Teak.
Real wood over a cross-ply core. Click a colour to see the floor installed, not just the swatch.
4 Colours · Cheverny
The widest plank we stock at 7.5". European white oak, wire brushed, on an engineered core that keeps a board this wide flat over slab.
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2 Colours · Mainsail
Plantation-grown teak in a smooth 5 inch engineered plank, with the most board-to-board colour movement of anything we stock.
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1 Colour · Natural Hard Maple
Also in 3", 5" · order-in widths
Pale, near-white hard maple in a 7 inch plank, with a 3mm veneer that can be refinished and manufacturer approval over radiant heat.
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4 Colours · Celestial
A wide 7 inch engineered maple plank with a smooth face, showing red maple’s fine, even grain in a contemporary format.
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1 Colour · Olympia
Also in 3.25" · order-in widths
Rift and quarter sawn white oak in a herringbone block, smooth-faced and ultra-matte, with a 3.2mm wear layer and Lauzon’s Titanium and Pure Genius finishes.
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3 Colours · Granite
The hardest floor in the range at 1820 Janka, with hickory’s dramatic grain and a hand-sculpted surface that hides what busy rooms do to a floor.
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2 Colours · Drama
Also in 3.25" · order-in widths
Brushed North American oak in two grey-to-black tones, ultra-matte over a multiply core, with a 3.2mm wear layer and Lauzon’s Titanium and Pure Genius finishes.
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1 Colour · Bahia
Also in 3.25" · order-in widths
Brazilian cherry in its natural brown, semi-gloss over a multiply core, with a 3.2mm wear layer and Lauzon’s Titanium and Pure Genius finishes.
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1 Colour · Flora
Also in 3.25" · order-in widths
North American oak left in its natural tone, smooth-faced at a 10% ultra-matte sheen over a multiply core with a 3.2mm wear layer.
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1 Colour · Natural Brown
Also in 3.25" · order-in widths
Santos mahogany in its natural brown, smooth-faced at a 40% semi-gloss over a multiply core, with a 3.2mm wear layer and Lauzon’s Titanium and Pure Genius finishes.
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4 Colours · Sandy Hue
Wire-brushed ash in four grey-leaning tones, 6.5" wide on an engineered core. Open-grained like oak but cooler and paler.
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2 Colours · Colonial
Deep chocolate walnut in a 5" plank, hand sculpted. The warmest floor in the range, and the softest at 1010 Janka.
Ask about this productThis is a selection, not the whole floor
Our North Bethesda showroom carries hundreds more hardwood samples across a dozen major brands, and we can order well beyond what is on display. If you have a colour, width, or finish in mind that is not shown here, ask. There is very likely a sample waiting for you.
Widths, too: most of these lines are milled in more than one, and the width listed on a product is the one we stock and photograph. Where a line offers others they are named on the card, and we order them in. Tell us the width you want and we will price it.
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.
The cross-grain plywood core resists expansion and contraction caused by humidity changes far better than solid wood. This makes engineered hardwood suitable forbasements, kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where moisture levels fluctuate. In the humid Maryland and DC climate, this stability is a significant advantage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Engineered planks are glued down or floated over concrete, below grade, and over radiant heat, and nailed down over a plywood subfloor on upper levels. Which method your floor gets depends on the subfloor, not on the product — we settle it at the in-home measurement, after the slab has been moisture-tested.
The full method-by-method breakdown, subfloor requirements, and timeline live on our installation page.
How we install engineered hardwoodEvery product card above lists the same six numbers. Here is what each one actually tells you about how the floor will look and how long it will last.
The real wood on top, measured in millimetres. Under 2mm is a surface you maintain and eventually replace. At 3mm and above the floor can be sanded and refinished at least once, which is what separates a twenty-year floor from a forty-year one. It is the single most important number on the sheet.
Wider boards mean fewer seams and a calmer, more contemporary floor; narrow strip reads traditional and busier. Engineered construction is what makes 7 inch and wider practical — the cross-ply core holds that width flat where solid wood of the same size would cup.
Janka is a hardness score in pounds of force. Hickory sits around 1820, maple 1450, oak 1290, walnut 1010. Higher resists denting better, which matters with dogs and dining chairs — but grain pattern and colour drive the look far more than hardness drives the wear.
Smooth, wire-brushed, or hand-sculpted. Texture hides dust, scratches, and footprints; a smooth face shows everything but reads cleaner. Over that sits the coating — usually UV-cured aluminium oxide — and the gloss level, given as a percentage. Low sheen (7–15%) is the current default and the most forgiving.
Graded from low to extremely high. It describes how much boards differ from each other, not how dark the floor is. High variation gives a lively, natural floor and forgives a mismatched board; low variation gives a uniform surface that shows any replacement plank later. Judge it from an installed photo, never a single swatch.
The manufacturer states which methods are approved and whether the product is rated above, on, or below grade and over radiant heat. This is the line that decides whether a floor can go in your basement at all — and it is a warranty condition, not a suggestion.
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 above grade, over a wood subfloor, 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 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.
DMV fall weather can swing from warm and humid to cool and dry in a matter of weeks. Engineered hardwood provides real wood character with added stability during those indoor climate changes. It is a strong choice for townhomes, condos, renovations, and rooms where seasonal movement is a concern.
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.
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
Samples are free, always. We bring engineered hardwood to your home so you can compare species, widths, and finishes against your walls, cabinets, and daylight — the only place the decision is ever actually made.
2020 Flooring
5550-F Nicholson Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Mon–Wed 10–7 · Thu–Sat 10–6 · Sun 11–5
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 ConsultFor 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.
