Enhance Your Home’s Value With Engineered Hardwood Flooring

23 Feb Enhance Your Home’s Value With Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Carpet is one of the most common flooring options, but it can deter potential buyers when it comes time to sell. Engineered hardwood floors are a great alternative. Depending on your comfort level with power tools and flooring adhesives, these floors can be installed as floating or glue-down and nail-down.

Cost

Engineered wood like SOEN Hardwood is an excellent choice for homeowners who want the beauty of natural hardwood without the high cost. It is usually less expensive than solid wood and has the added benefit of being more moisture-resistant.

Since engineered wood has a natural wood veneer over plywood, it uses fewer pieces of solid wood than its traditional counterpart, making it more environmentally friendly. In addition, it requires fewer trees to be harvested and is biodegradable when discarded at the end of its life.

However, because it can still be susceptible to moisture, it is essential to use a moisture barrier when installing engineered wood floors. It is also recommended that you avoid exposing engineered wood to standing water, and any spills or splashes should be wiped up immediately. Additionally, using steam cleaners on these types of flooring is not advisable, as they can dull or damage the veneer layer. Also, unlike solid wood, engineered hardwood cannot be sanded and refinished multiple times.

Durability

The durable construction of engineered wood makes it an excellent option for many environments in your home. It performs well under radiant floor heating, concrete slabs, and basement settings. Unlike solid hardwood, which can warp in humid conditions, engineered wood is less susceptible to moisture damage.

The core of an engineered wood floor is typically made from plywood or lumber and topped with a veneer layer crafted from desirable wood species like maple or hickory. These layers provide more excellent stability than a traditional solid wood floor, which is especially useful for homes that experience frequent temperature fluctuations and humidity changes.

Most engineered wood floors feature planks in various widths and lengths, providing unique visual effects for your space. Wider planks can create a streamlined and contemporary look, while longer planks make for a more transitional design.

Maintenance

A well-made engineered wood floor can last up to 100 years. You can sand and refinish your floors as needed. This is a much more environmentally friendly option than replacing your flooring. This also helps you change the look of your room and can even make it more modern.

Cleaning your engineered hardwood is simple. Regular sweeping and mopping with water and mild detergent will keep your floors looking beautiful. It is also essential to clean up spills immediately. This will help prevent the stains and damage that can happen when liquids sit on the floor for extended periods.

Other maintenance items include using doormats at all entrances, especially in muddy seasons. This will trap dirt and mud before it gets tracked into your home. It is also a good idea to place furniture pads under the legs of tables and other heavy pieces of furniture. This will prevent scratching and dents. It would help if you also considered adding rugs to areas with more traffic, such as in front of doors.

Installation

If you plan to install engineered hardwood floors in your home, it’s essential to understand the installation process. There are two methods: nailing down the floorboards or a floating method. The latter is easier to install, but you must prepare a plywood subfloor first. It’s also essential to leave an expansion gap around the edge of the floor, pipes, counters, cabinets, fireplace hearths, and doorframes.

While you can install engineered wood floors, it’s sometimes better to call in the pros. This is especially true for whole-house installations or complicated projects with tricky cuts like staircases.

To keep your newly engineered wood floors looking great, sweep them regularly and use a vacuum for the bare floor setting. Avoid harsh cleaners and steam mopping, as these can damage the planks. It’s also a good idea to cover the expansion gaps with pieces of trim. This will help keep them looking beautiful for years to come.