At Couch Potato Carpet & Flooring,
one of the comments we hear most often in our showroom is this: "I love wood floors, but I can't have
them because of moisture issues."
Our answer is, "Maybe you can, because there's another version of
hardwood that is more stable, has a better ability to handle water, and can be
installed in some higher-than-normal moisture areas, such as basements."
It’s called engineered hardwood flooring and is taking a significant share of
the wood flooring industry. Read further
to hear some of our answers to the most frequently asked questions about this
product.
Appearance-wise,
they both look similar, but all the difference is underneath. As the name implies, solid is one thickness. Engineered wood flooring, however, is layered
and, at the top, is your species-of-choice. This gives it the beautiful
undertones, quirky knots, raised grains, and swirls for which these floors are
so well known. Underneath are three or
more genuine wood layers combined with a little resin and then placed in a
crosswise position, making the floor more stable, with no shrinking or
contracting, with a better ability to handle water. The bottom line is that they appeal to people
who want both beauty and practicality, and, as in the solid version, they can
be refinished and add value to a property.