Engineered Wood Flooring
Environmental Impact
At first glance, it may seem like laminate would have an adverse effect on the environment and that was definitely the case in years past. However, today many laminates are made of recycled material. There is still the worry of volatile organic compounds so make sure to check the floor score when considering. Engineered hardwood on the other hand is made up of scrap woods and organic materials from various trees. This helps reduce the impact on specific tree types by spreading it across multiple trees.
How Do They Hold Up To Damage?
One major downside of laminate flooring is that it, being a form of plastic, is susceptible to damage such as scrapes, dings or cuts. Once the laminate is penetrated, you can’t really go back and replace a small section without it being very noticeable to the eye. This where engineered wood flooring wins the day as it employs a powerful seal over a strip of real hardwood. If it gets dinged or scraped, it’s easy to repair by applying another layer of veneer which you can do several times before replacement is required. This type of flooring was specifically created as an improved version of hardwoods. What they wanted to achieve was a stronger, more water-resistant alternative to hardwoods, while retaining the natural feel. The result is the best of both worlds – the beauty of hardwood along with resistance of a synthetic to unexpected events.
Another bonus is you can install engineered hardwood in your basement, where it isn’t recommended for traditional hardwood. If you’re considering installing engineered flooring in your home, you can take a look at the quality engineered flooring Melbourne supplier Market Timbers is offering.
Engineered Flooring
Engineered Flooring is Still Wood
One major factor that engineered wood flooring has over laminate is that it’s still wood. Laminate flooring consists of several layers of 100% man made material. Realistically, it’s a printed image laid onto a fiberboard base followed by a clear protective layer. Of course, you can choose from any number of images that suit your fancy such as stone look laminates, or even wood. The industry has developed new techniques such as embossing and adding texture to the surface, which attempts to make it look and feel more real. At first glance, or from a faraway vantage point, it may pass off as the real thing, but if you look a bit closer it becomes quite obvious that you are looking at an imitation. On the other hand, with engineered wood, you are still looking at real wood. The process consists of taking a thin layer of genuine hardwood and bonding it over high-quality plywood. This gives it excellent dimensional stability.
