Hardwood flooring is solid or engineered. Engineered has a wear layer of the desired specie (insist on 4mm+) glued to plywood. It handles your basement, in-floor heating... our lake region. "Solid" is the same wood specie throughout, but our climate is not conducive to boards wider than 3-1/2". Temperatures & humidity fluctuate widely and often homes are closed up without heat for months. This encourages cupping and crowning. Splitting.
- Trout River
- Muskoka
- Mirage
- Shaw
- Timeless Floors
- HomerWood
- Du Chateau
- Provenza
- Lauzon
- LM Flooring
- Carriage House
- Virginia Vintage
- Mannington
- Mohawk
- Lyptus
- Casabella
- Armstrong
- Navarre
- IndusParquet
Both can be refinished as far as the depth above the groove. (Look at a cross section.) Engineered should have at least 5 plys of wood below the veneer for stability. It can be floated, glued or stapled and is the solution when you want a board style wider than 3-1/2". Finish layers should approach 9 plys and have aluminum oxide (for tough wearing) in a layer close to the top.
Select and Better. Traditional. Rustic. Country. What are they? Grades of wood. Lower grades have more knots, holes (lose your cat?), mineral streaks, and short boards. Some manufacturers apply these terms differently. Learn More...
