What Materials Are Engineered Floors Made From?

Did you know that there are different categories of engineered wood flooring? If you are interested in installing this type of floor, then it is good to know your options. Follow our blog to learn about the four categories of engineered wooden flooring.

Timber
Timber woods are the most common category of engineered wood flooring. They are made from sawn wood and do not use veneer, plastic or composite wood. Timber is a great choice for a material as it is natural and also a renewable resource. Timber can store carbon through its lifecycle and the productions and processing of timber uses less energy than other materials. This in turn results in fewer emissions into the atmosphere.

Veneer
Veneer is a thin slice of wood, usually smaller than 3mm, that is glued onto wood (or particle board) core panels. Veneer is produced by peeling or slicing of the trunk, which gives the wood its distinct appearance. One advantage to this material is that it uses less wood than solid wood.

Acrylic
Acrylic impregnated wood is constructed from natural wood that is impregnated with liquid acrylic and then hardened. The result is a stronger wooden floor. This materials also has high colour retention levels, so it can be a good choice if your wooden floor is in the sun. Acrylic impregnated wood are extremely hard and durable, so they are used in high-trafficked areas.

Laminate
Laminate flooring is a synthetic flooring option that simulates wood with a photographic layer on top of the material. This is meant to give the wood-like style. This option can be a bit more cost-effective, but it does have to be replaced every ten to fifteen years. Laminate also does not have the same look or style as quality wooden flooring, so we typically veer away from this option.

Those are your options when it comes to engineered floors. Make sure to take a look at those versus solid oak flooring samples so you can look and feel the difference before making a decision.