LL Mythbusters: Engineered Hardwood Flooring Edition

Myths and Facts About Engineered Hardwood

This article is to help you with some myths about Engineered Hardwood and the facts behind it. Here’s an article to help you understand the truth about Engineered flooring.

Myth #1 – Engineered flooring is “fake.”

Fact #1 – Engineered Flooring is real wood. Engineered flooring sold at LL Flooring consists of a REAL HARDWOOD veneer atop a stable core. The core can be made of: plywood, MDF, Lumbercore (wood frame work) that are all wood based, and even stone based polymer core (SPC) to create a water resistant floor.

Myth #2 – Engineered flooring is cheap and won’t last.

Fact #2 – Fact #2 – Engineered flooring can be economical, but strength is not compromised. Our high-quality cores provide structural stability and all Bellawood, Builders Pride, Mayflower, AquaSeal, and Virginia Mill Works engineered products have premium quality finish to protect the hardwood veneer and resist normal wear and tear. Limited Warranties of 30, or 50 years or even a 100 year transferable limited warranty you can be confident that this flooring is built to last.

Myth #3 – Engineered flooring looks bad & my neighbors will know I didn’t buy solid wood.

Fact #3 – Most engineered flooring at LL Flooring is made in Random Length format to avoid a repetitive appearance. Thanks to REAL HARDWOOD veneers, once the flooring is installed, you cannot tell the difference between solid and engineered planks. Also, because more planks can be derived from every tree, engineered flooring can be manufactured efficiently, which gives you cost effective access to beautiful hardwood flooring including exotic species.

Myth #4 – Engineered flooring is more complicated to install.

Fact #4 – Engineered flooring, is in most cases, easier to install than Solid Hardwood flooring. In fact, Engineered flooring is very popular with DIY customers and convenient Quick Click options provide fast, easy flooring solutions for every budget.

Myth #5 – Engineered flooring is only good for basements and condos.

Fact #5 – Engineered flooring IS a great option for below grade applications, but it can also be installed in virtually any room of a home or building. By design, the core creates a stable platform. Therefore, Engineered hardwood flooring remains flat and delivers enhanced stability over solid wood, during normal seasonal and environmental changes that occur in every home, Engineered flooring can be nailed, glued, or floated and can be installed above or below grade, on concrete and over radiant heat applications.* 

*(Check your products installation guidelines for more details)

Myth #6 – Size matters! When it comes to veneers, thicker is better!

Fact #6 – Not always. Plank stability can vary greatly depending upon veneer, species, construction design, and climate.

Some species are inherently prone to checking or cracking if the veneer is too thick. Exotic species can be especially problematic if oils in the veneer react with the adhesives required to bond the wood plies. Thinner veneers yield less oil and can thus be more effective for the long-term performance of the flooring.

Construction is another critical component of Engineered flooring performance. Because one layer balances the next, the design can make or break the plank. If the core is not properly balanced with the veneer, the stronger layer will eventually prevail and cause the layers to strain, flex and bend.

Climate also has an impact on long-term durability. In very arid climates, for example, thinner veneers can remain beautiful for years whereas thick veneers react negatively to the lack of moisture by cupping or cracking.

In reality, Engineered flooring is a science. LL Flooring teams need to fully understand your needs in order to make the right suggestion. Thicker is NOT always better, but LL will have a solution for every situation because care is taken in understanding every client’s environment.

Myth #7 – “I just saw the same thing at Woody’s World of Wood for $2 less!”?

Fact #7 – Probably not. When evaluating pricing, the following should be considered: LL Flooring's curators are leading experts of quality and value in hardwood and engineered wood flooring. Most often, if you show them a product from elsewhere they will find a better selection, at better prices for you. Give it a try by contacting online, or talking to the team at your nearest LL location.

LL Flooring Technical & Install