Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered Wood Flooring – Glossary

The term “engineered” in this context simply means a wooden floorboard constructed with a base (or core) underneath a decorative wear layer which is often Oak.

Normally the base is made from plywood or in some cases HDF / MDF (High / Medium Density Fibre board).

On to this base is bonded a wear layer of facing material, such as Oak.

The engineered “blank” is then machined to either a straight tongue and groove section, often with matched ends, or precision machined to a more elaborate click joint.

Engineered hardwood flooring can be anywhere from 9mm or thicker overall. Thicknesses of 20mm or more are considered structural boards which have sufficient strength and rigidity to facilitate laying over joists (given appropriate joist spacing).

Thicknesses below 20mm are normally considered as non-structural and are laid, for instance, on to plywood, over joists or over concrete, or directly over concrete, either as glued down or floating floors.

Engineered boards have several advantages over solid flooring, particular with regard to their superior dimensional stability and cost savings especially when expensive species are being considered such as quarter cut Oak, Walnut, Teak and other more exotic species.

Given the superior stability and price advantages of engineered boards, they can usually be obtained in wider widths and longer average length specifications than their solid competition.

In terms of volume of trade, throughout most of the western hemisphere, Oak is the most common species of engineered wood flooring.