Engineered Hardwood Flooring Dos and Don'ts

With engineered floors, you are free to consider the possibilities of using hardwood in areas that would mean disaster for a solid hardwood floor. Engineered hardwood floors allow you all of the beauty and organic feel, as well as a greater range of options as far as the location of your installation. With the dual features of an attractive top layer that is a real hardwood species, and a core which is designed to shift and move with climatic changes, engineered hardwood flooring is perfect for a basement installation, or an installation in a summer home or cottage that is not environmentally controlled all year round. Along with these functional benefits, engineered hardwood floors are often less expensive than their solid hardwood counterparts, making them worth serious consideration on a budgetary level. With all of its features that allow these advantages, engineered hardwood truly stands as being in a class by itself.

Here is a list of things to consider when purchasing, installing and maintaining your engineered hardwood floor:

Do:

• Consider the area where you will be installing your engineered hardwood floor in terms of moisture levels and foot traffic – use this to help you to choose the species of flooring that is right for what you have in mind

• Allow for a certain level of wastage per square foot when placing an order, depending on your level of expertise. You are the best judge of how much this will be, but a good range in general is 7-10% for non-professional installers

• Read all installation instructions and warranty information very carefully

• Consult any information about your radiant heating system in order to learn the best practice when using it under an engineered hardwood floor

• Inspect your batch of engineered hardwood flooring for any defects before you begin an installation

• Make sure that your subfloor is clean, dry and level before you install your engineered flooring

• Clean your engineered hardwood floors frequently, seeing to spills immediately using DRY or DAMP mops, vacuums, and cloths

• Use rugs and runners to protect high traffic areas and access points to the outdoors. This will minimize the amount of dirt and grit that can negatively effect the finish of your engineered hardwood flooring

Don’t:

• Use wax-based cleaners, harsh detergents, abrasives, or steel wool to clean engineered hardwood flooring

• Apply finish to an engineered hardwood floor that has already been finished at the factory

• Overwet engineered hardwood when cleaning – excessive moisture can still have a negative effect on your flooring, just as it would with solid hardwood

• Wear spike-heels or athletic spikes on your engineered hardwood floors

This is of course by no means a comprehensive list. When making a purchase or caring for an existing floor, it can be a great benefit to consult with the experts. Local flooring contractors and sales experts in the industry are two great sources of information when you are seeking to make an informed purchase or when organizing a cleaning regimen. It is always a good idea to talk with the professionals and use their years of experience in flooring to your advantage.

About The Author

Rob Jones is Communications Coordinator with BuildDirect (www.builddirect.com), a leading online wholesaler of building products. Rob writes articles for commercial contractors and DIYers on features, installation, and maintenance of building materials used in commercial and residential projects.

 Rob Jones

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