Engineered hardwood floors have a top layer of solid wood, strengthened by multiple Baltic birch layers to create ultra-stable, low-maintenance wood flooring.
Engineered hardwood flooring provides the warmth and rich beauty of solid hardwood fused with built-in stability and moisture resistance. This robust composite material consists of multiple layers of Baltic birch plywood.
Each veneer layer is stacked in alternating grain directions, creating a stable, strong structure. High-quality exterior-grade glue is evenly applied to each layer to create ultra-durable flooring that resists warping. The top layer of engineered wood can be any hardwood species, providing all the aesthetic beauty of solid hardwood.
There are key differences between engineered and solid hardwood.
| Engineered Hardwood | Solid Hardwood | |
| Composition | A hardwood veneer over layers of plywood | 100% solid wood |
| Appearance | Available in the same range of styles and finishes as solid wood | Wide range of species and finishes |
| Water Resistance | Excellent resistance to moisture | Less resistance to moisture and prone to warping |
| Stability | Very stable and not prone to cupping or warping | Prone to expansion and contraction from humidity |
| Cost | Generally less expensive | Typically more expensive |
| Refinishing | Can be refinished multiple times, similar to solid hardwood | Can be refinished multiple times |
| Plank sizes | Available in custom widths — can be wider and longer than solid hardwood | More limited size options |
| Installation | Greater flexibility and ease of installation with options for glue down, nail or staple, and floating methods. | Must be nailed down |
| Expected life span | The 4 mm – 6 mm wear layer lasts 50 or more years with proper maintenance and refinishing. | 50 years or more with proper maintenance and finishing |
| Environmental Impact | Kinder to the environment | Uses more trees |
Engineered hardwood provides all the aesthetic warmth and rich beauty of solid wood with added benefits to enhance practicality and versatility. This innovative material offers a cost-effective, easy-to-clean, ultra-durable alternative to natural wood that is moisture-resistant and has excellent dimensional stability. It’s perfect for installation in high-humidity areas such as basements, kitchens and bathrooms.
Engineered wood for new construction projects offers easier and quicker installation than traditional solid hardwood flooring. Additionally, new construction job sites do not have to be shut down for engineered hardwood floors to be sanded, stained, and finished on-site. Layer 12 Hardwoods provides high-end 4 mm – 6 mm wear layer flooring in wide plank and long plank formats that can be floating or glued directly to the slab without a subfloor.
Engineered hardwood provides the high-end look of solid wood at a fraction of the cost. Layer 12 Hardwoods offers an extensive selection and manufactures to order, so you get the desired look in the sizes needed to complement your interior design. We offer a wide range of wood species, enhanced by your chosen stain color and finish, so your flooring leaves our mill ready to install. No additional finishing is required.
Solid hardwood flooring is costly and requires ongoing maintenance to retain its elegant appearance. High-end engineered hardwood is more affordable and kinder to the environment since much less solid wood is used. Our high-end engineered hardwood flooring provides long-term value and outstanding return on investment for homeowners and developers.
Layer 12 Hardwoods provides engineered hardwood flooring consulting and manufacturing services to builders, designers and architects. As a local company, we can create solutions for unique spaces to achieve project-specific goals.
Engineered hardwood floors have a top layer of solid wood, strengthened by multiple Baltic birch layers to create ultra-stable, low-maintenance wood flooring.
Engineered hardwood outperforms solid wood in almost every respect, including cost, stability and moisture resistance. However, well-maintained solid wood flooring in dry areas lasts longer and can be refinished twice more than our 4 mm wear layer floor and once more than our 6 mm wear layer floor. Complete wooden flooring refinishing is an extensive project rarely undertaken unless moving into a new home.
Engineered hardwood provides greater application flexibility than solid wood because it is less susceptible to warping or cupping caused by temperature change or humidity. Our engineered floors offer high-end wood flooring with all the appeal of solid wood.
Get your elegant dream floor in the sizes and finishes you need. Layer 12 Hardwoods offers one-stop consulting and local manufacturing of high-end engineered hardwood flooring, so you never have to compromise on quality. Visit our showroom or contact us today!