Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered Wood Flooring

An engineered wood floor is a superb alternative to solid wood, providing a hard-wearing finish without compromising on aesthetics - but it's not necessarily a cheaper alternative. There are several benefits to using engineered wood, such as a greater choice of finishes, and long-lasting durability. If your budget is really tight, consider the excellent real wood veneer products within PurePlank, or Havwoods' twenty-first century alternative to laminate flooring may well offer the right alternative.

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Products (35)

Abrego Prime 120mm 45° Chevron

HW3437

Abrego Prime 120mm 45° Chevron

Venture Plank

Abrego Rustic 180mm 1-Strip

HW9554

Abrego Rustic 180mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

Amazon Character 180mm 1-Strip

HW3786

Amazon Character 180mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

Arena Prime 120mm Herringbone

HW3003

Arena Prime 120mm Herringbone

Venture Plank

Arene Classic 207mm 3-Strip

HW2303

Arene Classic 207mm 3-Strip

Pureplank

Blanco Prime 819mm Versailles

HW1224

Blanco Prime 819mm Versailles

Venture Plank

Cabarita Character 180mm 1-Strip

HW3372

Cabarita Character 180mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

Cedro 12 Character 180mm 1-Strip

HW3670P

Cedro 12 Character 180mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

Cedro 12 Prime 180mm 1-Strip

HW3472P

Cedro 12 Prime 180mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

Cedro Character 120mm Herringbone

HW3280P

Cedro Character 120mm Herringbone

Venture Plank

Cedro Character 180mm 1-Strip

HW954P

Cedro Character 180mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

Cedro Prime 120mm Herringbone

HW3012P

Cedro Prime 120mm Herringbone

Venture Plank

Cocoa Select 70mm Herringbone

HW6412

Cocoa Select 70mm Herringbone

Design from Havwoods

Cordova 190mm 1-Strip Character

HW6108

Cordova 190mm 1-Strip Character

Henley

Corniga Character 240mm 1-Strip

HW7992

Corniga Character 240mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

European Oak Character 180mm 1-Strip

HW950P

European Oak Character 180mm 1-Strip

Venture Plank

What is engineered wood flooring?

Wood is hygroscopic. This means that it absorbs moisture. So when the surrounding humidity changes, either due to changes in the climate or through the use of heating or air conditioning, wood can swell or shrink. This can result in the planks cupping or warping, or gaps opening up between them.

When we say wood is 'engineered' we simply mean that is made up of multiple layers. The top layer, known as the wear layer or lamella, is usually a hardwood and most often it is oak. The base layers are usually softwood or a multi-layered plywood, although occasionally they may even be made with more layers of hardwood. All the layers are bonded together so that the grain of each one runs perpendicularly to that of the layer on either side, making it virtually impossible for the wood to swell or shrink.

The advantages of engineered wood

Engineered timber offers you a lot more choice.

Because it is so stable, engineered wood planks and blocks can usually be fitted over underfloor heating. They are also now available in much bigger sizes, so those really impressive wide and long planks you see are a direct result of engineering wood.

Most engineered wood products are pre-finished, which means that you can see exactly what your floor will look like before it is fitted. And since there are now so many wonderful finishes available it ensures you have far more options without having to resort to the use of tropical hardwoods. Furthermore, in addition to all the usual installation methods, engineered wood planks with a click fit system offer a particularly easy option.

And last, but by no means least, engineered wood is particularly tree-friendly because it uses less of the slow-growth hardwoods. Using more wood is, in general, good for our planet because it encourages the harvesting and replanting of our forests, but fast-growing softwoods provide a quicker turnover.

alternatives to an engineered wood floor

Engineered wood flooring is a superb alternative to a solid wood floor, but it's not necessarily a cheaper alternative. If you want the look and feel of real wood in a quality flooring but are on a tight budget a veneer could well be the perfect answer. A veneer uses a very thin layer of real wood, usually bonded to a core of some type of composite wood product like fibreboard. Par-ky is Havwoods' collection of choice; displaying all the unique characteristics of solid or engineered wood it is also tough and durable and is the European market leader in wood veneer flooring.

Another alternative to engineered wood is laminate flooring. This is a multi-layered synthetic product fused together using a lamination process. It simulates wood by using a photographic process under a clear protective layer. Havwoods do not offer laminate flooring, but we do stock a more technically advanced alternative in Fusion. Here our favourite boards are replicated directly onto high density wood fibre board. These boards are far harder than oak, so Fusion is at least as tough as any laminate. It is also equally as easy to install and maintain but, unlike a laminate, it is warm to the touch and the feet, just like wood.