Engineered hardwood Garage Coatings College Station is a product made of a core of hardwood, plywood, or high density fiber and a top layer of hardwood veneer that is glued on the top surface of the core. It is available in almost any hardwood species. The product has the natural characteristics of the selected wood species as opposed to a photographic layer. The “engineered” product has been designed to provide greater stability, particularly where moisture or heat pose problems for hardwood floors.
Wood floors come in two basic types:
o Solid wood flooring
o Engineered wood flooring
Solid Wood Fl is fabricated from 3/4″ thick solid wood and tongue and groove sides to join the boards. Some manufacturers make a thinner version that is 5/16″ thick. The main advantage of solid wood flooring is its ability to be re-sanded and refinished over many years. It is not uncommon for solid wood floors to last 50 years or more. Solid wood floors come unfinished or prefinished in almost any wood species.
The main issue to consider with solid wood floors is its susceptibility to expansion and contraction due to humidity changes in the home. To accommodate for movement, these floors are typically installed with a 5/8″ to 3/4″ gap around the perimeter of the floor along the wall. This gap is covered by shoe molding and baseboards.
The 3/4″ thick floors should not be installed in a below grade condition, such as a basement. However, the thinner 5/16″ wood floors may be used in that application. When installing a solid wood floor over new or existing concrete, be sure the manufacturer’s recommendations on limits of moisture in the concrete are followed.
Solid wood flooring is available in three main types:
o Strip flooring is denoted by the thickness and width of the wood planks. Strip flooring has a set width, but the thickness can vary. Strip flooring ranges in thickness from 5/16″ to ¾” wide. It is available only in widths of 1 1/2″, 2″, and 2 1/4″.
o Plank flooring comes in two thicknesses, but unlike strip flooring, the widths can vary. It is available only in thicknesses of 1/2″ or 3/4″ and a range of widths from 3″ to 8″.
o Parquet flooring has a very different look from typical hardwoods. They are made up of geometrical patterns composed of individual wood patterns composed of individual wood slats held in place by mechanical fastening or an adhesive.
Laminate flooring is not real wood, at least not in the way that hardwood and engineered wood are. It is comprised of a thin top layer of resin-infused paper, all on top of a wood chip composite. Technically, it is wood. It is an amazing simulation of wood. The resin layer is essentially a photograph of wood. Laminate flooring is an alternative to wood flooring. It is scratch resistant and it works well in topically moist environments like bathrooms and kitchens, unlike hardwood flooring. Additionally, laminate flooring is very easy to install.
