If you’ve ever admired the beauty and durability of a hardwood floor but balked at the cost or installation time, you may be interested in engineered hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring uses multiple layers of wood to create a product that looks and feels like a traditional hardwood floor. But have you ever wondered where this type of flooring comes from? Let's look at the history and evolution of hardwood flooring and why engineered wood is the best choice on the market today.
What Is Engineered Wood?
Today, engineered wood flooring is the most popular type of hardwood flooring. To make it, glue adheres to multiple layers of thin wood to form a single plank. The top layer is usually a maple or oak veneer for beauty, while the bottom layer consists of maple, beech, birch, or oak. The middle layers can consist of any wood and are often maple, beech, or birch.
Engineered hardwood floors are very popular because they’re an affordable alternative to solid wood floors. While these floors may not be as thick or durable as solid wood, they offer many benefits that other hardwood flooring can’t match. For example, engineered floors are less likely to scratch or dent. They come in various widths and finishes that allow you to achieve the classic look of solid wood flooring without the higher cost.
Brief History of Engineered Hardwood Floors
Engineered hardwood floors first became a viable choice for homeowners in the 1960s. At this time, traditional floors were difficult to install, forcing manufacturers to look for replacement floors that could work on top of concrete slabs. Engineered wood was the solution to this problem, becoming one of the first flooring materials one could install quickly and easily. This allowed consumers to finally get the gorgeous hardwood floors they wanted without putting in hours of work for installation.
Evolution of Engineered Hardwood Flooring
The first engineered flooring was very different from today’s hardwood floors. The earliest engineered flooring was supposed to be a "replacement" for hardwood planks, not an alternative. A maple or oak veneer made up the top layer, much like traditional hardwood floors. However, the bottom layers consisted of plywood sheets with random lengths and widths.
Early engineered flooring had several problems that led to its decline in popularity. Most importantly, it often warped and wasn’t very durable. In addition, the different layers were difficult to match when stained or finished because of their lengths and sizes. The "inkjet" stain finish made this flooring a poor choice for many homeowners.
Engineered Wood Flooring Today
In time, manufacturers refined their methods and created a much better product. Today's engineered wood floors have a top layer of solid wood veneer, while the bottom is made from multiple plywood sheets precisely matched in size and length. This allows the production of long pieces that eliminate concerns with warping or mismatch between boards. In addition, modern finishes can match different types of hardwood floors, allowing maple engineered flooring to resemble maple hardwood floors closely.
Another advantage of today's engineered wood flooring is that its installation is quick and easy on any subfloor, including concrete or plywood. Unlike traditional hardwood floors, the finished flooring is exceptionally stable, preventing denting and scratches. In addition, these floors are easier to clean, resist mold and mildew well, and have outstanding sound insulation for a quieter home environment.
In Summary
With so many advantages to engineered wood flooring, there’s no reason why you should settle for anything less. Based on the history and evolution of engineered hardwood flooring, today's products are far superior to their originals. These products address the major setbacks of the first engineered floors. The affordability of these floors makes them an excellent value for any home, while the options for protection and color are impossible to find with other types of hardwood floors.
From The Forest has been in the industry for more than 40 years, taking pride in our products and customer service. With a wide selection of engineered hardwood floors, we’re well-known for our innovation and market differentiation.
Offering only the highest quality products, From the Forest stands by its word that customers will walk away smiling. Ethically sourced raw materials from the USA and environmentally friendly, we ensure that you get to enjoy your flooring for years to come. Check out From the Forest's extensive collection of maple engineered floors and other finishes today!