Hardwood & Engineered Hardwood

The supply of natural hardwood has been decreasing over the years due to wildfires and deforestation. Engineered hardwood came along to solve that problem. Engineered hardwood gives all of the advantages of a traditional wood floor but also gives extended lifetime, lower prices, and a wider range of applications. Both floors can be re-finished, but in many cases, homeowners opt to install an LVP or LVT floor over top, as refinishing wood is extremely expensive unless you do it yourself. Engineered wood can be used where traditional can’t: in below-grade applications such as basements, over concrete, and more. They work exceptionally well in climates such as Pittsburgh where you really do get all four seasons. Engineered wood can withstand those weather changes and look good for a very long time. It is less expensive than traditional wood because it costs less to manufacture and it is a lighter material, saving on freight costs.

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Engineered hardwood allows for wider planks than traditional hardwood. This is a very popular trend right now, as wider planks can make small spaces seem bigger. Another benefit of engineered wood is it does not take as long to acclimate to the space before installation as traditional hardwood. Many homeowners find boxes of uninstalled flooring sitting in their living spaces unsettling, and engineered wood speeds up the installation process. We usually recommend waiting about 72 hours and then taking a moisture reading. If wood is not properly acclimated, it can shrink and expand during application, leaving a blank border around the edges of the room. In this case, quarter round needs to be installed over the shoe molding to hide the gap, costing more in labor and material.

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Hybrid engineered hardwood can combine multiple species of wood to bring out the benefits of all involved. For example, a maple and hickory combination shows the beauty of both species, giving the homeowner a customized look. Not only do engineered woods look great, they are also easier to keep up with in problematic situations. In the case that one plank must be removed and replaced, it is much easier to replace an engineered plank because in the case of a traditional hardwood floor, each plank holds the integrity of the other planks around it.