What is engineered wood?

For many people, wooden floors in the home are a long-held dream. They have a timeless style that works equally well in modern homes and as well as more traditional spaces.

However, solid wood floors can be expensive – which is where engineered wood shines. Designed with core layers of multi-ply softwood and a top layer of genuine hardwood, engineered oak flooring offers the superior strength and luxury of wood at a more affordable price point.

In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of engineered wood flooring and how it can transform your space. From a country cottage to a contemporary townhouse, a minimalist Scandi home to an industrial design city apartment, oak engineered wooden floors can do it all. 

In this guide:

• What is engineered wooden flooring?
• What are the benefits of engineered wood flooring?
• What are the considerations for engineered wood?
• Types of engineered wood flooring finishes
• Engineered wood flooring vs laminate
• Engineered wood FAQs
• Give your home a natural lift with engineered wood from Tapi

What is engineered wooden flooring?

The reason engineered wood flooring looks and feels like the real thing is because it is! Engineered wood flooring is made from a real, solid wood top layer bonded to an engineered plywood base below.

Engineered wood is available in a range of different plank lengths and widths, giving you plenty of versatility in selecting styles and designs – including modern grey engineered wood flooring. At Tapi, we sell a wide selection of engineered wooden floor types, with plank widths up to 190 mm.

How is engineered wood flooring made?

Also known as manufactured wood, or engineered hardwood, engineered wood combines the natural benefits of solid wood and the stability of laminate flooring. It features a top layer of real, solid wood that can be sanded, varnished, and finished, while the base or core board below is manufactured to offer added durability and resistance against shrinking and warping.

Most of our engineered wood options available at Tapi can be conveniently fitted using tongue and groove or click installation.

What are the benefits of engineered wood flooring?

Explore some of the key benefits of engineered wood below: 

• Temperature and humidity resistance – Although it still has some sensitivity to heat, humidity, and moisture, engineered wood is much more stable and less susceptible to warping and bowing than solid wood.
• Affordability – It’s a cheaper alternative to solid wood, boasting the same luxurious look for less.
• Variety – Engineered wood offers a wide range of grades, styles, widths, wood stains and finishes to choose from, making it super versatile no matter your taste.  
• Sustainability – Engineered wood can also be made from sustainably sourced wood that’s easily replenished, making certain products more eco-friendly than other flooring options.
• Easy to clean – Smooth engineered wood flooring is easy to sweep, vacuum and clean with a lightly damp (almost dry) mop.  
• DIY installation – Depending on the plank type, it can either be installed as a floating floor, glued down or secret-nailed – making it easy for DIYers to install themselves. See our guide to installing engineered wood flooring for more info or reach out to arrange professional fitting.
• Insulation – Floating engineered wood floors can be installed with various types of insulation and underlay. It’s also compatible with underfloor heating. 

What are the considerations for engineered wood?

With its natural grains and timeless look, engineered wood is undoubtedly one of the more elegant smooth flooring options. But as it features a layer of real hardwood, it also comes with a number of considerations.

1. Long-term maintenance

Depending on the type of flooring finish, such as lacquered engineered wood, the top layer may scratch more easily than alternative smooth flooring options. However, it can be sanded and refinished, where options such as luxury vinyl tile can’t. This helps to extend its lifespan.

2. Engineered wood isn’t ideal for moisture-prone spaces

It’s worth remembering that wooden floors are not really suitable for moisture-rich areas of the home, such as bathrooms and utility rooms. For these areas, take a look at our fantastic collection of luxury vinyl and vinyl flooring instead. These oak-effect options are designed to create the natural wood look you desire, with the confidence of knowing your floors are highly water and slip resistant.

3. Reduced sound absorption

Natural engineered wood features a firm wooden top layer, which can be noisier than other flooring options. While you can invest in quality soundproofing underlay to help improve acoustic insulation, this factor is worth noting if you prefer a quieter home. Alternatively, carpet, vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles typically offer a softer, quieter finish underfoot.

Types of engineered wood flooring finishes

As you’d expect, there are various types of engineered wood flooring, offering homeowners a choice of styles and finishes. At Tapi, we have a wide variety of beautiful wood tones, from light Scandi through to warm English oak and deep American walnut.

The most common engineered wood finishes are:

• Lacquered
• Oiled
• Brushed
• Stained
• Handscraped

You can read about them in more detail in our engineered wood flooring buying guide.

Engineered wood construction

Below the layer of gorgeous real wood sits the ‘engineered’ layer or core. The makeup of this core can vary slightly.

The three most common compositions of an engineered wood core are listed below:

• Multi-ply engineered wood – Probably the most common type of engineered wood core, multi-ply is generally between 13mm-20mm thick and made up of many layers, which provide great resistance to bowing. Due to its strength, it can support wide planks in widths of up to 305mmm.
• 3-ply engineered wood – Also very popular, this board has just three, thicker layers providing plenty of strength and support. It comes in thicknesses of between 13-18mm. This means it can only support planks up to around 200mm wide but comes at a more affordable price point. 
• HDF-core engineered wood – Less common but gaining in popularity due to its versatility, the HDF core makes it very strong and light.

Engineered wood flooring vs laminate

Although superficially similar, especially as their similar click profiles can be installed in the same way, these two types of wooden floors differ in several key areas:

• Oak-effect laminate flooring is not real wood. Although modern laminate boasts incredibly realistic finishes and textures, the appearance of wood is a printed graphic.
• Engineered wood can be sanded and re-finished. Due to its construction, you can sand and refinish engineered wood when it starts to get a little worn or faded, which isn’t possible with laminate. This can usually be done two to three times, depending on the thickness of the wood top layer.
• Engineered wood lasts much longer. The expected lifespan of laminate flooring tends to be between 10 and 20 years, depending on which product you buy. Engineered wood flooring can last upwards of 35 years with proper care.

Laminate, especially the water-resistant kind, tends to deal with changes in moisture better than most types of engineered wood flooring.

Engineered wood FAQs

Is engineered wood good quality?

Moisture resistant and hardwearing, engineered wood delivers the craftsmanship of real wood with the practical benefits of reinforced laminate. Thanks to its durable plywood core, it offers better defence against temperature warping than solid wood. All engineered wood at Tapi is rustic quality – this means that our planks will feature knots, pinholes and other characteristic of natural wood that makes it unique.

Is engineered wood better than laminate?

Whether engineered wood is better for your home than laminate depends on your needs and priorities – considering factors such as durability, versatility, and budget. Engineered wood is more long-lasting and feels more luxurious than laminate, but it can come at a higher price point. Also, engineered wood is better for those looking for a more natural look because every plank is completely unique, whereas laminate planks have the same pattern repeated. However, both offer a range of different styles, including herringbone and shades of grey oak.

Can you mop an engineered floor?

We recommend cleaning your engineered floor using a lightly damp mop. Your mop should almost feel dry, as excess moisture can damage the wood. Never use harsh chemicals, as this can ruin the finish. Our engineered wood care guide explains all you need to know to take care of your floors.

Give your home a natural lift with engineered wood from Tapi

Now that you know the ins and outs of engineered wood vs laminate, and the types of engineered wood flooring, why not explore our collections today? Book a home visit or join us in-store to see if engineered wood flooring is the right choice for your home.