Why Choose Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Vancouver Over Natural Solid Hardwood?

When selecting the kind of material used to cover your floor, the choice of hardwood is always at the top of the list. Natural wood elicits an instant feeling of warmth and hominess to the environment that vinyl, stone or carpet just aren’t able to match. Solid hardwood floors in Vancouver are a special favorite of homeowners as a statement of style that compliments the Canadian mystique of the North Country. But when deciding whether to go with all natural or engineered hardwood flooring it’s important to consider more than which material is the greatest status symbol.

Solid hardwood flooring in Vancouver has always been the prime choice of the regions most expensive homes and offices because of its rich texture and unique grain patterns. But all natural wood floors have many down sides that can out weigh the benefits. On the other side of the debate, there are many advantages to choosing engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver over solid hardwood and not all of them centers on price alone.

Because of the climate, engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver is gaining in popularity for its diversity of real wood top layers along with its ability to be used in rooms where solid hardwood floors would not stand a chance.

And there are other reasons:

1. Upkeep – For most people the number one concern for flooring isn’t the price of purchase but more about the cost of its maintenance. The cost of preserving a solid hardwood floor over engineered hardwood flooring equates to a combination of time, labor and money. Solid hardwood flooring in Vancouver needs special care to keep their luster and appearance. Natural wood scratches, fades with age and is prone to warping and even mold should it be exposed to water and moisture for extended periods. After a few years, when the natural wood has weathered a bit, it will be necessary to have the floors resurfaced. This usually involves sanding the wood surface and then re-staining. Unfortunately natural solid wood floors, because of environmental regulations, can’t be layered with a coat of polyurethane which could protect it from scratches.Engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver is pre-coated which makes it more resistant to scratches and provides for greater longevity. Because engineered hardwood flooring is still made with real natural wood, it can be resurfaced if it becomes deeply scratched and its’ construction allows it to be used in more highly trafficked areas that may be susceptible to moisture and heat like the kitchen or bathroom. Unlike natural hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring would warp or cup when exposed to these elements. This type of flooring is constructed so that their inner core is laid in opposite directions making it immune to atmospheric assaults that would normally cause it to enlarge or shrink creating all kinds of problems.
2. Installation – Engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver is easy to install compared to solid hardwood flooring even to the point that it can be laid down by amateurs making it a less complicated “do it yourself” job. Unlike solid hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring can be nailed, stapled, glued or can be installed as a floating floor. Because of the ease of installation and replacement, should you need to move from your home or office, it’s fairly simple to remove the floor and take it with you.
3. Cost – For Canadian residents and business owners considering engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver, all the benefits of its visual appeal, simplicity of installation and ease of maintenance, can be topped off with the fact that engineered hardwood flooring costs less than solid hardwood floors in Vancouver. That is to say, not only is your cost in the long run going to be less but the price of an engineered hardwood floor is much lower than that of the solid wood floors; right out of the gate.

Engineered hardwood flooring in Vancouver shows itself to be the perfect choice. You have a wide variety of wood styles and types to choose from, it can be used in higher traffic areas that are prone to moisture and heat where solid hardwood floors can’t be used, and it’s far easier to install than traditional solid wood floors. After calculating the low maintenance costs, that fact that this is a floor you “can take with you” and the much cheaper price tag; the bottom line when considering all the various factors for selecting the right floor for your home or office is that an engineered hardwood floor definitely comes out on top.