Used Anderson and Mullican years ago and they were average. Hallmark is nice, though there are higher and lower quality/price point items. There are too many other brands to list.

We just installed Heidelberg floors and love them. They were far less money than Kentwood, but far better quality.

https://www.heidelbergflooring.com

That makes total sense- I guess my problem is I don’t know what would make a quality finish or stable core. How do you know the finish is a good quality or the core is stable?

A stable core wil be a 3 ply system. All three layers should be hardwood and dimensionally stable within each other. Which means it should expand and contract all within the same range. Avoid 5 and 7 plys. These multiple plys will cup and delaminate. Also, the formaldehyde level will be higher with all the glue being used. I would avoid MDF cores, these do not do well with moisture. As far as finishes go, find a product with multiple layers of ceramic finishes.

Here are some photos of the ones I mentioned earlier. While the Kentwood product is nice, it was just twice the cost. You really can't tell by looking at the surface. Everything underneath is what counts - and the finish too, but that's a longer conversation. (I personally like hard oils because they penetrate and protect while allowing a very natural feel.) The Kentwood is the smaller sample. It is about 3/8" thick with I think about 2 mil wear layer. The Heidelberg is about 3/4" thick. 11 ply baltic birch base with I think 4 mil wear layer. Subtantially better. I also made sure I did not get Chinese product. Europe and Canada have superior products and are almost certain to adhere to manufacturing regulations. Ask questions when you shop. Dig around on the internet for info.

I have never seen multi-ply cored products cup or delaminate without significant water intrusion.

Cups here in the northeast. And if, the top veneer has more movement, it pulls tge multi ply apart.

Hmm. Must be from excess shrinkage in cold weather. Is this despite maintaining the correct indoor RH?

Every product will be different naturally. I had some scrap pieces behind the shop for about a year. Cut one in half today. After about 55 inches of yearly rainfall and 80-100% Florida summer humidity with temperatures in the 90's it held together extremely well. It's crowning as the top was exposed to the rain.

Pretty good testament I say so.

Ken Fisher

3/4" engineered hardwoods

There is a lot of 1/2” 5-7 ply in the mall in our area, all cupped. Some of tgese products cannot handle the stress from going from 20% to 70% humidity, not just in the air, but in the slab also.

@Uptown Floors, that is about the amount of movement we get here. Doesnt look like s lot. but for a refinisher. that is a lot of sanding. you get one board on the high side and another on the low. That’s quite a bit of material coming off the top. Apply enough heat from sanding to some of these engineered flooring and the glue gives way. Restaurants will destroy it with mopping.

@Therese N your floors are beautiful! What Heidelberg floor did you get, and are you pleased with it?