Engineered Hardwood flooring

last year

last modified: last year

We have a Mediterranean home with white wall. Looking to replace existing tiles and carpet with Engineered hardwood floor. Concrete flooring and going to glue down..

Have a few samples, all with different core. I believe 2 have plywood core and other 2 seems to have non ply backing. Looking for recommendation on which is better quality and would last longer.

Flooring considered are 4 mm veneer layer on the option 2 and 3, they both have plywood backing.

option 1 has 5 mm and option 4 has 6 mm veneer, Both have non ply backing.

My question - is thinner veneer top but with ply base better than thicker veneer base but with non ply back. Photos with no. in the poll.

Second question - Leaning towards Mornginstar Northam collection -Fragile Beauty. It's options 2. Any feedback on this particular brand ?

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PRO

JAN MOYER

last year

last modified: last year

"What is engineered hardwood ?

Engineered hardwood comes in two different types of cores, one is a plywood core, which has traditionally been used to make engineered hardwood and the other is newer option known as high density fiberboard (HDF) core. Even though, it would seem that a plywood core would be the better choice, the HDF core is harder, more stable and more moisture resistant, due to its Janka hardness rating of 1700. In comparison, traditional plywood core is made from hardwood species with a lower Janka hardness rating as low as 500 for Poplar or as high as 1200 for Birch. The core is the foundation for the hardwood so, the higher the Janka hardness rating is for the core, the harder it will be and will offer more support to the hardwood flooring, making it more firm and dent resistant. "

The plywood core is constructed by gluing and compressing layers of thin wood together in a crisscross pattern. The high density fiberboard core is made from recycled hardwood, which is manufactured by grinding damaged or defective hardwood into a sawdust and mixing it with a resin, then, compressing it together to form HDF core. This makes the much HDF core much harder, more durable and less susceptible to moisture than a plywood core. For this reason, the HDF core is recommended for areas with high humidity, drastic climate changes or near bodies of water."

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Comments (9)

tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
LVP MUST be at least 5 mm and MUST say waterproof. For wearability or you will be disappointed.

As far as glue I cannot comment but I'm not sure about any glue. My contractor buddy glues just the first piece along the wall at install.
S B thanked tracefloyd
S B
Original Author
last year
Thanks but these are not LVP, but engineered hardwood floors.
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dani_m08
last year
last modified: last year
So, you are just asking about the thickness of the wear layers??? You should add a comment that has a top view of each of the different choices + the type of wood and finish. Also, what is the overall thickness for each one + what length boards are included in boxes (for example, my engineered hardwood is European Oak with 5 mm wear layer - the finish is uv cured waterbased poly - matte - and the overall thickness is 3/4" and the boards are 8" wide with varying lengths of 36" to 84").
S B thanked dani_m08
S B
Original Author
last year
Thanks Dani - talking more about the ply vrs non ply core /backing of the 4 options. Need to know which is a better quality. The ply ones have 4 mm veneer and non ply have 6 mm veneer.
PRO
G & S Floor Service
last year
Research both cores a little more deeper. Avoid the cheap soft core and make sure a quallity adhesive/resin is used to prevent delamination. The harder core will make the hardwood veneer harder. A quality adhesive will prevent swelling, especially edge swellying, along with delam.
S B thanked G & S Floor Service
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
When you say glue down on concrete it this in abasement or in an aprtment with all concrete floors. I do not like hardwood in basements usually and the waer layer is really the most imporatnt for the ability to refinish down the road but we need a bit more info.
S B thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
dani_m08
last year
S B - that's what happens when you try to answer a post late at night! I went back up and saw that you were asking about the two different types of backing ONLY. Sorry!
S B thanked dani_m08
dan1888
last year
last modified: last year
Different things with different importances go into a hardwood engineered floor. The look depends on the grade of the veneer. Prime or rustic for example. The width of the plank. From 7" to 11 or 12". The length of the planks. Up to 84". The thickness of the veneer. The finish. The type of hardwood the plywood core is made from. Birch or eucalyptus have been paired with quality veneers without problems. Even solid wood will dent.
S B thanked dan1888