Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is real wood flooring built in layers: a top layer of hardwood, the part you see and walk on, bonded to a multi-ply core underneath. That layered core moves much less than a solid board when humidity changes, which matters in Toronto, where summers are humid and furnace-dry winters can open gaps in wood floors. It is also why engineered hardwood can go in places solid hardwood can't, such as over concrete, in condos and, when the product is rated for it, in basements.

What we carry. Our catalogue has about 1,600 engineered hardwood floors from 27 brands, including Shaw Floors, Fuzion, Vidar, Grandeur, Appalachian and Biyork. White oak is by far the most common species, followed by hickory, European oak, red oak and maple, with some walnut, ash and birch. Boards run from about 3 1/4" to over 9" wide and from 3/8" to 3/4" thick.

Wear layer. The wear layer is the real wood on top, listed from 1.2 mm to 4 mm on our products. A thicker wear layer can take more sanding and refinishing over the life of the floor, so it is worth paying attention to if you plan to stay in the home for a long time.

Finish and texture. Wire-brushed finishes are the most common in the range. The texture and a matte sheen help hide everyday scratches from pets, kids and chairs. Smooth and hand-scraped options are available too, and many finishes are UV-cured or aluminum oxide for durability.

Installation. Depending on the product, engineered hardwood is nailed or stapled down, glued down, or floated over an underlay, and many products allow more than one method. Many are also rated for radiant heat. The right method depends on your subfloor, so we check it before quoting. Manufacturers set an indoor humidity range, often around 30% to 65%, so running a humidifier in winter helps the floor stay tight.

Engineered or solid? Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood, usually 3/4" thick, nailed over a wooden subfloor on the main or upper floors. Engineered hardwood gives the same real-wood look with more stability and more places it can go. Our installation starts from $4.90 per square foot for engineered hardwood, including glue and nails, and from $4.50 per square foot for solid hardwood.

22FLOORING supplies and installs engineered hardwood across Toronto and the GTA, and as far as Bowmanville, Wasaga Beach and London. If you have already bought flooring elsewhere, we can install it once we have approved the material. See our hardwood installation page, or send us your square footage for a free quote.