FAQs

Engineered hardwood flooring is an alternative to solid hardwood flooring. Engineered flooring is engineered specifically to be stronger and more resilient than “standard” hardwood flooring. The top layer is genuine solid hardwood, and underneath are layers of crisscrossing plywood. These layers create a solid, stable core, and are the secret to engineered flooring’s success.

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about engineered hardwood flooring is that it’s not “real” wood. People often think the only real wood flooring is solid hardwood flooring. However, all engineered hardwood flooring has a top wear layer of solid wood. Some of the most popular types of wood for this top layer are French White Oak and American Oak.

No. Engineered hardwood flooring is actually more expensive than solid hardwood. It is created with the purpose of being a better alternative to solid hardwood flooring. Because of the different materials used to create engineered flooring, and because this flooring is purposely designed for optimum quality, it costs more to produce. Engineered flooring is also better for the environment, which adds to its value.

If you do encounter an engineered hardwood flooring that is cheaper than solid hardwood, you should question its quality, durability, and integrity. Engineered flooring is designed to fix the problems people encounter with solid hardwood and has a higher value because of it. This also means that engineered flooring won’t need to be replaced as often as solid floors. 

Yes! Depending on the wear layer you choose, engineered flooring can be refinished as much as or more than solid hardwood flooring. Here’s a handy guide for refinishing:

• 2 mm wear layer: refinish 3 – 4 times
• 3 mm: 4 – 5 times
• 4 mm: 5 – 6 times
• 5 mm: 6 – 7 times
• 6 mm: 7 – 8 times

• Movement
  • Engineered floors are specifically designed to minimize the problems of solid hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood floors are susceptible to movement with a change in temperature or humidity. Solid floors easily expand and contract, which leads to cupping, gapping, buckling, checking, and more problems. However, because of the construction of engineered floors, namely their plywood layers, the flooring is less likely to experience this movement and stays rigid longer. 
  • Because of this, engineered hardwood flooring can be installed on any level of your home, including the basement. Solid hardwood can only be installed at the ground level or higher. 
  • PurezaWood uses 100% premium plywood in crisscrossing layers to improve resistance to movement. The plywood layers point in each direction, which means as the floor experiences force trying to pull it a certain way, the force is distributed throughout the directions of the layers, effectively locking it in place. It takes much more force to make PurezaWood engineered hardwood flooring to move than it does solid hardwood flooring. 
• Durability & Stability
  • The rigid construction of engineered hardwood flooring also contributes to its durability, making it more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood flooring. Not only are engineered floors more durable in the face of temperature and humidity changes, but they are also resistant to daily wear and tear.
  • PurezaWood uses WBP glue in its flooring construction. This glue creates a strong, humidity resistant bond between plywood layers. It is rigorously tested for hours in boiling water to make sure the plywood won’t split apart under humid conditions. This leads to a far more durable floor, resistant to higher conditions of humidity and temperature change. 
• Quality
  • Engineered wood is more stable and durable compared to solid hardwood flooring. It resists damage and movement, cupping, gapping, and more. Because each part of the engineered flooring is designed with a purpose in mind, this flooring is able to reduce many of the common problems people experience with solid hardwood flooring and is overall a higher quality choice for your home.  

PurezaWood engineered hardwood flooring can be installed in many situations, such as on concrete or radiant heat. It is approved for high-rise condominiums and it is also great for basement installation.

• Cupping and gapping can happen with any type of hardwood flooring. However, engineered hardwood flooring is much less susceptible to cupping and gapping than solid hardwood flooring. Since engineered flooring is specifically designed to be stronger, it resists cupping and gapping for longer than solid hardwood flooring.
• PurezaWood engineered hardwood flooring takes this a step further. Each of our plywood layers, made from 100% premium plywood, points a different direction. This crisscross design means that if the wood starts to be pulled one way, there are reinforcements to keep it from moving. PurezaWood engineered hardwood flooring is specifically made to prevent cupping and gapping for as long as possible. 

Engineered hardwood flooring is a great choice for all homeowners and lifestyles. However, choosing engineered hardwood is especially advantageous for these conditions:

Yes, and that’s because it is. The top layer of engineered hardwood flooring is real, solid wood. When you look at a solid hardwood floor compared to an engineered hardwood floor, on the surface they are indistinguishable.

• Engineered hardwood flooring is constructed with real, solid wood as a top wear layer. You want to make sure you’re getting a high quality wood. Many companies use high quality wood, but that’s not the only aspect that matters. What is below the top wear layer is equally, if not more, important. 
• The plywood used for the engineered layer is what holds the flooring together, and is key in determining the quality of engineered hardwood flooring. At PurezaWood, we use 100% premium plywood, which is the best plywood available. By using this plywood, we can make sure we offer strong, high quality flooring
• Our floors are also CARB II certified and use WBP glue.