20 Gorgeous Kitchens Incorporating Engineered Hardwood
With as much traffic and activity as your kitchen gets, having a durable flooring is important, however, you want your flooring to be as beautiful as it is functional. There are many different types of flooring to choose from, and yes, they all have their good points, and their not-so-good, but when it comes to wood flooring for the kitchen, it really seems as if you can’t go wrong. It’s beautiful, elegant, it can look rugged and rustic, it adds warmth to the kitchen, and it certainly adds value to your home. But when it comes to choosing a hardwood for your kitchen floor, have you ever considered the cousin to natural hardwood, which is, engineered hardwood? You may have about this new type of wood flooring, as it’s quickly gaining popularity in home flooring. Here’s more about engineered wood flooring and what makes it great in your kitchen.
What is engineered wood flooring?
While both, true, and engineered hardwood flooring look basically the same once they’re installed, there are some differences between the two, and understanding the difference can help you decide if engineered is the right type of wood flooring for your kitchen. Of course, natural wood flooring planks are 100% the type of wood you choose, whether it be Cherry, Oak, Pine, Birch, or the many other types there are to choose from, engineered wood flooring is constructed of multiple layers of wood products with the only the very top layer of the plank being the type of wood you chose, i.e., Cherry, Pine, Birch, or other wood type.
Engineered wood plans are constructed of a variety of products that are bound together, and they include:
- Veneers
- Fibers
- Strands
- Particles of multiple types of woods, such as birch, poplar, among others
At Best Pick Reports, the engineering process is described all the layers being fastened together using right angles which has the the grains all running in opposite directions for the purpose of leaving less room for the wood to contract and expand, which is something solid wood floors go through and can cause a variety of issues.
Installation perks with engineered wood flooring
Natural wood floors can only be installed using one method and that is that they must be nailed to a sub-flooring, and they can never be installed over concrete. This is where engineered wood has a one-up on all natural wood. Engineered wood can be installed in places that natural wood planks cannot. You can have engineered wood installed right over concrete and it can be installed using a few different installation methods. It can be nailed, stapled or glued. Installers can also use a floating installation method where the planks are interlocked together, which is the method used when heated flooring is installed in order to prevent nails from puncturing the wires and tubing used in the system. For the homeowner, this means you can have new engineer wood flooring installed without having to worry about sub-flooring, which may help to cut costs in installation fees.
Choose from a variety of wood types, colors, and plank sizes
No matter what your kitchen decor scheme is, you are sure to find the perfect engineered wood flooring look to match your kitchen decor. Like all natural wood, engineered is available in the many different species of wood types and different grains, which means, you can get that dark cherry floor, or the opposite, a light oak. You can also choose on different types of grains to get a more sleek and elegant look to your floor, or a rougher, more rustic look if you choose. Engineered wood planks also come in a variety of sizes so that you can create the perfect wood floor layout or design, for what looks best with the layout of your kitchen. With a long galley-styled kitchen, you may prefer longer, more narrow planks, or for a smaller kitchen with an island in the midst of the room to break up the floor space, staggered, shorter planks may be a better look. Your kitchen flooring idea can be accomplished with engineered wood flooring.
How long do engineered wood floors last?
One of the first things homeowners want to know is, how long will their flooring last? It makes sense to know if your engineered wood floor is going to be around for years to come, especially if you plan to spend years and years in your home. The good news is, yes – engineered wood flooring is durable and has a long lifespan, however, according to Designing Idea, the lifespan of engineered wood flooring may not be as long as all natural wood floor.
What’s the difference? Although engineered wood flooring is more forgiving when it comes to moisture and climate changes than natural wood, natural wood has the ability to be sanded and re-sanded over and over again through the ages, to reclaim the beauty beneath scratches and damage. Engineered wood can only be sanded and re-sanded a few times in its lifetime to get that original beauty back if it’s damaged. After a number of times of sanding you will sand below the wood level and run into the core of the plank, which is, if you remember, a mixture of other wood products.
Bottom line
In the end, engineered wood flooring is a great choice for your kitchen, the hub of your home. It’s beautiful, durable, easy to maintain, and you can choose from any type of wood species you would choose from in the natural wood department To top it off, Designing Idea says that engineered wood flooring can be easier on the pocketbook than all-natural wood floors, and with proper care, you will get a lot of years of enjoyment out of your investment.
Take a look at the following 20 pictures of gorgeous kitchens incorporating engineer hardwood and see if it’s a good choice for your own kitchen
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