In our last article, we saw more of the differences between installing engineered wood and laminate. Namely, we looked at the differences in beauty and durability. Today, we will evaluate a few more of these features:

How moisture-resistant are these materials?

As it is the case with hardwood, engineered wood will respond to a room’s humidity level. Ideally, you should install engineered boards in a controlled ambiance. More exactly, a 44-55% humidity level is the best for these planks. As mentioned in our last posts, engineered floors are more stable than hardwood. However, it’s not a good idea to use them for bathrooms or your kitchen.

On the other hand, laminate floors are highly resistant to moisture. So, you can use them for any humid environments like kitchens and bathrooms. However, make sure that you follow the specifications of the manufacturer.

Repairing your laminate or engineered wood

The main problem with laminate floors is that you can’t fix them easily. Obviously, you can’t sand or refinish laminate. Now, laminate floors can be either glued-down or floating (without glue). The best option here is floating. This will allow you to remove and replace any damaged planks.

On the contrary, you can fix your engineered wood more easily. If the damage is small or localized, replacing the planks or sanding them manually is quite easy. Now, you can also sand and refinish engineered boards, even if it’s the whole floor! Isn’t that amazing?

How much maintenance do you need?

For laminate flooring, all you need is to sweep, dry-mop, or wipe the floors regularly; nothing less, nothing more. It’s pretty easy, huh? However, your engineered wood floor will need more care.

First, you need to clean them with special products. It’s better if these have the manufacturer’s endorsement. These products will help you to preserve the finish or restore it. Remember that improper cleaning can make you lose the warranty! Then, the only thing you need to care about is to clean any spills immediately. In this way, you will avoid any liquids to seep in.

In our next article, we will wrap up this topic. Genaro’s Painting is the company to trust for handling your engineered wood installation. Get in touch with us today!