Strong, durable and often less expensive than solid wood, engineered wood flooring is a popular choice for many. Houzz, the leading platform for home renovation and design, found in their latest Houzz and Home study, that 58% of renovators purchased non-carpet flooring (hardwood, engineered, tile, etc.). If you’re considering using engineered wood in your own home, here are a few things to consider first.

Plan in the flooring from the beginning

If you’re laying engineered flooring in a kitchen, Houzz professional Andrew Petherick of Artichoke advises you plan your flooring from the beginning of a refit, so plinths and grout lines sit well together. “With any flooring, it’s important to consider how wide the boards are or how big the tiles are and think about how the units will sit on them – where the lines will fall. If the flooring lines aren’t parallel or perpendicular to the plinths, but at an angle, it will look really odd.” This is also something to consider in any other room you will be laying floorboards.

Get the basics right

If you’re laying new engineered wood flooring, there are some things you can do to ensure your boards stand the test of time. Houzz professional, Andres Felipe Uprimny of The New & Reclaimed Flooring Company emphasises the importance of preparing the subfloor first. “Check the subfloor to ensure it’s clean and free of any dirt, paint, grease or glue residue that may affect adhesion,” he says. He also explains that the subfloor needs to be perfectly dry and recommends using a moisture meter to test it accurately. “When protecting your newly laid floor during the remainder of the construction process,” he adds, “never use plastic to cover it, as this will trap moisture, which could affect the floor. Instead, a good-quality felt covering can be laid and taped to the skirting boards to allow the floor to breathe.”

Look after it

“Prevention is the best way to protect engineered wood flooring,” says Houzz professional Charlotte Wilkinson of Woodflooring Engineered. “Stick felt pads under all your furniture and remember to lift rather than drag heavy items. Make sure stiletto heels are in good repair and trim your pet’s claws.”

Uprimny emphasises the importance of room temperature, both during installation and long-term. “Generally, the temperature shouldn’t vary drastically – the ideal would be between 18ºC and 20ºC. Don’t turn the underfloor heating off, just keep it on low,” he says.

Get professional help

Laying a wood floor may appear simple, but there are lots of factors you need to think about, some of which you may not even be aware of. Finding the right professional can help you avoid any drama and guide you through the process. An experienced installer could even salvage an existing engineered floor, if boards have been damaged, either by treating scratches with a pigmented oil or by removing an individual plank and replacing it with a new one. For more advice, find a professional in your area and ask for their help when planning your renovation.

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Photo: Caroline Sharpnack © 2017 Houzz