When the results of a recent survey aimed at discovering the features that prospective buyers most wanted to find in a house were released, realtors were amazed to discover that hardwood floors were nowhere to be found on the list. Upon further questioning, it was determined that the presence of wood flooring is no longer an option but rather something that those surveyed expect to find in any home they would seriously consider purchasing.
Of course, there are different ways to define wood flooring. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that, worldwide, engineered wood flooring now outsells solid wood. What they do not realize is that the history of engineered lumber dates back more than five thousand years to the ancient Egyptians. Hardwood was a scarce and expensive commodity in that part of the world so these ancient builders cleverly developed a process whereby high quality layers of wood were glued over lesser quality varieties. This gave birth to the first engineered hardwood flooring.
Even though the goal of the original creators of engineered wood was purely aesthetic, it was soon recognized that significant structural benefits resulted from the process. When the rotary lathe was invented, giving us the ability to peel thinner layers of wood from milled timber than had ever been possible, the future of engineered flooring was set.
There are several reasons for the rise in popularity of the engineered wood floor. Solid wood planks have a tendency to warp because of changes in temperature and humidly. This can be avoided in engineered hardwood floors by arranging the layers so that the grains run in different directions. In fact, this structure is so sturdy that it allows installation in places that have always been off limits for solid wood, like in basements.
In addition to increased strength and stability, engineered wood is more environmentally friendly. Flooring can be manufactured using smaller, faster growing trees than those necessary to harvest solid planks. By being able to use these younger trees, which can be replanted as a renewable resource, we can slow the loss of old growth forests.
Despite all of its advantages, engineered wood flooring has yet to be as popular in the United States as in the rest of the world. Americans fell in love with the look and feel of genuine oak and walnut flooring in the early colonial days and that has never changed. Engineered oak flooring is very attractive and almost looks like “the real thing”, but, for many, it simply does not give off that same warm glow that solid oak does.
As resources dwindle and more and more homeowners opt for sturdiness and ease of maintenance, the U.S. will no doubt follow the rest of world. Nevertheless, it is highly unlikely that this will lessen our love of solid hardwood flooring.
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