Engineered Wood Floor Residential Temperature Limits

What Is Engineered Wood?

• Engineered wood is product made of several layers of material, generally a number of plywood or high-density fiberboard layers combined with thin layers of hardwood. The top layer is a layer of high-quality hardwood has the same appearance as a hardwood floor. It is glued onto the top of the multiple core layers for a strong flooring material. Planks may be 3 to 7 inches wide, and from 3/8 inch to 3/4 inch thick, according to the Hosking Hardwood website. Engineered wood can also be made into siding material and other products for residential use.

Advantages of Engineered Wood

• Engineered wood offers more stability than hardwood materials. It resists high humidity and will not warp or crack like hardwood flooring. Engineered wood flooring can be installed over concrete floors or on subfloors. It comes in a wide variety of woods and colors. Standard engineered flooring generally cannot be sanded and refinished like hardwood floors, though some thicker veneers are available. Most engineered flooring lasts between 20 to 30 years.

Installing Engineered Wood Flooring

• Generally, hardwood must be acclimated to the environment before installation. This acclimation allows the wood to absorb moisture that is normally found in the environment, so that it will not bend, warp or crack after the installation. Though engineered hardwood flooring is more stable than traditional hardwood flooring and less apt to have these problems, the acclimation time can be limited to 48 hours. When installing engineered wood over concrete, the material should be fully dry, as registered on a concrete moisture meter.

Residential Temperature Limits for Engineered Flooring

• To ensure a successful installation of your engineered hardwood, the residential temperature should be between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Balboa Flooring website. When you're installing engineered wood flooring over radiant heating units, the temperature should be maintained between 64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The flooring temperature should never be allowed to rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the relative humidity between 35 percent and 65 percent for optimum conditions.