Engineered hardwood flooring is a popular and contemporary kind of flooring that provides the same appearance of hardwood but with greater structural stability and less budget. Engineered flooring is able to handle a wider range of moisture and temperature changes, making it a good candidate for damp rooms or harsh climates.
Long considered as both functional and durable, oak hardwood flooring has been in demand for generations. Having high tannin content, oak flooring is resistant to insect and fungal attack. The durability of oak solid wood makes it the best choice for high traffic areas. Oak solid wood is versatile and its pronounced grain pattern sets it apart from other popular hardwood species. It can be fit into any modern, rustic or even exotic decoration. With engineered oak flooring you can have all advantages of hardwood oak flooring at your fingertips plus stability, durability and ease of maintenance.
However, you should properly take care of any kind of flooring to keep it in good shape. Here, we have pulled together a detailed guide for engineered flooring maintenance, including engineered oak flooring.
Preventing Moisture
One of the commonly encountered problems in natural wood maintenance is moisture control. Just as other natural materials, wood expands and contracts in response to the moisture level in the air. If it is not properly installed and maintained, this can be lead to cracks or even buckling in the floorboards.
While engineered floorings especially oak species deal the risk of moisture changes better, high moisture levels may still cause problems. Be sure to control the moisture level of the room all around the year. This ensures that engineered flooring looks great for years. If you are going to install an engineered hardwood flooring in a moisture-rich room such as an unventilated bathroom or basement, you should consider allowed moisture fluctuation range of the flooring.
The best way is reading the manufacturer’s instructions before choosing the right flooring for a damp or uncontrolled room. Sometimes you should moisture readings of subfloor in mind. One easy tip to cope with high moisture is to leave a plank of wood close to walls and closets and choose floating engineered floorings whenever it is possible. In this way, the flooring acclimatise to the environment, reducing the risk of danger.
Clean up spills as soon as possible to prevent stains. This is more important when engineered wood is laid down in a bathroom or kitchen where puddles of standing water may develop. Chemical spills are worse. They can make an irreparable damage to your flooring if not mopped up quickly before they have dried. An engineered floor should not be allowed to get soaked wet. When cleaning, use only a limited amount of water. Avoid hard water for cleaning as it can leave a dulling effect on your engineered floors over time. Be sure that your mop has been well wrung out, so it is not too wet.