Engineered hardwood floors are taking over the flooring industry with their real wood veneer, easy installation, and ultra-durability. With a 70% to 80% recoup of your investment through your property values, these floors take your home a long way. But what makes engineered wood the best?
To help find the best engineered hardwood flooring for you, let’s start at the top. Check out engineered wood floor reviews, explore the pros and cons, and discover the best engineered hardwood flooring.
How to Choose the Best Engineered Wood Flooring
Finding the right engineered hardwood flooring depends on several factors. While a new hardwood floor is great, factors such as cost, durability, and installation can set your floor apart from the others. Let’s go over the key components of what makes an engineered wood floor the right one for you.
- Cost: Engineered hardwood prices can range anywhere from $4 - $12 per sqft depending on the quality of the planks. Even though you will get excellent durability and style regardless of costs, start with a set budget before shopping to narrow down your options.
- Species: The species of wood that tops engineered wood planks help determine the durability and style of the floor.
- Surface layer thickness: This is the wear layer combined with the natural wood veneer. This layer ranges from 3mm - 5mm thick. A thicker surface layer helps your floors last longer.
- Finishes: Some engineered wood floors feature a protective finish that acts as a UV and scratch barrier. This layer helps your floor last and often adds an exceptional waterproof surface layer.
- Installation method: There are four methods of installation for engineered wood floors. You can float, staple, nail, or glue down your floor. You can install it without a professional, depending on your comfort with each process.
Now that you have an idea of what you’re looking for, allow me to introduce the best engineered wood flooring options of the year!
| Related Content >> What is Engineered Hardwood? |
Mohawk Ultrawood Gingham Oaks Engineered Hardwood
For the finest White Oak engineered wood planks, there’s Mohawk UltraWood Gingham Oaks. Real white oak, overlayed on top of a waterproof HDF core, features the real character of the wood with a lifetime waterproof warranty. So you can feel safe knowing your flooring is made to last.
Gingham Oaks is made with an easy-to-install locking mechanism that you can float over your subfloor or existing floor. UltraWood is great for use in homes with both kids and pets because of its scratch-resistant surface that comes with a lifetime surface warranty.
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How It Measures Up
Cost 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
1 – least expensive to 5 – most expensive
Durability 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – least durable to 5 – most durable
Style 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – good to 5 – best
Pros
- Durable
- DIY installation
- Lifetime waterproof warranty
- Waterproof and scratch-resistant
Cons
- Limited shade options
SHOP Mohawk Ultrawood Gingham Oaks Engineered Hardwood
| Related Content >> How to Install Engineered Hardwood Floors |
Mohawk Ultrawood Crosby Cove Engineered Wood
Crosby Cove is part of Mohawk's UltraWood collection that puts waterproof hardwood into any room in your home. Each plank comes with real hardwood over an engineered and waterproof HDF core. Connecting the planks together with Uniclic technology creates a water-tight surface.
Mohawk Crosby Cove's performance doesn't stop with just waterproof technology. The surface delivers top-class impact and scratch resistance, as well as an EasyClean surface finish that guarantees your floors will stay as lustrous as the day they were installed.
How It Measures Up
Cost 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
1 – least expensive to 5 – most expensive
Durability 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – least durable to 5 – most durable
Style 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – good to 5 – best
Pros
- Durable
- DIY installation
- Lifetime waterproof warranty
- Waterproof and scratch-resistant
Cons
- Not suitable for commercial use
SHOP Mohawk Ultrawood Crosby Cove Engineered Wood
| Related Content >> How to Clean Engineered Hardwood Floors |
Mohawk Ultrawood Westport Cape Engineered Wood
Mohawk Westport Cape is a performance hardwood constructed with Mohawk's UltraWood technology. Each plank comes with a veneer of real European white oak and is backed by a waterproof core.
The WetProtect finish and the Uniclic locking mechanism make it so no water can penetrate the real wood, while an engineered and waterproof core protects the veneer from below.
Westport Cape is one of a few elite flooring options that can deliver real-world waterproofing to a real wood veneer. The planks come with a sawn surface texture and each plank is oversized to show beautiful real wood grain and character.
How It Measures Up
Cost 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
1 – least expensive to 5 – most expensive
Durability 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – least durable to 5 – most durable
Style 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – good to 5 – best
Pros
- Durable
- DIY installation
- Lifetime waterproof warranty
- Waterproof and scratch-resistant
Cons
- Limited shade options
SHOP Mohawk Ultrawood Westport Cape Engineered Wood
| Related Content >> Engineered Hardwood FAQ |
Mohawk Ultrawood Sebastian Isle Engineered Wood
Sebastian Isle UltraWood is a waterproof engineered wood flooring. It’s made with a real wood veneer and coated with a completely waterproof and scratchproof finish. The patented locking mechanism makes it easy to float these planks over your subfloor.
Sebastian Isle comes in oversized planks that flatter any decor with a range of color options. Ultrawood planks come with an everlast finish and are kid and pet friendly.
How It Measures Up
Cost 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
1 – least expensive to 5 – most expensive
Durability 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – least durable to 5 – most durable
Style 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – good to 5 – best
Pros
- Durable
- DIY installation
- Lifetime waterproof warranty
- Waterproof and scratch-resistant
Cons
- Limited shade options
SHOP Mohawk Ultrawood Sebastian Isle Engineered Wood
Shaw Brushed Suede
For a gorgeous hardwood that has a delicate suede-like surface, there’s Shaw Brushed Suede. Each plank has wirebrushed markings on the soft portions of the wood, leaving the harder part intact. This process creates more unique, enriched color variations, as it puts more emphasis on the grain.
With stunning color options in a warm, rich pallet, Shaw Brushed Suede can elevate the style of every room. You can install Shaw Brushed Suede on any level of the home with four easy installation methods: nail, staple, glue, or float. Plus, topped with a durable, scratch-resistant, finish, your floors will look beautiful for years on end.
Reviews
“The floor is so nice, great product!” - Beth from Peru, IL.
“I installed this floor in two rooms in our home and it couldn't have been easier. Simple installation and high quality. Would recommend it.” - David from Hayward CA.
How It Measures Up
Cost 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – least expensive to 5 – most expensive
Durability 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – least durable to 5 – most durable
Style 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – good to 5 – best
Pros
- Durable
- UV-cured polyurethane finish
- DIY installation
- Moisture and scratch-resistance
Cons
- Thin surface layer
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Mannington Park City Oak
For a beautiful floor that is health-conscious and increases your home’s value, consider Mannington’s Park City White Oak collection of engineered hardwood. It offers a modern western-style wood flooring option that is perfect for your home upgrade.
This flooring is sustainably sourced through the Lacey Act and meets the Formaldehyde Emissions Standards with a CARB/TSCA Title VI certification. Plus there are no volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the finish, so it is non-toxic. When it comes to installation, all you have to do is interlock the planks with tongue and groove glue. Park City White Oak is sure to turn heads in every room.
Reviews
“We already have Park City in the guest house and were ready to redo our floors in the main house. The guest house gets used as an AirBnB and sees a good amount of traffic. We have had no issues with it since installation and it has held up so well. The color creates a beautiful experience for our guests and completes the room well. We shopped a few other options but decided to make the investment in something we knew when it came to our own flooring and are looking forward to years of enjoyment.” - Madison from Ojai, CA.
How It Measures Up
Cost 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
1 – least expensive to 5 – most expensive
Durability 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
1 – least durable to 5 – most durable
Style 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 – good to 5 – best
Pros
- Stylish
- DIY interlocking installation
- Moisture and scratch-resistance
Cons
- Limited shade options
| Related Content >> Wood Flooring Trends |
Conclusion
The best engineered wood flooring options offer premium durability and style. When shopping, consider your price range, what installation process you prefer, the thickness of the surface layer, and its Janka rating. This way you find the perfect flooring for you and your home.
Let the shopping begin. Remember, you can always order samples before you buy!