Featuring Shaw’s Stabilitek core, want excellent performance over a very long period of time? We used a proprietary bonding technique so that the final product holds true even in the face of climate changes. This wood flooring is also built to deal with any moisture.  EPIC Plus Hardwood built with Stabilitek can resist denting up to 30% more than solid hardwood, we tested and tested it and wow, this will impress anyone.

Engineered hardwood core offers a distinct advantage over solid hardwood flooring – it can be installed in many different areas in a house. The cross-grain configuration (multiple layers of wood) used to stack the wood controls shrinkage and expansion of the flooring. Engineered Hardwood Flooring can be installed above grade, on grade, and below grade. Pretty much anywhere in your home.

A single ¾” thick piece of hardwood is milled to create solid wood used in solid wood flooring. This flooring adapts to changes in the relative humidity in your home. It does so by expanding when the humidity is high and contracting when it’s low. When solid hardwood flooring is installed, a gap is left between the floor and wall to ensure that the flooring has space to expand. The gap is concealed using baseboard or quarter round.

Before deciding on Solid or Engineered hardwood flooring, consider these factors.

Location is the most important factor to consider before the installation of hardwood or engineered flooring.

Location can be categorized into:

• On Grade – at ground level
• Above Grade – any second level or higher
• Below Grade – any floor below ground level, including basements or sunken living rooms.

The possible presence of moisture precludes traditional solid hardwood flooring from being used for below-grade installations.
The manner in which engineered hardwood is constructed imparts additional structural stability to the product. It can be installed at any of the three grades after the use of moisture barriers such as Selitac Thermally Insulating Underlayment & Silent Step Ultra 3 in 1.

What type of sub-floor do you have?

Engineered products are best suited for installation over concrete; this ensures that the flooring maintains its structural integrity over a period of time. Both solid wood and engineered flooring can be installed over plywood, existing wood floors, and OSB subfloors. You can learn more from Shaw’s installation guidelines for subfloor installations.

What if there is moisture in the room?

It is inadvisable to use hardwood flooring in settings where moisture and relative humidity are high; for example, in a bathroom. Engineered hardwood, though, can be installed below grade or at ground level when an appropriate moisture barrier is used.