When it comes to flooring, can you refinish engineered hardwood floors? Hardwood and wood-look products reign supreme in popularity thanks to their timeless beauty and impressive durability. Authentic solid hardwood floors exude unmatched warmth and character. However, their higher cost and vulnerability to moisture can be drawbacks for some homeowners. This is where engineered hardwood floors have emerged as an excellent alternative. They expertly combine real wood aesthetics with enhanced practicality.
The Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood planks feature a layered construction with a real hardwood veneer as the top-facing surface, bonded to a stable plywood or high-density fibreboard core. This unique design increases dimensional stability and moisture resistance compared to solid hardwood. The real wood veneer maintains an authentic hardwood look and feel, while the composite core prevents issues like cupping, crowning, and gapping that can occur with fluctuating humidity levels.
Table 1: Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring
| Feature | Engineered Hardwood | Solid Hardwood |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional Stability | High | Moderate |
| Moisture Resistance | High | Low |
| Installation Versatility | High | Moderate |
| Cost | Moderate | High |
| Refinishing Potential | Moderate to High | High |
In addition to their enhanced structural integrity, engineered floors are often more economical than 3/4′ solid hardwood. Their easier installation over concrete and basement subfloors is another significant benefit, removing the moisture barriers that make solid wood inadvisable for these spaces. With increased versatility and a lower price point, engineered hardwood makes the luxurious wood look attainable for more budgets and applications.
The Refinishing Potential of Engineered Floors
As engineered floors grow in popularity, many homeowners wonder if the real wood veneer can be refinished and re-stained like solid hardwood when it becomes worn or outdated. Thankfully, the answer is yes for many engineered wood products on the market today — but with some important caveats.
Table 2: Veneer Thickness and Refinishing Potential
| Veneer Thickness | Refinishing Potential |
|---|---|
| < 2 mm | Not Refinishable |
| 2 mm — 3 mm | Refinishable (1 time) |
| > 3mm | Refinishable (2-3 times) |
The thickness of the hardwood veneer is the key factor that determines if the floor can be refinished, and if so, how many times. An ultra-thin veneer under 2 mm leaves virtually no room for sanding, meaning refinishing is impossible. However, higher-quality engineered planks often feature veneers 3 mm or thicker that permit refinishing 1–2 times over the floor’s lifespan before the veneer becomes too thin.
Refinishing Process for Engineered Hardwood
For floors with a refinishable veneer, the process closely mirrors that of solid hardwood:
- Sanding: Sand away the existing polyurethane finish, along with any surface scratches or dents in the wood itself. Perform this sanding carefully to avoid going through the veneer layer.
- Staining: After sanding down to fresh, bare hardwood, re-stain the floor to achieve a brand new colour if desired before applying finish coats.
- Finishing: Apply new polyurethane finish coats to re-seal and protect the refinished wood surface.
While the techniques are similar, refinishing engineered hardwood requires more precision due to the veneer thickness constraints. It’s highly advisable to hire experienced wood floor refinishers for the job rather than attempting DIY refinishing. Their training minimizes the risk of damaging the floors by sanding too aggressively.
Options When Refinishing Isn’t Possible
If an engineered hardwood floor has a veneer that is too thin to withstand sanding and refinishing, there are still some effective ways to refresh and alter its appearance:
- Deep Cleaning and Coating: Deep cleaning followed by reapplying a clear polyurethane coating can revive some shine and protection.
- Refresher Products: “Refresher” floor finishing products tint and add subtle colour over the existing stain when properly applied.
- Glazes and Finishes: Semi-transparent wood glazes or tinted oil finishes provide a more substantive colour shift when coated over the original stain.
Table 3: Alternatives to Refinishing
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Deep Cleaning and Coating | Enhance shine and protection with a new clear coat. |
| Refresher Products | Add subtle colour and restore appearance. |
| Glazes and Finishes | Provide a noticeable colour shift and aesthetic update. |
While these options don’t offer a full-colour transformation like refinishing, they allow some flexibility to update the floor’s aesthetic when veneer thickness limitations prevent true refinishing.
Summary
In summary, the refinishing potential is an excellent advantage of engineered hardwood floors, but only when selecting products engineered with a sufficiently thick hardwood veneer layer. With proper expectations and professional refinishing, engineered wood can provide long-lasting wood-look luxury that grows better with age. Can you refinish engineered hardwood floors to maintain their beauty and durability? Absolutely, if the veneer is thick enough.
