Engineered Wood Flooring that you can find from companies like Irwin Tiles is a particular type of flooring that has become more and more popular in interior design over the last few years. Unlike natural wood flooring which is made directly from the tree, engineered flooring is constructed in layers. It differs from laminate flooring where by the layer is made of a printed material, this engineered flooring has to contain a top layer that is made from natural wood.
The top layer is decorative and it can be made in a variety of different thicknesses. It is this thickness that sometimes determines the price of the flooring with thicker top layers costing more than their thinner counterparts. The reason for the increased price is because the thicker the top layer the longer the flooring is generally considered to last and it is often more durable.
Another defining characteristic of engineered flooring is the base layer. This is the layer that the decorative wood is attached to and it provides the stability and the strength that is needed for the flooring. A number of different materials can be used for this layer and it will help to keep the wood flooring in shape and stable if it comes into contact with water and when it is affected by moisture and heat changes in the atmosphere. Relative humidity can cause wood flooring to expand and contract through the day so the choice of base layer is incredibly important.