Engineered wood is a more environmentally friendly alternative to real wood. Engineered wood uses a wear layer and underneath this section is a portion(s) of plywood (that acts as backing for the real wood) that varies in thickness depending on the brand and product. Engineered wood uses a solid layer of your preferred wood species; this top sheet of real wood also varies in thickness much like the backing. The depth of this sheet determines how many times the floors can be effectively refinished. Refinishing an engineered flooring means sanding down a level of the real wood layer in order to remove any scratches, dents, or everyday wear and tear. This process limited depending on the size of the top layer. Depending on the product there are various levels of wear layers and installation requirements. When looking into the product be aware that some flooring requires a specific surface for installation, while others are more flexible when it comes to installation. Extended moisture conditions also can influence what type of flooring would be most suitable for your home. There are many variables to consider in finding the proper engineered product for your space, ask questions!
An engineered prefinished floor is more desirable in basements as it offers the opportunity to be installed to any subfloor. It is dimensionally more stable than a solid wood, therefore it is preferable to lay over radiant heating.