How Engineered Hardwood Is Made

Updated on
November 15, 2025

Today, more than 50% of all wood floors installed in the U.S. are constructed using engineered hardwood. Engineered wood flooring comes with all of the natural beauty of solid wood plus the strength and versatility to withstand the modern pace of life. If you wonder how engineered hardwood is made, you have come to the right place. This article provides information on how engineered hardwood flooring is made, and some of the many benefits of hardwood floors.

What Is Engineered Hardwood?

Engineered hardwood is constructed of both hardwood and plywood materials. It's made up of anything between 3 and 12 layers of ply. Engineered hardwood flooring is a great way to add timeless beauty to any room in your home. The construction has high-performance and durable qualities to maintain your floor in tiptop condition for many decades to come.

Each layer of wood in an engineered hardwood floor is positioned in a different direction to prevent the engineered hardwood from bowing and warping under moist conditions similar to solid wood floors. Engineered wood floors are easy to clean and maintain over time.

How Engineered Hardwood Is Made

There are three main sections to an engineered hardwood floor such as the top layer, the central core, and the backing layer. The solid top layer has the pattern and color you normally see and feel when you walk on an engineered wood floor. It's also known as the wear layer and may differ depending on the manufacturer of the floor. Most engineered wood floors can be recoated regardless of the thickness of the wear layer. The middle layer of the floor is known as the central core.

Each layer of the central core is laid at a 90-degree angle to the layer that is above or below. This is done to ensure maximum dimensional stability. The core layer is usually made up of a composite of softwood, high-density fiberboard, or plywood. The central core gives stability to the engineered wood floor. Below the central core, there is the backing layer for increased strength and durability.

Different Materials & Types Of Engineered Hardwood Floors

Engineered wood floors are categorized by their installation method, and there are three types of installation methods:

  • The adhesive installation method - The planks are glued onto the subfloor
  • The nail-down installation method - The planks are nailed down onto the wooden subfloor
  • The click-lock installation method - The tongue-and-groove planks are clicked together without any adhesive or nails

Materials

  • Oak
  • Hickory
  • Birch
  • Maple
  • Bamboo

Benefits Of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

  1. Extreme durability
  2. Looks like real wood
  3. Aesthetically appealing
  4. Engineered wood floors can be sanded and refinished
  5. They are easy to install, clean, and maintain
  6. It won't break the bank
  7. Engineered wood doesn't expand or contract to the same extent as solid wood
  8. They are available in a whole range of species, grades, and finishes

If you are looking for high-quality hardwood flooring installation in Idaho Falls, you don't have to look further than Classic Flooring. We offer the widest selection of high-quality flooring in Idaho Falls.


Related Questions

What is engineered hardwood flooring?

Engineered hardwood is a type of wood flooring made from multiple layers of real wood and plywood or high-density fiberboard, topped with a genuine hardwood wear layer for a natural look.

How is engineered hardwood different from solid hardwood?

Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood from top to bottom, while engineered hardwood is built from several cross-layered plies with a hardwood top. This layered construction makes engineered floors more dimensionally stable and less prone to warping.

Can engineered hardwood be sanded and refinished?

Many engineered hardwood products can be recoated or lightly refinished, depending on the thickness of the wear layer. Thicker wear layers allow for more refinishing over the life of the floor.

What installation methods are available for engineered hardwood?

Engineered hardwood can be installed using glue-down, nail-down, or click-lock floating methods, making it versatile for different subfloors and job conditions.

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I know the owner of this honest and hardworking company. Taylor (the receptionist) is so friendly and happy to see you as you walk through the door. She is very knowledgeable and kind. If you need flooring, start and finish here. You will not be disappointed.
Justin Cook
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Mark, Kyle and the rest of their team are very professional and are obviously passionate about what they do. I am very happy with their work and will be referring them to my family & friends. Thanks guys!
Taylor W.
Idaho Falls, ID
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Mark & Kyle have always been fantastic to work with. They do great work and I would recommend them to anyone in Idaho Falls looking for hardwood flooring.
Tanner
Idaho Falls, ID
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We moved into a house that was more than 50 years old. Beneath our carpet was hardwood floors that we desperately wanted to keep. However, we were unsure if the gaps, scratches, and missing pieces of flooring could be fixed well enough to look normal. Not only did this company make it look “normal”, but it looked OUTSTANDING. They worked so hard and finished our floors while we were on our honeymoon, and it felt like we came home to a completely different house. They were very pleasant and great to work with!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
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Idaho Falls, ID
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Idaho Falls, ID
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Great staff, love my floors they are gorgeous!
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Idaho Falls, ID
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Mark and his son do extant work and stand behind it. 👍
Ron Davis
Idaho Falls, ID
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Absolutely in LOVE with our new hardwood floor! We went with a hand scraped hickory wood, a dark stain and a high gloss finish. It turned out better than I could have imagined. It completely changed the look of our home and made our living room feel much more cozy. I have already recommended you to some friends and cant thank you enough for making sure my wife was happy.
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Idaho Falls, ID
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Mark from Classic Flooring went the extra mile for me. I needed to replace a bedroom carpet with laminate flooring before my tenant moved in. Another contractor had bailed on me at the last minute and I was scrambling to find a flooring contractor to complete the job on very short notice. Mark came to my rescue, all the way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I am eternally grateful to Mark for coming through for me on such short notice. Thank you, Mark!
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