 Engineered
Wood Flooring:
This is an option that corrects nature. Although this is
still a hardwood flooring and has the same wear layer as
solid hardwood flooring it has been engineered to stabilize
the wood. There are layers of wood usually with a plywood
backer on each of your planks. Each ply runs perpendicular
to its adjacent ply, giving dimensional strength and reducing
cupping, swelling, twisting, or turning as a solid wood
can do in adverse weather conditions. This flooring can
be sanded, however, it is not recommended more than once
or twice. This floor does provide many options of installation
methods including floating and because of its great stability
it is highly suitable for moisture problem areas such as
concrete, bathrooms, and over radiant heat.
Most of the engineered flooring comes in wider planks and
prefinished. You can find some unfinished options but installation
of unfinished is recommended by a professional because of
its thin wear layer sanding can be tricky. Many options
are available to see in our showroom.
Laminate Flooring
Laminate is not real wood. It does not have the characteristics
that an engineered floor or a hardwood floor has. It's comprised
of a thin top layer of resin-infused paper, all on top of
a wood-chip composite. The reason we offer this product,
at Aitkin Hardwoods, is it is an amazing simulation of wood
and very cost effective. The resin layer is essentially
a photograph of wood. You can examine with a magnifying
glass and still be fooled. It is also great in moisture
issue places (ie bathrooms, radiant heat, concrete), it
is virtually scratch proof, some products even have commercial
grade warranties, and the installation is fool proof. The
disadvantages are it is not a real wood product, eventually
you will have a repeat pattern, it is slippery, and can
not be sanded. However, this is an option people are considering
to real wood. Available to see in our showroom.
Cork Flooring
Cork is becoming a more popular alternative option for
flooring. Cork, used in flooring manufacturing, is made
from the bark of Cork oak trees. Every 9-12 years the bark
is stripped from these trees and used. This does not harm
the tree, in fact, it will regrow its bark in about a decade
and can live up to 200 years old making this a very environmentally
conscious choice. Cork flooring has been used for centuries
but only recently has it been made more consumer friendly
for installation with click/lock tiles.
Cork has many benefits. Cork is naturally provides thermal
insulation which helps cut heating costs, it naturally absorbs
sound (ideal in large rooms, or by trains or loud streets).
Cork is also naturally hypoallergenic and antistatic great
for allergy sufferers. Cork is also good shock absorber
which is a great alternative for those that suffer from
aching bones. It also does not scuff or tear easily.
Cork is still a wood and need controlled temperatures to
do best. Direct sunlight is not great for it and areas of
high heavy traffic with sand and dirt. It can go over radiant
heat but because it has such a high R-value it can be a
loss of about 5-6% of your radiant heat coming through.
It is available in different colors, patterns, and installations
methods. Available to see in our showroom.
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