Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a solid and engineered floor?

A: Solid flooring is made solely of hardwood using four times more hardwood than engineered floors; therefore, making it more expensive. However, engineered wood flooring installation is more affordable. It is less stable as it has no substrate material and is not recommended for basements. Engineered, floating wood flooring is made of a wear layer of wood on top with an engineered, multilayer core below. Our exceptional four-ply core is different -- and better -- than other engineered flooring cores, most of which have only two or three plies. More plies add dimensional stability and strength to the floating hardwood flooring, so the higher the ply count, the better. The biggest advantage of engineered flooring is its dimensional stability and humidity resistance, which makes it an excellent choice for below-grade or basement installations.

Q: How thick is the wear layer?

A: The wear layer is 1/8" thick giving you enough thickness for refinishing the floor 1-2 times.

Q: What is the substrate (core) made out of?

A: The HDF (High density fiberboard) core is composed of wood by-products that are sourced from plantation grown poplars.

Q: How does the substrate hold up to spills? Kitchen, bathroom, animals?

A: The substrate will not be ruined or pull apart when you drop a cup of water or your pet has an accident on your floor. If you have an overflowing bath tub your prefinished wood floors may have structural issues as any wood floor would.

Q: Are Click-lock floors warranted in my basement?

A: Yes, but you must use a moisture barrier underlayment to keep out excess moisture.

Q: Is this the same as Pergo?

A: No. Pergo is basically a large sticker printed to give the illusion of hardwood and placed on top of a substrate. It can never be refinished. The installation of this however is similar to our floors but our products are true wood adhered to a HDF substrate.

Q: How does humidity affect click-lock flooring?

A: Generally, Click-lock engineered flooring is more humidity resistant than traditional hardwood flooring. But as with all wood floors, a normal range of 40% to 60% relative humidity should be maintained in the home. You should let the flooring acclimate on-site for a minimum of 72 hours before installation and follow our installation and maintenance guidelines. Note that our flooring has been installed in many different climates, from the sun of Arizona to the snow of Alaska, from the mountains of Colorado to the beaches of Florida. Our clients report that with proper acclimation, their floors have held up beautifully.

Q: I have pets. Will their claws harm the floor?

A: No flooring is completely pet-proof, and all wood flooring is susceptible to a certain amount of scratching. If you are highly concerned about your pets denting your floor we do offer an incredibly strong Bamboo click-lock floor.If you have pets that are going to cause a lot of friction on your flooring, consider using vinyl pet nail caps, which can be found at a local pet store. These nail caps will reduce the likelihood that jagged nails will cause scratches while your puppy plays on the new floor.