Is It OK to Install Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Your Toronto Kitchen?Are you contemplating a kitchen remodel and wondering if engineered hardwood flooring is a viable choice? This is a question many homeowners in Toronto grapple with. While hardwood floors undeniably add a touch of warmth and sophistication, is it advisable to install them in a kitchen? Let's explore this. The Allure of Engineered Hardwood Flooring
The Kitchen Environment: Challenges for Hardwood Flooring
A Case for Tile Flooring in the Kitchen![]() Given the potential challenges with hardwood flooring in the kitchen, you might wonder if there's a more resilient option. This is where tile flooring shines. Tile is extremely durable, water-resistant, and easy to clean, making it an excellent choice for kitchens. It can withstand spills, stains, high foot traffic, and even hot pans, without sustaining damage. While at Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring, we pride ourselves on our engineered hardwood flooring offerings in Toronto, we believe in providing our customers with the best advice for their specific needs. Given the potential for water damage and the higher maintenance needs, we typically recommend considering tile for kitchen flooring. Nonetheless, if your heart is set on the warmth and beauty of engineered hardwood, it can indeed be a suitable choice, given proper care and maintenance. In conclusion, while it's entirely possible to install engineered hardwood flooring in your kitchen, it's essential to be aware of the potential challenges. If you're ready to embrace the maintenance and care hardwood requires, it can certainly add a touch of elegance to your kitchen. But for practicality and durability, tile flooring might be the more sensible choice. FAQ1. What is engineered hardwood flooring?
Engineered hardwood flooring is a type of flooring that combines a real hardwood surface layer with multiple layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard underneath. This construction makes it more stable and less susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity compared to solid hardwood. 2. How does engineered hardwood flooring compare to solid hardwood flooring? While solid hardwood is made entirely of a single type of wood, engineered hardwood consists of a thin layer of real wood on top and several layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard beneath. This makes engineered hardwood more stable and less prone to warping or shrinking due to changes in temperature or humidity. However, solid hardwood can typically be sanded and refinished more times than engineered hardwood. 3. What are the pros and cons of installing engineered hardwood flooring in a kitchen? The pros of installing engineered hardwood flooring in a kitchen include its attractive appearance, comfort underfoot, and durability. However, it can be susceptible to water damage if not properly sealed and maintained. It also has limitations when it comes to refinishing. 4. How do I maintain engineered hardwood flooring in a kitchen? To maintain engineered hardwood flooring in a kitchen, it's important to clean up spills immediately to prevent water damage. Regular sweeping or vacuuming can help remove dirt and debris that could scratch the floor. It's also recommended to use a damp mop and a cleaning product designed for engineered hardwood floors for regular cleaning. 5. Can engineered hardwood flooring be refinished? Yes, engineered hardwood flooring can be refinished, but the number of times it can be refinished depends on the thickness of the top layer of wood. It's important to consult with a flooring professional to determine if your engineered hardwood floor can be refinished.
0 Comments
Engineered vs Solid Hardwood in Toronto: Is Engineered Flooring Just as Good?![]() As a proud Toronto-based company specializing in all things related to hardwood flooring, we frequently encounter a question that many homeowners and property developers ask: "Is engineered hardwood just as good as solid hardwood?" This is an important question, especially for those of us in the Greater Toronto Area, where climate conditions can greatly impact the longevity and aesthetics of our floors. Understanding Hardwood Flooring: Solid vs. Engineered Before we delve into our main question, it's crucial to understand what we mean by "solid hardwood flooring" and "engineered hardwood flooring". Solid hardwood flooring is exactly what it sounds like: a flooring material made from a solid piece of hardwood. It's renowned for its timeless beauty, durability, and the value it can add to a property. Engineered hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is a layered product. The top layer is real hardwood, but it's bonded to several underlying layers of plywood or high-density fibreboard. This structure provides engineered hardwood with some unique benefits, which we'll discuss in more detail. The Merits of Engineered Hardwood FlooringEngineered hardwood flooring has grown increasingly popular in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, and for good reason. Here are some of the key advantages of engineered hardwood: 1. Stability: Engineered hardwood is less susceptible to warping and movement caused by changes in humidity and temperature. This makes it a great choice for areas where moisture levels can fluctuate, like basements or kitchens. 2. Versatility: Engineered hardwood can be installed over a variety of surfaces, including concrete and radiant heating systems, offering a flexibility that solid hardwood often can't match. 3. Variety: Because the top layer of engineered hardwood is real wood, it comes in as many species and styles as solid hardwood. You can find engineered versions of all your favourite hardwoods, from oak to maple to exotic varieties. Engineered vs Solid Hardwood: A Toronto Perspective![]() In the Toronto climate, where we experience both humid summers and dry winters, the stability of engineered hardwood can be a significant advantage. However, that's not to say that solid hardwood doesn't have its place. Solid hardwood flooring is often seen as the premium choice because of its potential for longevity. It can be sanded and refinished multiple times, which can keep it looking great for decades. Engineered hardwood can also be refinished, but the number of times depends on the thickness of the top layer. So, is engineered hardwood just as good as solid hardwood? The answer depends on your specific needs and circumstances. If you're looking for maximum longevity and have the right conditions to maintain it, solid hardwood is a fantastic choice. If you need something more versatile and stable, especially in areas with variable moisture or over concrete subfloors, engineered hardwood is likely the better option. In conclusion, both solid and engineered hardwood offer unique benefits and can be the "right" choice depending on your specific needs. As Toronto's hardwood flooring experts, we're here to help you make the best choice for your home or project. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with your hardwood flooring questions! Discover The Benefits of Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Toronto with Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd.![]() Looking for affordable and durable hardwood flooring in Toronto? Consider engineered hardwood floors from Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd. Engineered hardwood floors offer many benefits, making them the perfect choice for Toronto's unique climate and lifestyle. Here's a closer look at why engineered hardwood floors are the ideal choice in Toronto: 1. Durability Toronto's climate can be unpredictable at times, from hot and humid summers to cold and damp winters. Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to withstand these fluctuations without warping, cupping, or expanding, making them an excellent choice for Toronto homes and businesses. With the solid hardwood veneer on the top layer, you get the look and durability of solid hardwood at a fraction of the cost. 2. Cost-effective Engineered hardwood is a more affordable option than solid hardwood. It also requires less maintenance over time, making it a cost-effective and sustainable solution for most home and business owners in Toronto. With Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd, you can get high-quality engineered hardwood flooring at affordable prices, without compromising on style or durability. 3. Variety of Styles and Finishes With engineered hardwood flooring, you can choose from a wide range of styles, colors, and finishes to suit your taste and preferences. At Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd, we have a vast selection of engineered hardwood flooring options to choose from, so you can find the perfect fit for your Toronto home or business. 4. Easy to Install Installation of engineered hardwood flooring is quick and easy, minimizing disruption to your home or business. With a simple click lock installation system, you can have your new floor installed in no time. Plus, with Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd, our skilled professionals will take care of everything, from design and preparation to installation and cleanup. Conclusion Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd is your go-to source for high-quality, affordable, and durable engineered hardwood flooring in Toronto. Our experts are here to help you find the perfect flooring options for your home or business. Contact us today to get started with your flooring project! ![]() 4. Easy to Install Installation of engineered hardwood flooring is quick and easy, minimizing disruption to your home or business. With a simple click lock installation system, you can have your new floor installed in no time. Plus, with Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd, our skilled professionals will take care of everything, from design and preparation to installation and cleanup. Conclusion Parqueteam Hardwood Flooring Ltd is your go-to source for high-quality, affordable, and durable engineered hardwood flooring in Toronto. Our experts are here to help you find the perfect flooring options for your home or business. Contact us today to get started with your flooring project! ![]() Indeed we cannot be expert in all aspects of life, especially when it comes to home improvement and flooring. However, consumers have plenty of ways to gain knowledge, and prepare themselves for upcoming home projects, after all, home improvement projects require some preparation, specially when it comes to hardwood floors. Before installing your new hardwood floors there are few things to keep in mind that will needed to be done before even starting to put the first nail in the first board.
That is it; we are ready now to install brand new hardwood flooring! Good luck! ![]() One of the most common problems we encounter with hardwood floors in Toronto is damages and scratches. There are many causes that can damage your hardwood floors over time. Certain areas of the home are high traffic areas; these ones usually get the biggest damages (such as entry and kitchen). Also, shiny take in mind shiny floors show more damages and scratches that exists on your floor (opposed to satin finish or wire brushed finish). If your hardwood floor is scratched and damaged, maybe its time for a good sanding and refinishing. One of the main benefits of having a hardwood floor is that it’s always possible to refinish the floor instead of replacing it when damages happen, or once its warn off. This process helps avoiding the costly process of removing existing floor and replacing it with a new one (unless you have 100 years old floors, then there is no point on refinishing). The best part of this process? You can choose almost any color you want for your new stain. So not only you getting new looking floor, but also you can also change the color, as well as the finish (from shiny to less shiny for example) Overall, refinishing hardwood floors is beneficial for both, people who damaged their floors over time, and people who tired of the color of the existing floor they have. The good news, we saved you time and money to turn around things! ![]() Choosing an appropriate flooring type for a commercial venue might be an exhausting and time consuming process. There are many factors to consider when installing hardwood or laminate flooring at a commercial venue, such as weather the space has high traffic or low, or weather is basement level or ground floor. Also types of subfloors are important as well. Three main types of flooring a commercial space owner can consider is: Solid hardwood flooring, engineered flooring and laminated There are also wide variety of wood types, texture, color and types of grain associated with wood species, and different pattern with laminated floors. Perhaps the best choice for business facility owners would be an engineered hardwood flooring, one that has a hand scraped finish or wire brushed finish, if the space has high traffic.. Engineered flooring, as a product is also known for great stability due to its structure. Engineered flooring will last for decades without fading from high traffic and/or direct sunlight. The second best option is laminate flooring due to its high resistance to any damages such as scratches and stains; it is also significantly cheaper than hardwood or engineered, which might be a good short-run investment. Laminate flooring maybe not real hardwood floor, but it has a similar look and sometimes texture as well. Now that you equipped with some information, do not hesitate and call your local hardwood flooring installation company. ![]() Condos are growing phenomenon in Toronto. As sales and new condo builds keep rising (just look at the amount of cranes we have), so does the demand for hardwood flooring in these condos. Along the years different types of engineered hardwood flooring in Toronto were introduced, and so did different methods of hardwood (engineered) flooring installation came along, that suit condo conditions and rules. Below are main systems used by professional hardwood flooring installers: *Glue tongue and groove system: Simple installation, as the installer puts glue in the groove and puts together the hardwood flooring planks (tongue to groove). Along the process, every few lines, the installer should tape (using tape that friendly for varnish and stain) the planks together so they stay tight until the glue completely dries (usually 24 hours to be sure) *Click-lock flooring installation system: In this case, two planks are simply clicked together like a puzzle, similar to laminate flooring installation. The installation is faster and simpler, and therefore cost for this type of installation is usually lower than the rest. *Glue-down method: widely used within the flooring installation industry, especially for parquet type of wood flooring. Today you can glue any type of engineered hardwood flooring using the glue down method (or double). This method usually being used over concrete subfloor, but also can be used in a house where sub floor is wooden. This method will be more costly than the rest of the above installation methods, but also the best in terms of durability and quality. There are many factors that could aspect the system or method being used for flooring installation. Additional research and knowledge about different installation systems will enable you to make an informative choice. You may visit our page for more details on flooring installation methods, or browse around our blogs as information constantly posted. ![]() Recently, a lot of our clients have been asking us about environmentally friendly hardwood floors, and how to make a purchase of hardwood flooring with the least damage caused to the environment. We say it is a great question. And our answer is simple: Use engineered hardwood floors. One of the main concerns people have had with engineered hardwood floors is the claim that they are not real. Let’s get this claim straight: It is simply not true. The top layer of the engineered hardwood floors is made of real wood, (in some cases bottom too, for more expensive types), and the bottom (or middle) made of different layers of plywood. This particular structure eliminates the full solid wood structure, which tends to waste more wood. Also, that same-engineered hardwood floors has enough thick wood thread on top to be able to refinish it in the future. So, next time you go to shop for hardwood floors, and worries about the environment, then do not hesitate to go for the engineered hardwood floors. It is durable, in some cases cheaper, looks exactly the same like solid hardwood, but better for the environment. ![]() After getting their new hardwood floors installed, one of the first questions that the homeowners usually will ask is how to properly maintain their hardwood floors. We admit, it’s not an easy task. Here are few tips how to properly maintain your floors so they will last decades: * Any substance spilled on the hardwood floors needs to be wiped immediately in order to prevent future buckling and dryness to the spot where the spill occurred. Remember, water and hardwood floors do not work together well! * The floors need to be moped or vacuumed at least ones a week or more frequent. Soft vacuum head (or soft brash attached to a vacuum head) is preferable. As for mopping, a special mop can be found in various hardware or hardwood flooring stores in Toronto. AVOID USING WATER! There are many cleaning solutions for hardwood floors! * Furniture legs should be protected with the soft pads in order to prevent any scratches or severe damage due to the furniture weight or shifting. * It is a good idea to use rugs in a high traffic area, around the kitchen sink or near the front door of your residence. * If you decided to move your furniture, make sure you are not dragging it again the floor. The top layer could be scratch. (Lift the furniture or place soft material under the furniture in order to prevent any floor damage) By following these simple steps, your hardwood floor should look brand new all the time and last for the decades it should last! Enjoy! ![]() It is not a secret that the cost of new hardwood flooring, specially a good quality one, could cost the consumer not a bit, and the bigger the house, the bigger is the cost. But rather than viewing it as a cost, before coming to a decision, the consumer needs to look at the benefits and the investment aspects in installing hardwood flooring. Yes, hardwood flooring installation is an actual investment, not a cost. When you replace your old floors (specially if its an old carpet), your house not only will look beautiful, but as well its price in the market will go up. Hardwood flooring became over the years the more popular choice among homeowners and business owners in Toronto. Whether it is a condo apartment or a house, hardwood floors will bring you a beautiful look, warmth, and durability, that other flooring types will not. When installed properly, with the right quality of materials, hardwood floors will last for many years, and best part – one time investment. So weather you a business owner or home owner, that is tired of the old flooring, and want to refresh the look of your place, hardwood flooring is the best option for you. |
Parqueteam Hardwood FlooringHardwood Flooring Toronto and The Greater Toronto Area. Archives
June 2023
Categories
All
|