Engineered Floors vs. Solid Wood

[Dan White]

Newbie question I guess, but what is NOFMA?

Also, I am going to be putting in a wood floor soon in my store and have just started researching what to do. Are the engineered floors that much worse or any worse than solid wood? I've been told that they sound about the same when you walk on them, but you can't sand the engineered floor much.

I have a terrazo floor now that I want to cover in wood and was told that if I have solid wood that I will need to anchor plywood down to the terrazo (ie, concrete) first and will end up with a 1.5" change in floor height. I was also told that the engineered floor can be glued directly down to the terrazo without a problem. I want to take the cheaper and easier route if at all possible. Of course I don't want a crappy job that will come apart on me in 2 years, but I am not a purist that requires the best of the best either. I just have a business to run and need a decent wood floor. Am I asking for trouble in going with the engineered floor glued or maybe even floated directly on the terrazo? (There are no grout lines on the terrazo...it is basically smooth concrete throughout). BTW, I don't care for Pergo type floors because they look and sound too fake. I'm assuming that the engineered floor is pretty much indistinguishable from solid.

Thanks, dwhite

[Ba r r y]

Barry

[Dan White]

Thanks, but another dumb question. All over this site I keep seeing NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturer's Association. What the heck is the NO? Natural Oak? It is a little odd that they never properly identify the name of the organization. Maybe I am missing something?

dwhite

[Edwin Pawlowski]

A good engineered wood floor should last 15 or 20 years beofre sanding the first time.

Maybe, maybe not. on grade or below, it is suggested by most manufactureres to use a barrier and then float the floor. I did that inmy family room and downstairs hallway. The floor has been in about15 months now and we realy like it.

No. You can dowload the instruction for my floor at

Many brand around, but this suited us.

(There are no grout lines on the

To me, it has little or no sound. Feels like walking on a real wood floor. Actually, it is real wood. Random lengths in some boxes to keep the seams mixed, color variations like real wood. I'd do it again. Ed [e-mail]

[Tim Douglass]

National Organization of Flooring MAnufacturers?

Tim Douglass

[Dan White]

I guess. Sounds as good as anything else!

dwhite