Swatch View Grid View In stylish homes today, these are trends that won’t fade away. EPIC® Plus features Stabilitek, the latest technology from the Shaw Hardwood Innovation Lab. EPIC® Plus's extremely tough, strong inner core is the reason for the strength. Learn Epic® Plus Advantage Consider installation options and learn more about what to expect. Shaw offers engineered, EPIC Plus engineered and solid hardwood flooring. Hardwood Installation Facts and Instructions Shaw's R2X Hardwood Flooring Cleaner Shaw's R2X Hardsurfaces cleaner removes dirt, grease and scuffs and won't streak or leave a sticky residue. Shaw recommends Shaw R2X® Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner applied with a terry cloth mop. Purchase R2X for Hardwood Hardwood Flooring Care and Maintenance Shaw’s ScufResist™ hardwood floor finish provides superior resistance to everyday wear and easy, no-wax maintenance. To keep your floor looking like new, follow these simple care steps.

Get the Basics About Hardwood Floor Care Subscribe to Our Newsletter Stay up-to-date on the latest design trends, new products and special deals on the best flooring around. we won't fill your inbox (and we'll never send you spam). I accept Shaw's Terms and Conditions I accept Shaw's Privacy Policy You're now signed up to receive updates from Shaw. And whether you're looking to gather information, select a new style or care for the floors in your home, we look forward to helping you along the way.best vacuum cleaner cordless 2014 In the meantime, stay organized by creating a My Shaw account, where you can compare your flooring options, save your favorites and keep track of your orders all in one place.best way to clean dull hardwood floors

> > Engineered Flooring: Easier Hardwood? Engineered Flooring: Easier Hardwood? None can deny the appeal of a hardwood floor. It has a long tradition of luxury, and a timeless beauty. It is also expensive and difficult to install. Those looking for that classic look and feel might do well to consider engineered hardwood flooring. When determining whether or not to invest in engineered wood flooring, here are the essentials to keep in mind. Unlike conventional hardwood, which comes straight out of a tree and into your home, engineered hardwood is a more complex product that consists of several layers. clean a laptop fan with compressed airThe outermost is a hardwood veneer, a thin slice of wood (less than 1/8″) of whatever species you desire. leather cleaner detailing world

The inner layers are made of plywood, high density fiberboard, or hardwood. The core layers make the product more stable than regular hardwood, while the outer veneer surface adds beauty and authenticity. Engineered hardwood is different than a hardwood laminate because the surface is made of real wood. While laminate has a core of high density fiberboard, its surface is basically a picture of wood (or any other material, for that matter). Laminate is less expensive than engineered and solid hardwood, but has a different look and feel due to its make up.clean air duct treatment reviews Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to reduce the moisture problems associated with conventional hardwood.best mop for wooden floors australia Its layers block moisture and provide added stability to your floor.

Engineered flooring will not swell or warp, making it very low maintenance. Environmental Advantages of Engineered Hardwood Choosing engineered flooring is considered more environmentally-friendly than traditional hardwood for a few reasons. Veneer is sliced rather than cut with a saw. This process produces no sawdust, which means that all of the tree’s wood can be used. The sawdust produced making hardwood boards is wasted wood (and adds up to a significant amount). Hardwood trees grow much more slowly than the trees used to make engineered flooring cores. Because more surface area is produced making veneer, installing traditional hardwood uses many times the amount of slow growing tree. This makes the replenishing time much longer. Engineered Hardwood Flooring Cons There are, in actuality, very few principle drawbacks to this type of hardwood flooring, but this doesn’t make it a foolproof project or even the right floor for every application. Comparable to solid hardwood in terms of cost, engineered floors are still considerably more expensive than laminate, tile, and carpet.

That said, by far, the biggest concern as a homeowner should be avoiding shoddy or inferior engineered manufacturers and products. Veneers that are too thin will prevent sanding and refinishing opportunities that may double the lifetime of the floor. Some veneers are so thin and poorly made that they can prematurely warp or fade. Core layers must still be fashioned from high-quality wood. Some manufacturers try to cut corners by using fiberboard or oriented strand board that may compromise the stability of your floor and, at the very least, will result in an inferior flooring product. Is The Floor Worth It? Engineered flooring is definitively easier to install, in fact, some handy homeowners are even enticed into installing their own engineered floors. It’s still a major project with big financial implications,  so don’t over-reach on your home improvement skills. Even for the majority of homeowners who hire a flooring contractor for the job, you’ll save a hefty sum on installation, which is important given that most engineered flooring is more expensive than solid wood.