The Engineered Wood Buying Guide

What to Look For

Not all engineered wood is created equal. The key factors that determine quality and longevity are the wear layer thickness, the core construction, and the finish quality.

Wear Layer

The wear layer is the real wood on top. A 4mm wear layer (like all Sanders & Fink products) allows for sanding and refinishing. Cheaper products with 2mm or less wear layers cannot be refinished and have a much shorter useful life.

Core Construction

The core determines dimensional stability. Multi-ply birch plywood cores (like the 9-ply construction in Sanders & Fink boards) offer the best stability and are less prone to cupping or warping than cheaper HDF cores.

Questions to Ask Your Retailer

• What is the wear layer thickness?
• What is the core material?
• Is it compatible with underfloor heating?
• What is the warranty period?
• Can it be refinished?