Hardwood is a very general term used to describe wood from certain trees. These trees are categorized as angiosperms and
are usually broad-leaved. An angiosperm is a plant which protects its ovules in an ovary. The ovules change into seeds when
fertilized. All hardwood trees can be distinguished by an arrangement of fine veins in their leaves.
Hardwood is in general more dense and hard than softwood. But in both types of wood there is a wide variation. The term is
also misleading, as in certain cases wood from a hardwood tree is softer than most softwood. A perfect illustration is balsa
which is a soft hardwood.
Hardwoods have a unique identification feature which distinguishes them from softwoods – the incidence of visible
pores or vessels. These pores vary widely in size, shape and structure of the cell wall. Hardwoods outnumber softwoods by
over a hundred times.
Typical well known hardwoods found in North America are Ash, Beech, Birch, Black Walnut, Elm, Hickory, Maple, Oak,
Poplar, Sycamore and Willow. The list is by no means exhaustive.
Because of their properties, especially density, hardwoods lend themselves to a vast number of applications including
flooring, furniture, construction, cooking utensils and musical instruments. Hardwoods are widely used in for flooring, but
true solid hardwood floors have limitations because of expansion and contraction between climatic extremes and with humidity
variations.
For centuries hardwood flooring has been a very traditional choice for flooring as they are durable and have a rich and
beautiful appearance. But because of the drawbacks in using solid hardwood floor options, a compromise has been reached with
the use of engineered hardwood flooring.
Engineered hardwood floors are comprised of layers of hardwood veneer bonded together under pressure. The veneers are so
stacked that the grains between adjacent layers are perpendicular to each other. Cross–grain of layers in construction
prevents distortion, expansion and contraction.
The end product of engineered hardwood floors is made into boards of standard thicknesses in a range from 3/8" to 9/16."
The hardwood floor boards are then cut to size and a tongue or groove formed on the edge. The tongue and groove interlocks
for easier installation and to prevent gaps. The final stage is to add a stain, if required, and a finish.
Overall, the process of engineered hardwood, when used for flooring, results in a more dimensionally stable product than
solid hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring has a better response to variations in temperature and humidity. Unlike
solid hardwood, engineered hardwood does not shrink as much with time, nor does it crack or create gaps. It is also
significantly more durable than laminate flooring and in most cases more attractive.
