Hardwood • Engineered Format
Engineered Hardwood, Explained
Engineered hardwood is real wood flooring built in layers — usually a hardwood veneer on top of a multi-layer core. This page explains what “engineered” means and the specs you’ll commonly see on technical data sheets — reference-only, no product or install advice.
What Is Engineered Hardwood?
Engineered hardwood is real wood flooring built in multiple layers. Most commonly, it uses a hardwood veneer (real wood surface) bonded to a multi-layer core designed to improve stability as a system.
On spec sheets, engineered hardwood is often described by veneer thickness, total thickness, core construction, plus the usual hardwood identifiers like species, width, and finish.
Related Pages
How Engineered Hardwood Differs From Solid
Engineered hardwood has a real wood surface (veneer) over a layered core. Solid hardwood is one piece of wood through its full thickness.
Because engineered products have a core system, spec sheets often include core-related details (like ply construction or core type), and they may call out veneer thickness more explicitly than many solid hardwood sheets.
Common Engineered Hardwood Terms You’ll See
- Veneer Thickness (real wood surface thickness)
- Core Construction (multi-ply / cross-ply / HDF-style terms)
- Total Thickness (overall build height)
- Prefinished / Site-Finished (finish applied at factory vs on site)
- Species (the veneer species)
- Janka (a hardness reference point; not always listed)
Engineered Hardwood Specs Glossary
One-sentence explanations of common spec-sheet items, with links to deeper spec pages.
| Spec | What It Means (1 Sentence) | Where It Appears | Deep Dive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veneer Thickness | The thickness of the real wood surface layer on top of the engineered core. | Construction | Veneer Thickness Explained |
| Total Thickness | The overall thickness of the board including veneer, core layers, and backing (if present). | Format / Construction | Total Thickness Explained |
| Species | The wood species used for the veneer, influencing appearance and physical properties. | Appearance | Species Explained |
| Wood Finishes | The surface coating system applied to the wood, affecting sheen, feel, and resistance characteristics. | Surface / Appearance | Wood Finishes Explained |
| Janka | A hardness reference test value often used to compare how wood species resist denting under a defined test. | Performance Reference | Janka Explained |
FAQ
What Is Engineered Hardwood? ⌄
Engineered hardwood is real wood flooring built in layers, usually with a hardwood veneer on top of a multi-layer core designed to add stability.
How Is Engineered Hardwood Different From Solid Hardwood? ⌄
Engineered hardwood is layered with a veneer and core, while solid hardwood is one piece of wood through its full thickness.
What Specs Matter Most For Engineered Hardwood? ⌄
Common specs include veneer thickness, total thickness, core construction type, species, width, and finish type. Some spec sheets also reference hardness using Janka.
Does Veneer Thickness Tell You Everything About Performance? ⌄
No. Veneer thickness is one spec, but performance also depends on core design, material quality, manufacturing tolerances, finish system, and how the floor is specified and installed as a system.
Reference-Only Note
This page provides general informational reference about engineered hardwood terminology and specifications. It does not provide installation instructions, professional advice, or product recommendations.