Engineered inspection
Engineered hardwood problems and inspection
Engineered hardwood has a real wood top layer bonded to a plywood or composite core. It is more stable than solid wood, but it can still cup, gap or delaminate, and glue-down installations can come loose.
Common engineered problems
Why is my engineered hardwood delaminating?
Delamination is when the wood wear layer separates from the core. It can be caused by moisture, extreme dryness, or a bonding problem from manufacturing. Telling these apart requires on-site testing.
Why does my glued-down engineered floor sound hollow?
Hollow spots in a glued floor usually mean the adhesive didn't fully bond to the boards or the subfloor. The usual causes are poor adhesive coverage, an uneven subfloor, or moisture affecting the adhesive.
Why is my engineered hardwood cupping?
Engineered floors resist moisture better than solid wood, but they still cup when the bottom of the board takes on moisture, usually from the slab or subfloor.
Need a engineered floor inspected?
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll explain the next step. We cover every county in Southern California and only inspect. We don't sell or install flooring.