Distressed Look Adds Price Tag To Engineer Hardwood Flooring
Engineer hardwood flooring with a distressed look is becoming an increasingly popular design choice for homes. The worn, weathered appearance adds vintage charm and unique character to any space. Unlike regular hardwood, distressed engineer flooring goes through an intentional process to create cracks, scrapes, and an imperfect surface texture. This gives the wood a reclaimed, timeworn aesthetic while retaining the durability and stability of new flooring.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about specifying, installing, and caring for distressed engineer hardwood floors. Read on for expert tips from flooring specialists to help you achieve the perfect imperfection.
Benefits of Choosing Distressed Look Flooring
Distressed engineer hardwood offers many benefits beyond its stylish appearance:
Adds Value
The rich, upscale look of distressed flooring adds monetary value to any home. The labor-intensive production process also drives up the price. Homes with distressed engineer floors can sell for 5-10% more compared to regular hardwood or carpet.
Hides Imperfections
The intentional cracks, scrapes, and color variations in distressed wood naturally camouflage minor scuffs and scratches from everyday wear. So it retains its beauty despite heavy foot traffic.
Easier Maintenance
The textured surface and worn finish requires less routine care. You don’t have to meticulously polish away every little nick and mark to keep it looking pristine. A quick sweep and occasional damp mop is all you need for cleaning.
Long-lasting Durability
While it looks aged, distressed engineer hardwood is very durable and made to last decades. The planks have a multi-layer stability core for superior structural integrity and performance compared to solid wood. So it better resists moisture damage and warping.
How Distressed Engineered Hardwood Flooring Is Made
Creating an authentically worn floor is a complex multi-step process. It involves carefully crafting imperfections by hand and accelerating natural weathering:
1. Milling The Wood
It starts with high-quality oak, maple, hickory or exotic wood milled into planks. The wood is kiln-dried to precise moisture content for stability.
2. Intentionally Distressing
Specialty artisans manually add various dents, gaps, worm holes, knots, and discoloration. This gives each board a one-of-a-kind distressed finish. Methods involve:
- Physically hammering and chiseling the surface
- Charring sections of the wood with fire
- Exposing it to different stains, paints, and glazes
3. Accelerating Aging
The distressed planks then go through UV light chambers, oxygen chambers, or special oxidizing machines. This rapidly simulates years of natural sun exposure and oxidation to mature the wood.
4. Stabilizing For Durability
To prevent further cracking/splitting while retaining the vintage look, the planks are infused with protective oils and resins. A final urethane coat adds water-resistance.
5. Quality Control Check
Before packaging, each batch goes through a strict quality check. Flooring specialists examine every plank and hand select the most attractive pieces. This ensures your floor has the perfect amount of variation without an over-distressed appearance.
Best Types of Distressed Engineered Wood Floors
There are many wood species and distressing levels to choose from. Consider these top options:
1. Light Distress
This features smaller indentations and wear focused on the edges and surface texture. It retains most of the wood’s original color for a subtler vintage vibe. Ideal for people who want a cleaner, modern look with just a touch of imperfection.
Best wood species: Red oak, hard maple
2. Medium Distress
The planks display a balanced mix of dents, scrapes, grain cracks and color variation. This creates an harmoniously imperfect floor with visual interest. The ideal choice for most distressed floor applications.
Best wood species: Hickory, acacia
3. Heavy Distress
Extensive indentations, staining, splintering and repairs give this option a very worn, antiqued appearance. Ideal for industrial, farmhouse or salvaged looks. Since the heavy damage reveals more of the engineered stability core, these planks are the most scratch and moisture-resistant.
Best wood species: Reclaimed barn wood
Expert Tips For Installing Distressed Floors
Proper installation is crucial for ensuring the longevity and safety of any engineered floor. Follow these best practices from our specialists:
Choose A Certified Professional
Hire an NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) certified flooring contractor. They have demonstrated wood floor expertise through training and testing. This gives you assurance that all safety procedures and manufacturer’s recommendations will be strictly followed.
Test Subfloor Moisture
Excess moisture under the flooring can cause cupping, swelling, and gapping. Before installation, the subfloor moisture levels should be under 4% for plywood/OSB and under 2.5% for concrete. Professional installers will use a moisture meter to test this.
Acclimate The Flooring Properly
Distressed wood needs at least 72 hours to acclimate to a controlled environment before installation. This allows the planks to adjust to the temperature (60°F-80°F) and humidity (30%-50% RH) conditions they will remain in. Avoid large fluctuations to prevent expansion/contraction issues.
Floating Vs Glue-Down Method
Engineered wood can be floated over a foam underlayment or directly glued down to the subfloor. Floating allows slight plank movement and is easier for DIY. Glue-down creates a tighter bond and may be required for radiant heating or concrete subfloor. Consult the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Leave Proper Expansion Gaps
When nailing or gluing the planks together, leave at least 1/2 inch expansion space around the entire perimeter. This gives the natural wood room to expand and contract with humidity changes without buckling or gaps. Use spacers during installation then remove later.
Check Batch Numbers & Mix Planks
Each distressed floor batch has slightly different staining and damage. Before starting, check that all unopened boxes have the same batch number and mix planks from several boxes. This ensures color uniformity and an even distribution of distressed characteristics.
Caring For Distressed Engineered Hardwood Floors
The worn nature of distressed flooring makes it quite low maintenance. But regular cleaning and avoiding excess moisture is still important. Follow this care guidance from our wood floor specialists:
Daily Dry Mopping
Use a microfiber dust mop daily to remove surface dust and grit that can scratch. Static mops with swivel heads made specially for hardwood are ideal.
Weekly Damp Mopping
Wipe up spills immediately to avoid staining or water damage. Then once a week, lightly damp mop the floor. Use either distilled water or cleaner made specifically for prefinished hardwood. Avoid excessive water.
Place Mats At Entryways
Use non-staining backed mats inside and outside entry doors to absorb dirt and moisture so it isn’t tracked onto the floor.
Maintain Ideal Indoor Humidity
Keep indoor air humidity between 30-50% year-round. Use dehumidifiers or humidifiers as needed. This prevents excessive expansion/contraction that can damage planks.
Reapply Protective Finish If Needed
The factory finish protects against minor scuffs. But if large areas get worn over time, consider spot repairs or applying a fresh coat of water-based urethane. Always test on a small hidden area first.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Never clean distressed floors with vinegar, bleach or ammonia-based products as they can damage the finish. Use only specially formulated wood floor cleaners.
FAQs About Distressed Engineered Hardwood Floors
Still have some questions? Check out answers to these frequently asked questions from our flooring experts:
Does distressed flooring splinter or snag socks?
No. While the surface appears extensively worn, splinters are sealed down during manufacturing. The planks are also coated with protective finishes that create a smooth surface.
Can you refinish distressed hardwood?
Yes, a professional can sand away the factory distressed finish and stain to restore a smooth, pristine appearance. But you lose the aged character. We recommend just spot repairs.
Do distressed floors add value?
Yes. On average, homes with distressed engineer wood floors sell for 5-10% more compared to homes with basic oak or carpet. The unique appearance and higher material costs make it more valuable.
What subflooring works best?
Engineered hardwood is suitable for concrete, plywood, OSB, particleboard, tile, and existing wood subfloors. The subfloor must be flat, structurally sound, and free of moisture issues. New concrete should cure for at least 60 days.
Can it be installed over radiant heating?
Yes, engineered hardwood is a good choice for radiant heat subfloors. Ensure the system is designed specifically for hardwood and the floor is approved. Follow adhesive manufacturer’s temperature guidelines.
I hope this comprehensive guide on distressed engineer hardwood flooring assisted with your project! Let me know if you have any other questions.
