A question we commonly get in our showroom is whether engineered wood floors can be refinished. This question is often asked by customers that are leaning more toward selecting a solid hardwood floor, and are not quite familiar with the benefits and advantages of engineered hardwood.

What Are Engineered Hardwood Floors?

Engineered hardwood is a durable and beautiful material that can be found in many homes. One of its most defining features, which makes it stand out from other woods, is the multiple layers running opposite directions within each board plank, giving them strength while preventing warping or cupping during use and allowing much wider pieces.

There are many types of real wood that can be used to make engineered hardwood. Some popular choices include oak, ash, and cherry – each giving the surface their own unique look with varying degrees in texture or finish depending on what you prefer!

Engineered hardwoods are a great alternative to solid wood floors because they tend not only be less expensive but also easier to install. Also, engineered woods are great if you live in an area with high humidity or moisture levels, as they’re less likely to warp.

The top layer of flooring is both beautiful and functional. It’s made with a thin natural wood veneer that can come in many different species, giving your home the authentic look of solid wood.

Can You Refinish Engineered Hardwood Floors?

If you have an engineered hardwood installed that is damaged due to traffic, dented and scratched, before sanding it down, there are a few things to consider.

First, look at your hardwood floors to see how widespread the issues are. If it’s isolated to a few boards, replacing the individual boards will likely be more cost-effective instead of sanding down and refinishing all the floors. This is where a couple of additional boxes stored in a dry place would be extremely handy. If the floor is already falling apart, cupping, or water damaged, attempting to refinish is not recommended; you may have to look into replacing the floors.

The thicker the top layer, the better. This makes it more likely it can be sanded down and refinished. The thickness of these layers varies depending on what type you have – 3 mm to 7 mm is typical.

How Much Does A Refinish Take Off Hardwood Floors?

On average a refinish takes .75 to 1 mm of your current floorboard’s density. That means that if your floor has only a 2mm veneer with a wirebrush and/or is handscraped, sanding down and refinishing is likely not an option since sanding down through the wear layer will total your floor. If your engineered floor however has a veneer that is 3 mm or more, refinishing at least once is very much possible.

Another point to consider is the internal core of the floor. Although most engineered hardwoods will consist of a multi-ply core, newer hardwoods sold under the tag of ‘engineered’ are made instead from High Density Fiberboard (HDF) providing a harder backing to the veneer but much more sensible to moisture, and a much shorter lifespan than a multi-ply core. These floors (we don’t like to call this ‘hardwood’) will almost always be less expensive, and also have no more than a 1.5 mm veneer. This is not a product you would want to attempt to refinish.

How Many Times Can You Refinish Engineered Hardwood Floors?

Many customers are surprised to learn that engineered hardwood can indeed be refinished once, and sometimes more. The type of floor you have will determine how many times it can be refinished. Most engineered hardwood veneers are between 3 mm to 7 mm. The general rule is you want to sand down your floors within no more than an inch of its thickness. If your thickness is 3 mm then can expect to sand it down 2 mm. So if you’re sanding it down 1 mm each time you can sand it down twice.