ENGINEERED

WOOD
- P R E S E N T E D B Y I S H I TA
ENGINEERED WOOD
Engineered wood is also called composite wood, man-made
wood, or manufactured board
 These boards are generally made with wood which is
manipulated to have certain qualities or features. Also known
as composite wood, these products are often made from the
waste wood of sawmills.
 Engineered wood is often treated through chemical or a heat
process to produce a wood product which can meet certain
sizes that would be difficult to achieve from nature.
Popular examples of engineered woods include Plywood,
Oriented Strand Board, Medium Density Fiber Board, and
Composite Board. Wood veneers can also sometimes be
classified as engineered wood
 WHAT IS ENGINEERED WOOD
MADE OF?
 Top Layer

Made of real hardwood comes in Rustic/Natural/Select/Prime Grades

 Profiling

a strong, supportive layer which can be made of plywood, particle

board or MDF. All three materials work the same, preventing the top
layer from warping.
Profiling ‘Tongue Groove Or Click’
Bottom Layer

The last layer of engineered wood is the stabilizing back layer which
results in A beautiful floor which doesn’t buckle in areas of changing
moisture.
 Plywood
1
Plywood is manufactured by
gluing together a few plies, layers
of wood veneer, together at
different angles to create a single
sheet of wood
TYPES OF
2 Strand
Strand boards are made by gluing together flakes of
wood using a resin and bonding them together under
pressure and temperature.
There are different types of strand boards –
Oriented strand boards (OSB)
Parallel Strand Boards (PSL)

ENGINEERED
WOOD MDF is manufactured by gluing
sawdust, wood shavings, Laminated wood is usually made
chippings or even any organic by fusing layers of wood together
fiber together and pressing under and applying pressure to strengthen
high pressure to create fiber it.
boards. 

3 Medium Density Fiberboard 4 Laminated

(MDF)
 PLYWOOD
Plywood is manufactured by gluing together a few plies, layers of wood
veneer, together at different angles to create a single sheet of wood. The
plies are glued at right angles if the plywood is of low quality and at 45
degrees angle to each sheet to create high quality plywood that is
strong at all axes.
The plies are almost always used in odd numbers to give it strength not
to bend at right angles and prevent warping.
Plywood has many applications from aircraft, marine and automobiles
to residential indoor furnishing.
There are various types of plywood and each is has its own application
– softwood, hardwood, tropical, aircraft, marine and other decorative
types.
 STRAND
Strand boards are made by gluing together flakes of wood using a resin
and bonding them together under pressure and temperature.
There are different types of strand boards Oriented
strand boards (OSB) and Parallel
Strand Boards (PSL) PSL
Oriented strand boards (OSB) are made by glue and wood strands
oriented in specific angles which are then subjected to high pressures.
This type is mostly used in sheathing and constructing buildings that
need to bear a lot of load.
Parallel Strand Boards (PSL) are made using method similar to OSB but
with the strands aligned in parallel. This helps them bear a lot of load in
single direction and hence can be used as beams, columns and such. OSB
 Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
MDF is manufactured by gluing sawdust, wood shavings,
chippings or even any organic fiber together and pressing under
high pressure to create fiber boards.
There are different types of fiber boards depending on the
strength and density – particle board, fiberboard, laminated
board and veneer board.
These are cheaper than natural wood and plywood, though not
as durable and strong.
They are easy to deal with and are used almost everywhere from
commercial to residential buildings.
 LAMINATED
Laminated wood is usually made by fusing layers of wood together
and applying pressure to strengthen it.

Glued Laminated Timber is made by gluing several layers of

parallel timber together using adhesives that are resistant to
moisture which makes it perfect for beams and columns. It
can also be produced in curved shapes and hence offers more
flexibility or use.

Cross Laminated Timber on the other hand has layers of timber

glued across the other layer to improve strength.

Laminated Veneer Lumber(LVL) is made by gluing several thin

layers of wood veneer with the grain aligned along the length
making it strong in that direction and so right for beams, columns
and such.
 PROS OF ENGINEERING WOOD
•Cost:  it costs less per square meter as compared to its counterparts
•Easier to maintain: Since it conjoins to give a smooth finish, engineered floors are
easier to clean and maintain But in case that boards absorb water, they may swell or
catch mold which may, in turn, cause the floor to crumble and also result in stuffiness.
•Light resistant: The top coated layer of engineered hardwood flooring is resistant to
sunlight rays; thus the printed sheet does not wear degrade.
•Mold resistant: Unlike other flooring materials, engineered boards contain no
allergic components thus making them ideal for sensitive people.
•Flexible installation: Engineered floors can be installed over any floors without
limiting their effectiveness and bringing out the balance
•Environmentally friendly (arguably):  Engineered floors are designed from fiber
and other materials which saves trees from being cut down therefore
 CONS OF ENGINEERING WOOD
1.Harder to repair: Hardwood floors are harder to repair when damaged as they require one to
replace the whole block once damaged. This is unlike wood floors which can be refurbished upon
damage.

2.Difficult to repair poor installation: Unlike tiled floors and cement floors, engineered wood that
is poorly installed cannot be fixed without pulling out a significant part of the floor.

3.Installation skill needed: When installing, a gap is required between the floor and the walls to
cater for expansion. When the wood is poorly gapped, the chances of cracking and breakages is high
thus limiting the durability of the flooring.

4.Need an underlay: When installed without an underlay, engineered wood is bound to produce a

hollow noise depending on the type of subfloor

5.Not biodegradable: Although engineered floors are eco-friendly, they are not biodegradable, and as
such, they pollute the environment when they are disposed of. Even worse, the chemicals that
engineered flooring contain are harmful to the breathing system hence may result in breathing
disorders when inhaled.

6.Doesn’t help resale: Unlike natural wood floors, engineered floors do not increase the resale value
with a considerable margin since they cost way cheaper than the latter.