Engineered wood flooring in Dubai

An engineered board has two parts. On top is a layer of real hardwood, the part you see and walk on. Below it is a core of several layers, usually plywood or a similar wood-based board, glued with the grain of each layer running across the one beneath. That cross-laid core resists the swelling and shrinking that solid timber goes through when humidity changes. Once laid, an engineered floor looks the same as a solid wood floor of the same species and finish. The difference is how it behaves over time, and that is why it is popular in a climate where a closed-up villa in August is very different from an air-conditioned one in January. For the full choice of solid and engineered wooden flooring in Dubai, including hardwood species, see our wooden flooring page.

Engineered boards can be fitted in several ways. The right one depends on the product and the base.

• FloatingBoards click or glue together and rest on an underlay without being fixed to the base. Common over existing tiles.
• Full glue-downBonded to the screed. Feels solid underfoot, sounds less hollow and suits patterns.
• Dry, flat baseMoisture readings on the screed and checks for flatness come first, with a moisture barrier where needed.
• AcclimatisationBoards settle in the room before laying.
• Expansion gapsLeft at walls and fixed objects and hidden by skirting.

Treat engineered wood as you would any real wood. Keep sand off it with mats at doors and regular vacuuming, use a barely damp mop rather than a wet one, wipe spills quickly and put felt pads under furniture. Blinds or curtains on south- and west-facing windows slow down the colour change that strong sun causes in most timber. Whether the floor can be sanded and refinished later depends on the thickness of its wood layer, which we explain when you choose a product. A new floor is often laid as part of a villa or apartment renovation, where it is planned together with the other finishes.

• Wood species, grade and finish
• Board size, or blocks for a pattern
• Floating or glue-down installation
• Base preparation and levelling
• Stairs, thresholds and skirting