Engineered hardwood floors are a modern marvel in the flooring industry. They combine all of the aesthetic beauty of a solid hardwood floor, but at a fraction of the price. Pair this with the strength and beauty that hickory flooring is known for and you have a recipe for a perfect DIY flooring project.
Let’s take a look at some of the best hickory engineered hardwood flooring on the market, and why we chose to go with these products.
Our Top 3 Hickory Engineered Hardwood Floors
Image | Product | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick ![]() | Our Top Pick | SimpleFLOORS Hickory
|
| View on Amazon |
Best Budget ![]() | Best Budget | Elk Mountain Hickory Antique
|
| View on Amazon |
Best High End ![]() | Best High End | Shaw Pebble Hill Hickory
|
| View on Amazon |
What Is Hickory Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Engineered hardwood floors are a more affordable option than installing traditional solid wood floors in your home. They provide the same great look as the real thing, but they are actually made up of different types of wood.
The top layer of the plank is the same as any hardwood flooring, except that it is only a thin layer of the real stuff. It looks just as beautiful when properly installed, but the inner layers consist of plywood, fiberboard, or other budget-friendly composites. These core materials are what make engineered flooring products so much more affordable, durable, and popular.
Engineered hickory hardwood flooring is simply a specific type of engineered flooring where the top layer is made of real hickory wood.
What Are The Different Types of Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
This style of flooring comes in a wide variety of options. You can choose from the type of wood used on the surface, the materials within the inner layers, the type of finish, as well as various installation methods.
For the most part, hickory engineered hardwood floors, come in three different options for installation. This includes tongue and groove, adhesive, and fastened/nailed varieties.
Installing this type of flooring with an adhesive involves gluing the planks directly to the subfloor. These are generally used when the subfloor is concrete, like in a basement.
If you have a plywood or OSB subfloor, then you will want to buy a product that can be nailed down. This type of engineered hardwood floor can’t be used on concrete subfloors, so make sure you know what you are working with before buying.
The tongue and groove version of this type of flooring isn’t attached to the subfloor at all. It is a floating type of flooring where the planks lock in with each other. These are great because they work on any type of subfloor and can be quickly and easily removed for repairs.
How Do Engineered Hardwood Floors Work?
Depending on the installation method you choose, the engineered hardwood floor will either be attached or floating on top of your subfloor. Underneath the wooden veneer will be plywood, high-density fiberboard, or a composite core.
Plywood is the most common core in this type of flooring. It is sturdy and feels almost identical to a solid wood floor once installed. HDF is a cheaper option than a plywood core. It is similar to particle board in that it is made up of compressed wood fibers that form a solid backbone for the veneer. Composite or multi-ply cores are usually a combination of hard and soft wood fibers.
What Do You Look For In The Best Hickory Engineered Hardwood Floors?
When in the market for a brand-new engineered floor that is made of hickory, you will want to check for most, if not all, of these features.
- Affordable price – because the plank isn’t made of 100% solid wood, it should be inexpensive when compared to traditional hardwood floors.
- Durability – these floors are built to last, and can last just as long as solid wood floors if properly cared for. A worthy product can stand up to fluctuations in temperature and moisture, unlike real hardwood flooring.
- UV and water resistance – top-tier engineered hardwood floors will have special coatings that prevent them from fading over time due to sunlight and warping from exposure to moisture.
- Appearance – since the top layer is actual hardwood flooring, it should be virtually indistinguishable from actual solid wood floors.
- Easy to clean – most, but not all, products should come equipped with a protective finish that makes cleaning and maintenance a breeze.
Best Hickory Engineered Hardwood Floorings Reviewed
SimpleFLOORS Hickory
The hickory collection of SimpleFLOORS’ engineered hardwood floorings is an all-around great product that is almost indistinguishable from a hickory solid wood floor. They are stained using a Bona High-Durability finish, so you can be sure that they will stay beautiful for longer than competitive products. The tongue and groove locking system is one of the easiest ways to install this type of flooring. No more nails or sticky adhesives are needed, plus the planks can be easily removed if you need to do some repairs.
Pros
- Durable and sleek-looking finish
- Easy to install
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not the most affordable product on the market
Elk Mountain Hickory Antique
Pros
- Hand scraped for unrivaled beauty
- Affordable
- Tongue and groove design for easy installation and repairs
Cons
- Lack of color options in prefinished stain
Shaw Pebble Hill Hickory
Shaw Floors makes a ton of different flooring products, especially quality hardwood options. It’s always great when you can buy from a company that backs its products like Shaw does, especially if you ever have any installation questions. Their hickory engineered floors come in a handful of different colors, and the tongue and groove installation is a breeze. This flooring is even compatible with radiant heat!
Pros
- Plenty of color options
- Wire brushed surface for flawless finish
- Durable
Cons
- More expensive than many competitors
Final Thoughts On Engineered Hardwood Floors Made Of Hickory
When spending all of your savings on a solid wood floor just isn’t an option, engineered hardwood flooring is the next best thing. You get all of the beauty from a solid wood floor, minus the price tag. If your heart is set on an engineered floor made of hickory, be sure that the manufacturer builds a quality product that will last a lifetime.