When it comes to wooden floors, few things are as important as choosing quality. A well-made engineered wood floor doesn’t just look beautiful, it feels luxurious underfoot, stays stable across seasons, and continues to enhance your space year after year. But with so many brands and claims in the market, how do you tell a truly premium engineered wood floor from an ordinary one?
Here’s a simple, practical guide from our experts at Span Floors to help you choose confidently.
1. Understand What Engineered Wood Flooring Really Is
Engineered wood flooring is built using multiple layers.
- The top layer is real hardwood: Oak, Walnut, Ash, or Teak, that gives your floor its natural beauty.
- Below it, cross-laminated layers of wood form a stable core that resists warping and movement.
This structure makes engineered floors ideal for the Indian and UAE climates, from Delhi’s dry winters to Dubai’s heat and humidity.
Cross-Section of a 3 layered engineered wood floor!
Photo Credit – © Coswick
2. Check the Thickness of the Top Layer
The wear layer (top veneer) determines how long your floor will last. Thicker veneers can be refinished multiple times and age gracefully.
As a rule of thumb:
- 2 mm: Good for moderate use. May be sanded once. Mostly comes in sliced cut which is not as strong as the thicker veneers.
- 3–4 mm: Better for long-term homes and can be sanded and refinished 2-3 times.
3. Look at the Core – It’s the Heart of the Floor
The core layers decide how well your floor will handle temperature and humidity changes. A multi-ply birch plywood core or a 3 layered hardwood core ensures maximum stability.
Avoid low-cost HDF or softwood cores, they may not offer a similar level of resistance to moisture.
Cross-Section of a 3 layered Engineered Wood Floor!
Photo Credit – © Coswick
4. The Finish: Protection Meets Beauty
The surface finish defines not just how the floor looks, but also how it performs. Choose finishes that are durable, low-VOC, and repairable. At Span Floors, we prefer easy to maintain UV cured factory finished coatings that allow the grace of wood to come through. They age beautifully and can be renewed easily with or without sanding depending on the situation.
A matte finish floor!
Photo Credit – © Coswick
5. Wood Species and Tone – Set the Mood of the Space
Each wood type has its personality:
- Oak: Timeless & versatile grain. It is available in multiple tones to suit a variety of design preferences.
- Walnut: Rich and warm, perfect for classical or statement interiors.
- Ash: A tighter grain than oak, it can also be stained to a multitude of colors, ideal for modern or classical styles.
Tone also matters.
Lighter floors make a room feel open and airy, while darker floors create intimacy and elegance.
Light Tone Engineered wood floor!
Photo Credit – © Coswick
Dark Tone Engineered wood floor!
Photo Credit – © Suryan/Dang
6. Check for Certifications and Safety
Luxury should never come at the cost of health or the environment. Always ask for:
- FSC® or PEFC® certification (responsible forestry).
- E1 or GreenGuard (low formaldehyde emissions, better indoor air).
Many Span Floors collections meet or exceed these standards, ensuring you enjoy a safe and sustainable product.
7. Feel the Plank – and the Locking System
- Quality can be felt. Pick up a sample plank — it should feel firm, dense, and precisely machined.
- Check how the tongue-and-groove or click joints fit. A good system locks tightly with no gaps or wobbles.
8. Warranty and Brand Reputation
Premium flooring brands stand behind their products. Look for structural warranties up to lifetime and finish warranties of 15–30 years. Just as important is who you buy from. Choose a company known for a reliable installation, after-sales service and genuine expertise, not just a reseller.
9. Match the Product to the Space
Different spaces need different flooring specifications:
- Living Areas and Bedrooms: Most high-quality engineered floors perform well.
- Basements or Humid Areas: Choose multi-ply cores with superior bonding strength.
- High-Traffic Areas: Prefer harder species and strong finishes.
At Span Floors, our specialists help you select the right floor for your exact site conditions.
An elegant living room!
Photo Credit – © Fiemme Tremila
10. Choose a Trusted Partner, Not Just a Product
In the luxury segment, the difference lies in execution. A great floor starts with premium materials but shines only when installed with expertise. At Span Floors, we import, stock, and install world-class engineered wood floors from Europe, Asia, and beyond, combining international quality with local craftsmanship.
With showrooms in New Delhi and operations extending to Nepal, Bhutan & the UAE, we work closely with architects, designers, and luxury homeowners to create timeless, healthy, and sustainable interiors.
Span Floors Showroom!
Final Thoughts
A quality engineered wood floor is more than just a surface, it’s an investment in beauty, comfort, and peace of mind. When you choose right, your floor quietly uplifts your entire space and becomes part of your home’s story for years to come.
If you’d like expert guidance or wish to see real samples, visit our Span Floors showroom or book a design consultation.