Engineered hardwood floors offer more substantial durability when looking for scratch and water-resistant wood flooring. First, most engineered hardwoods come with an aluminum oxide polyurethane finish.
Second, engineered hardwood features a multi-layer core. That core incorporates three or more layers of fiberboard that add dimensional stability to make them infinitely less susceptible to shrinking, swelling, and warping.
Third, you can enhance the scratch and water resistance by selecting a hardwood with a high Janka hardness rating. For example, hickory, maple, or white oak carry a higher Janka rating than pine, cherry, or black walnut.
In conjunction with the wood’s hardness, you can also select engineered hardwood floors with more dramatic grain patterns as they often mask minor blemishes. In addition, wood flooring with a lower sheen do the same thing.