Aluminum Oxide Engineered Flooring

An engineered hardwood floor is really a disposable hardwood.

Aluminum oxide engineered flooring.

Off gassing is always a big concern with engineered flooring. Factory pre finished polyurethane finish with aluminum oxide is very durable and most engineered hardwood flooring with this finish comes with 25 35 years of warranty on residential wear. It s aluminum oxide and it is walnut and it is a thin veneer. Take special care not to damage this coating when cleaning the floor.

Pre finished aluminum oxide floors are actually quite safe in terms of off gassing in that they don t really off gas. On a tight budget you might want to look at the engineered hardwoods. Aluminum oxide is a naturally occurring element present in ruby and sapphire gemstones and is one of the hardest finishes for the final coating of multiple flooring types including engineered hardwoods. Some common household cleaners can dissolve the coating making your hardwood floors appear dull and dingy.

They will remove the aluminum oxide finish more efficiently and will leave a minimal scratch pattern in the floor. In fact it s said that it can add decades to the floor s color tone. An aluminum oxide finish is applied to the floor to slow the process of uv color fading over time as well. Aluminum oxide can have detrimental effects on your health.

It does have aluminum oxide in it. They are no voc and much tougher than the old solvent based finishes. When finish is applied to prefinished flooring during the manufacturing process it is done in the most controlled setting possible as opposed to the conditions on a job site. Also look for engineered flooring made with no added formaldehyde glues naf or nauf some manufacturers include eddie bauer home luzon and revel woods.

The minerals on 80 grit abrasives are much smaller and closer than a rougher grit like 50. It is the uvcuring process used in the mills that really creates the hardness. Aluminum oxide finish and off gassing. It s almost like an additional shield to the wood.

However unlike natural oil sealer often aluminum oxide finish may not be repaired partially. Please keep in mind the hard wearing finishes of today ie. You are correct about the pre finished floors with uv cured finishes and embedded aluminum oxide anti scratch components. An aluminum oxide finish will really help protect your floor from everyday use over the years.

Cost of maintenance is the same as a hardwood. Try anything else in a case like this and be prepared to pay for a new floor. The high durability and hardness of aluminum oxide make it a valuable finishing material for flooring where resistance to scratching denting and scuffing are important qualities. Floor finishes made with metal oxides like aluminum are the hardest finishes produced for the final coating on floors made of hardwood laminate bamboo and engineered hardwoods.

Cost of install could be same as hardwood.