Flooring Types
Engineered Wood Flooring in New Orleans
We install engineered wood flooring in slab and raised homes across New Orleans and the surrounding towns. Engineered wood is a real hardwood top layer bonded to a cross-layered core, and it's the wood floor to look at first for a concrete slab.
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How engineered wood flooring is built
This page is for homeowners who want a wood floor but worry about humidity, a slab or a damp crawl space. It covers how engineered boards are built, where they work in New Orleans homes, the three ways they go down and how they compare with solid wood, vinyl and laminate.
An engineered board looks like solid hardwood from above. The difference is in the layers below.
The wear layer
The top is a slice of real hardwood. When you compare products, ask the wear layer thickness and whether the maker says it can be refinished.
The core
Under the wear layer sit layers of wood glued with their grain crossing, much like plywood. The USDA Wood Handbook says wood bonded in crossing directions swells and shrinks much less with changes in humidity.
Where it can go
Ambient, a bamboo maker, says engineered floors can be installed on, above or below grade, while solid floors aren't recommended for basements. That's why engineered is the wood choice to look at for a slab.
Built for New Orleans
Where engineered wood works in New Orleans homes
Engineered wood moves less than solid boards, but it's still wood, so the space underneath still matters.
Slab homes
Bruce's install guide warns that a slab that tests dry can be wet at other times of the year, and Hallmark's solid hardwood instructions call slab moisture emissions a common cause of damage to hardwood floors. We test the slab and use a moisture-rated adhesive or barrier before boards go down.
Raised homes
Engineered boards don't fix a wet crawl space. Hallmark's solid hardwood instructions call for the crawl space earth to be fully covered by a black polyethylene vapor retarder of at least 6 mil, and warn that uncontrolled crawl space humidity damages the structure and the floor.
Rooms that can flood
FEMA rates engineered wood flooring as unacceptable for flood exposure, the same as solid wood and plastic laminate. On a flood-prone ground floor, look at another floor type.
- 890459Residential license
- 3667Commercial license
- 14Cities in the New Orleans metro
- FREEEstimate on all services
How it works
Glue-down, nail-down or floating
The subfloor decides the method.
- 01
Glue-down
Used on concrete slabs, with an adhesive rated for slab moisture.
- 02
Nail or staple
Used over a sound wood subfloor in a raised house.
- 03
Floating
Boards lock together over an underlayment. The City of New Orleans notes that houses not on deep pilings are seeing differential settlement, so a floating floor gets a flatness check first.
- 04
Acclimation
The USDA Wood Handbook says to install wood at the moisture content it'll see in service to avoid problems like buckling, so boards sit in the house before they go down.
Engineered wood against solid hardwood, vinyl and laminate
These are the floors most people weigh engineered wood against.
Engineered or solid hardwood
Both have a real wood surface and the same FEMA flood rating. Solid suits a raised house with a sound wood subfloor; engineered is the one for a slab. See our hardwood flooring page.
Engineered wood or vinyl plank
FEMA rates vinyl set with chemical-set adhesive on concrete as acceptable for flood exposure, which engineered wood isn't. For a slab room that can flood, compare our vinyl flooring page.
Engineered wood or laminate
Laminate gives a printed wood look with no real wood surface to refinish, and FEMA rates plastic laminate flooring unacceptable for floods too. See our laminate flooring page.
Where we install engineered wood flooring and how to get a free estimate
We install engineered wood across New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Slidell and Mandeville. See every town on our service areas page, and how the job runs on our hardwood floor installation page.
For a free estimate, tell us the rooms, the rough square footage and whether the house is on a slab or raised.
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Reviews
What Customers Say About TurnKey Floorings
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As a builder, I’ve worked with numerous flooring contractors over the years, but my experience with Turnkey Floorings stands out. They were extremely professional, and their installation of carpet flooring for a big project was flawless. The client was ecstatic with the outcome, and I look forward to our future projects.
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They have transformed my hotel! Their suggestion of flake flooring for the lobby was a hit, adding an unexpected touch of luxury. Their team was professional and completed the project on time. They are the best flooring contractors in New Orleans.
Eve Harper
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We decided to upgrade our flooring and opted for floor coatings. Their team was extremely skilled, and the result was stunning. The floor looks sleek, shiny, and it’s so easy to clean. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing flooring services in New Orleans.
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We run a small chain of hotels in New Orleans and have been using Turnkey Floorings for all our flooring needs. From epoxy flooring in the kitchens to luxurious carpet flooring in the rooms, their workmanship is always top quality. They are reliable, professional, and always complete the projects on time. A fantastic company to work with!
Susan Whittemore
FAQ
Common Questions About Engineered Wood Flooring
Talk to an Expert about Engineered Wood Flooring.
Can engineered wood go on a concrete slab in New Orleans?
Yes. Ambient, a bamboo maker, says engineered floors can go on, above or below grade. We test the slab first, because Bruce warns that a slab that tests dry can be wet at other times of the year.
What are the downsides of engineered wood flooring?
It's still wood, so FEMA rates it unacceptable for flood exposure, and it still needs a dry crawl space or slab. Ask the wear layer thickness and whether the maker says it can be refinished.
Which is better for a slab room that can flood, vinyl plank or engineered wood?
FEMA's guide accepts vinyl only when it is chemical-set on concrete, not over plywood, and rates engineered wood as unacceptable. So in a slab room that can flood, ask for vinyl glued down with a chemical-set adhesive.
Is engineered hardwood as good as solid hardwood?
Both have a real wood surface. The USDA Wood Handbook says wood bonded in crossing layers swells and shrinks much less with humidity. For that reason we suggest engineered for slabs and solid for a sound wood subfloor.
Service Areas
Based in New Orleans, LA.
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Residential License # 890459 · Commercial License # 3667