What engineered hardwood actually is
Engineered hardwood is real wood — but built in layers. A thin top layer (the 'wear layer') of genuine hardwood is bonded over a core of plywood or high-density fibreboard. That cross-layered construction makes the plank far more stable than solid wood, so it resists the expansion and contraction that comes with humidity swings.
Engineered vs. solid hardwood vs. laminate
The three are often confused, but they're different products:
- Solid hardwood: one solid piece of wood throughout; can be sanded and refinished many times, but moves more with humidity.
- Engineered hardwood: a real-wood wear layer over a stable core; can usually be refinished once or twice; handles moisture and basements better.
- Laminate: a photographic image of wood under a clear wear layer — no real wood; cannot be refinished.
Why engineered floors squeak
Most engineered floors are installed as a 'floating floor' — the planks click together and rest on an underlayment rather than being nailed down. Over time the click-lock joints can loosen and rub, the foam underlayment can compress unevenly, or the subfloor beneath can move. Any of these creates the squeak or crackle you hear underfoot.
How to fix a squeaky engineered floor
You can't simply screw through an engineered floor — that would pierce the wear layer and void its look. The fix is to stabilise the assembly in place, targeting the underlayment or the subfloor below, without lifting the planks. If your engineered or laminate floor has started to squeak, our engineered floor repair service quiets it while protecting the factory finish.
Prefer to skip the DIY?
We silence squeaky floors and stairs across Toronto & the GTA — no floor replacement, 1-year warranty, free estimates.