Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is engineered hardwood flooring?

Engineered hardwood flooring is flooring manufactured by using hardwood with a cross-directional laminated construction (usually 3 to 5 layers), with a top layer of premium hardwood. Directwood.com uses only USA northern native hardwoods, and is 100% hardwood construction. Other companies may use hardwood substitutes, and a thinner top layer. Our product should not be confused with flooring that is made to look like wood. Directwood.com's hardwood flooring is the best engineered flooring in the industry.

Q. Can your flooring be glued to concrete?

Yes, you can glue our engineered flooring directly to concrete: on, above or below grade. However, it is important to test the concrete for moisture before installing hardwood flooring, for below grade applications if moisture is present then a moisture barrier is recommended.

Q. What advantage does engineered flooring have over solid hardwood flooring?

Engineered hardwood flooring is very versatile and more stable than solid flooring. For example, engineered hardwood flooring can be glued, stapled, or nailed to virtually any subfloor, concrete, wood, linoleum, or even over existing hardwood floors. The cross directional layup of the products counteracts the natural tendency of wood to expand and contract with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity, making engineered flooring inherently dimensionally more stable than solid products.

Q. What would I expect to pay for this product at a flooring store?

For the 3/8 prefinished approximately $5.79. For the 1/2 prefinished approximately $8.99. Please do not confuse this product with the products being sold at the Home Depot and other big box stores. That flooring is made with Southern Red Oak. Our flooring is made with Northern Red Oak. Southern Red Oak is less expensive because it has more open grain- not as tight, more mineral stain, more open defects, and splits and checks are more prevalent. You can see the difference if you take our sample to the store and compare. Their flooring sales are approximately $3.69 per square foot. To find comparable flooring to Directwood.com, you would have to go to a flooring store and pay approximately $5.79 for 3/8" and $8.99 for 1/2".

Q. How can Directwood.com sell their flooring so low compared to the flooring stores?

The answer is very simple: the Internet. Normally, a manufacturer like Directwood.com would sell to a distributor, who would sell to the flooring store, who would sell to a builder or to the public. We take out all the middle men, and their profits. You get the same high quality flooring for half price or less. Also, we deliver free right to your door so you don't have to go to the store and load the boxes.

Q. What about sales tax?

As of now, there is no sales tax on Internet purchases.

Q. If I don't want to install it myself, what would I expect to pay someone to install it for me?

A good average across the nation is $2.00 per square foot to pay an installer for laying your hardwood floors. When you look at the money you save with Directwood.com, you can have your floors installed for less money than you would pay for just the flooring at a flooring store.