Regular wood can be refinished, sanded and treated to refresh and protect the surface, but engineered wood is not the same as regular wood. This does not mean that refinishing is impossible, but it may potentially add some complications of which you need to be aware.
What is engineered wood?
Usually, a wood floor is just solid wood. Engineered wood flooring, on the other hand, as seen at irwintiles.ie/wooden-flooring/engineered-wood-flooring, is a layer of wood fibres or veneers attached to other materials to form a composite that combines the advantages of both.
What is refinishing?
Refinishing is when you take an old wood floor that may have become worn or damaged over time, clean it, sand down any existing finish so you can see the grain, then apply stains, oils, lacquers, seals or varnishes that can both protect it from further wear and improve its general appearance. It is best not to refinish yourself unless you have relevant expertise.
Why is refinishing engineered wood sometimes complicated?
It depends on the thickness of the top layer/veneer, or in other words, the worn part of the floor. If it is too thin, you cannot properly sand it without taking it away completely. The minimum wear layer where refinishing is still possible is probably 3mm. A thicker layer is more expensive, but may be refinished many times to further extend its lifespan.
Most of the time, refinishing is still an option even if your wood floor is engineered wood, but it is best to employ expert assistance to ensure you do not damage the floor instead.
