Do you want your home to look like a million bucks without actually spending a fortune? Few things in a home are more luxe than stunning hardwood floors, but not all of us have the bank account to afford solid hardwoods. However, there is an affordable alternative in engineered hardwoods, like the products created by Harris Wood.
Harris Wood engineered hardwoods are designed to look like solid wood, but at a more affordable cost. Instead of a solid piece of hardwood, Harris Wood’s engineered flooring is made up of sturdy but inexpensive wood with a real hardwood veneer on top. The result is an affordable alternative to solid hardwoods.
Harris Wood has produced hardwood flooring since 1898. For over 100 years, this American-owned company has crafted products that it promises to be of the highest quality, but why take the word of the manufacturer? In this post, we’ve compiled consumer reviews and other resources to find out if this flooring really stands the test of time and how it compares to other brands on the market.
Is Harris Wood Engineered Flooring Durable?
Harris Wood engineered flooring is quite durable when compared to solid hardwoods or other brand of engineered flooring. As long as you properly install and maintain your floors, you will get decades of use out of your new flooring. However, there are a few precautions that you must take to keep your floors looking their best year after year.
Like solid hardwoods, everyday use can damage engineered flooring. You must take steps to prevent scratches, dents, and other damage from destroying your floors. We’ll go into specific ways a little later in this post.
One of the worst things that you can do is expose your new flooring to water. Doing so may result in swelling, buckling, and staining. For this reason, you should immediately clean up any spills. You must properly clean your floors, and you should avoid installing Harris Wood engineered flooring in rooms that are moist or humid, like bathrooms.
Most Harris Wood engineered hardwood flooring products come with a limited lifetime warranty. This warranty covers manufacturing defects for as long as you own your home. It also covers wear on the finish of your flooring. Some flooring collections come with a 25-year finish warranty.
If your flooring does become very scratched or damaged over time, all Harris Wood engineered flooring collections can be refinished. However, unlike solid hardwoods, these products can only be sanded and refinished one time. If additional damage occurs following refinishing, the flooring will need to be replaced.
How Much Will I Pay For My New Flooring?
One of the major benefits of engineered hardwood flooring is its cost when compared to other hard flooring types. On average, engineered hardwoods cost about $3 to $5 per square foot, compared to solid hardwoods, which may cost $14 or more per square foot.
Harris Wood engineered hardwoods are one of the more affordable brands on the market. On average, expect to pay between $3 and $4 per square foot for this brand of flooring. There are some factors that will affect your actual cost, including where you purchase the flooring from and the style you select.
Note that this is just the cost of the flooring. You will also incur additional costs during your project, whether it’s tools and supplies for self-installation or money that is used to hire a professional installer. We’ll cover these options in a later section.
What Styles Are Available From This Manufacturer?
One of the best things about Harris Wood is that there is no shortage of styles and colors available to consumers. No matter what type of style you favor – traditional, modern, rustic, or something completely unique – Harris Wood has a flooring product for you.
Harris Wood has multiple collections of engineered hardwood flooring. This includes the Aspen line, which is reminiscent of whitewashed oil floors; the low-cost Harris ONE collection; the SpringLoc TODAY collection, which features an innovative locking system for easy installation; and the beautiful red oak styles of the Homestead Collection.
There are a variety of colors to choose from as well that will perfectly complement your space. Greys, naturals, browns, whites, and multi-tone options are available. These collections feature a variety of different wood species, including hickory, maple, walnut, and American cherry.
How Do I Clean & Maintain My New Floors?
Your floors can look beautiful for many years with proper care and maintenance. It’s also important to take care of your floors because failure to do so may result in a voided warranty. Luckily, cleaning and maintaining your Harris Wood engineered flooring isn’t too difficult – simply follow these steps and take these precautions.
You can do daily engineered hardwood cleaning using a broom or vacuum specifically for bare floor use. If using a hardwood vacuum, make sure it does not have a beater bar, which can mar your floors. You should also use throw rugs to keep your floor cleaner while trapping dirt and grit that could scratch your wood.
You should use a cleaner specifically for use on engineered hardwoods when your floors are extremely dirty. Avoid using waxes, oils, steam mops, and power scrubbers to clean your floors. You should also avoid damp mopping and wipe up all spills immediately.
Use furniture protectors to prevent scratches and dents. Avoid wearing high heels or cleats. You should also keep pet claws trimmed.
Fading of Harris Wood engineered hardwood is normal. To ensure that your floor fades evenly, make sure to rearrange furniture and rugs on a regular basis. You should also use window treatments to prevent excessive light from causing your floors to fade more quickly.
How Do I Install My Harris Wood Engineered Hardwoods?
The easiest way to install your Harris Wood engineered hardwoods is to hire a professional installer. By hiring a reputable professional, you won’t have to invest your own time, purchase tools and supplies, or worry about improper installation that may void your warranty.
On the downside, though, hiring a professional can really drive up the cost of your project. Expect to pay several hundred dollars for a smaller project and into the thousands for larger, more complicated installations.
You can potentially save money by installing your new Harris Wood engineered hardwoods yourself. The manufacturer makes this as easy as possible by providing installation guides on its website. These guides outline everything you need to do before, during, and after your flooring install.
While you may save money doing the job yourself, there are several drawbacks. First, you have to invest in additional tools and supplies. You also have to invest your time, which could be a few hours for a smaller job or several days for larger projects.
Final Verdict
If you love the look of hardwood flooring but the costs don’t quite fit into your budget, Harris Wood engineered hardwoods are a great alternative. You’ll get the beautiful look of hardwoods at a fraction of the price.
Not only will you get a wide selection of beautiful colors and styles, but you’ll also get the benefit of a durable floor that’s easy to clean and maintain. Professional installation is recommended, but Harris Wood also provides detailed instructions that allow you to save money by installing your new floors yourself.
Back to Top