Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Opinions on Stepco floors

:) I'm considering the Stepco Brazilian Cherry engineered plank ,.59 thickness and 3.6 width with a micro bevel. This will be a glue down application on a concrete floor with cork underlayment. Any opinions on the company and this product?

Thanks

Although not familiar with Stepco, tips for purchasing wood laminate (engineered wood) floors recommend to go with a product that has many plies of substrate material. Products can have 3 - 7 or more plies. The more plies the better. The veneer layer of real wood should be no less than 1/8". The thicker the veneer layer the better. Many engineered wood products have such a thin veneer layer that they can never be sanded and refinished.

Floating floor installations seem to be the rage these days because of ease of installation. Adhesive failures and the mess associated with glue down installations seem to be the major issues with glue down installations. Staple and nail down products seem to be preferred if floating installation is not your cup of tea.

My preference is solid 3/4" hardwood which is a nail down installation. Solid hardwood adds value to your home & you have a floor that will last 200+ years if properly maintained. It can be installed over concrete above grade (not in basement).

If you are shopping for a laminate product, go with a major manufacturer that offers good, better, best levels of quality and warranties in their display rack. Buy the best that you can afford. Each manufacturer tends to have very specific instructions for subfloor preparation, acclimation, underlayment, and installation. Ease of installation is a consideration. Laminate installed over concrete will require the manufacturer's vapor retarder or warranty will be voided.