What Causes Delamination in Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

Engineered hardwood flooring is recognized for having dimensional stability in the way they are constructed. Unfortunately, with improper care, problems arise such as the delamination of the flooring. This is caused by the wrong cleaning practices.

Vinegar and Water

This method of cleaning with vinegar and water has been a practice for quite some time until today. Unfortunately, the vinegar’s acidity can have a destructive effect on the floor veneers. In the beginning, the floors may look clean and polished, but eventually, over time, it will affect the shine of your floors. Just by using too much water in cleaning the engineered hardwood floor can result in problems as well. The laminate may deteriorate if it’s left wet, leaving too much moisture. In fact, wet swiffers or steam vacuums are not advised for this type of flooring.

Wrong Preparation and Application of Cleaners

Many engineered hardwood cleaning products in the market resulted in negative customer feedback. Normally, these cleaners actually work; the damage arises when the preparation of the cleaning fluid before it’s applied to the floors is incorrect. Incorrect application of these cleaning formulas may also destroy the finish of the floors since this can leave a residue that can affect the laminate negatively.

Wood Floor Polishes

Wood floor polishes should be avoided for common engineered hardwood floor finishes. These polishes contain oils that can ruin the laminate of the flooring.

Ammonia

No matter what happens, avoid using ammonia in cleaning your hardwood floor. This causes discoloration, delamination and will surely hasten the aging of your flooring.