Hi,

We're looking to rip out the carpet in our condo and lay down engineered hardwood floor throughout. We've found a contractor and were about to pull the trigger and purchase Brazilian Koa Select from LL, but many online reviewers have had issues with the quality of wood flooring from LL.

Can anyone recommend some quality manufacturers of Tigerwood/Brazilian Koa?

Also some other considerations; we have a 28lbs Beagle. Is Tigerwood a hard enough wood to stand up to a dog? Secondly, we do not have a humidity controller on our second floor condo. Is this a problem given the air is relatively dry? The wood flooring would be layed on top of plywood.

Thanks...

There are a few well known brands on the market to choose from. Tigerwood has a very nice janka hardness rating about 2100 psi, however, the damage pets do tend to rely heavily upon the finish as oppose to the hardness of the wood species. The dry air is a common concern for most hardwood floors as it causes the wood to shrink and show gaps. One thing I would recommend is to use a portable humidifier in the dry winter months.

Typically I would recommend a nail down installation over plywood. Since it is in a condo, you may want to check into the association rules for sound deadening with a good quality underlayment. Good luck with the project, Tigerwood is a beautiful flooring which will gradually gain a richer tone with exposure to sunlight.