Garnet Bay Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99 per square foot installed in Fort Myers — a rich espresso hickory floor from LW Flooring’s Riverstone collection. The embossed-in-register texture mirrors real hickory grain closely, and the painted beveled edge gives each 7-inch plank a defined, furniture-grade look. It’s a serious floor for homeowners who want genuine wood character without the limitations of solid hardwood.
At 5.5mm thick with a click-lock floating installation, Garnet Bay is engineered to work over concrete slabs — the foundation type that dominates Southwest Florida construction. The layered wood core handles the humidity swings common to Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and coastal communities without the cupping or gapping that solid hardwood is prone to in this climate.
The espresso tone is forgiving of sandy foot traffic tracked in from the beach, and the polyurethane finish resists the scuffs and moisture that come with active households, snowbird seasonal turnover, or long-term rental use. It’s a practical pick for main living areas, bedrooms, and open-plan spaces.
| Plank Width | 7″ |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 60″ |
| Thickness | 5.5mm |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil |
| Finish | Polyurethane |
| Species | Look |
Flooring Queen installs Garnet Bay at $8.99 per square foot, and that price covers the full project: delivery, removal of your existing floor covering, surface-level subfloor preparation, installation of the planks, new baseboards, transition strips between rooms or thresholds, and cleanup and material disposal.
Some situations carry an upcharge — significant subfloor leveling beyond routine prep, stair nosing, or decorative layout patterns like herringbone. The best way to know your exact number is to schedule a free in-home measurement; you’ll walk away with a written quote specific to your rooms before any work begins.
Shoppers who want real wood often land between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished more times over its life — a real advantage if you’re planning a 30-year hold. But in Southwest Florida, solid hardwood on a concrete slab is a risk: it expands and contracts aggressively with humidity, and most manufacturers won’t warranty it in below-grade or slab-on-grade conditions.
Garnet Bay’s engineered construction is designed for exactly this environment. It offers the same hickory grain and polyurethane finish as solid, installs floating over concrete without adhesive, and carries a lifetime residential warranty. The trade-off is a thinner refinishing window — but for most SWFL homeowners, that’s a worthwhile exchange for long-term stability.
| Garnet Bay | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Tolerates humidity; not waterproof | Vulnerable to humidity and moisture |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 20 mil polyurethane finish | Varies; typically thicker veneer but no set mil rating |
| Comfort underfoot | Wood feel; moderate give | Same wood feel; slightly firmer |
| Installed price | $8.99 per sq ft installed | Typically $10–$14+ per sq ft installed |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms, slab installs | Above-grade rooms with wood subfloor |
Sweep or vacuum daily using a hard-floor setting — avoid beater-bar attachments, which can scratch the polyurethane finish. For damp mopping, use a well-wrung mop and a hardwood-specific cleaner such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or a pH-neutral wood floor solution; do not use steam mops, oil soaps, or acidic cleaners like vinegar, which can dull the finish over time. Wipe up standing spills immediately — the finish resists surface moisture, but prolonged water at seams or edges can work into the wood core. Place felt pads under furniture legs and use entryway mats to cut down on abrasive grit. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
LW Flooring recommends acclimating Garnet Bay for at least 48 to 72 hours in the room where it will be installed. In Fort Myers and coastal SWFL, where indoor humidity can run high even with AC, giving the planks a full three days is the safer call. Keep the home’s HVAC running at normal living conditions during that window.
Garnet Bay can be lightly refinished, but the number of times is limited by its construction — engineered hardwood veneers are thinner than solid wood. With a 20 mil wear surface, you’d typically get one careful light sand and recoat before risking the veneer. It is not a floor you’d plan to refinish repeatedly the way you would solid hardwood.
Garnet Bay is well-suited for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. The click-lock floating install works on or above concrete slabs, making it practical throughout most of a Florida home. Avoid wet areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms — engineered hardwood is moisture-tolerant, not waterproof, and prolonged exposure around plumbing fixtures is a risk.
A single room typically takes one day once the existing floor is out and the subfloor is ready. A whole-home project covering 1,000 to 1,500 square feet generally runs two to three days. Acclimation time adds 48 to 72 hours on top of that, so factor it in when scheduling around move-in dates or tenant turnover.
Garnet Bay is not waterproof — it is moisture-resistant at the surface, not through the core. The polyurethane finish handles everyday spills if wiped up promptly, but water left standing at seams or edges can reach the wood layers and cause swelling or warping over time. It performs well in Florida humidity under normal living conditions, but it’s not rated for wet areas.
Many SWFL condo associations require a minimum IIC or STC rating for floating floors, and some boards require documentation before approving installation. Garnet Bay installs as a floating floor, so a qualifying underlayment can be added beneath it to meet those sound transmission thresholds. Bring your HOA’s specific requirements to your Flooring Queen quote appointment — we can confirm whether the planned assembly meets the spec.
When you invest in hardwood, the install matters as much as the wood. Flooring Queen is licensed, insured, and family-run from a single Fort Myers showroom — no franchise, no national-chain shuffle. Free in-home measure: (239) 763-0770.
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Reviewed by Jack Maya, Lead Installer at Flooring Queen — 20+ years installing flooring in Southwest Florida.
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