Zinnia Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99/sq ft installed in Fort Myers — a warm caramel oak-look floor from LW Flooring’s Riverside collection. The 9-inch-wide planks and embossed-in-register texture give it the kind of depth and grain variation you expect from real wood. It’s a grounded, livable choice for homeowners who want hardwood character without sacrificing stability.
Zinnia is built for the conditions Southwest Florida throws at floors every day: high ambient humidity, concrete slab construction, and the temperature swings that come with seasonal living. The engineered construction resists the cupping and gapping that solid hardwood develops over slab, making it a practical fit for main living areas, bedrooms, and open-plan spaces.
The 5G locking installation system creates a tight mechanical joint that holds up well in homes with fluctuating occupancy — think snowbird properties or short-term rentals where the HVAC isn’t running constantly. Wide 9-inch planks mean fewer seams and a cleaner look in larger rooms.
| Plank Width | 9” |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 59” |
| Thickness | 7.8mm |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil |
| Finish | Polyurethane |
| Species | Look |
Flooring Queen installs Zinnia at $8.99 per square foot, covering the full scope of a standard project: material delivery, removal of your existing floor covering, surface preparation under normal conditions, installation, baseboard reinstallation, and transition strips between rooms. Haul-away of the old material is included.
Upcharges apply when the subfloor requires significant leveling beyond routine prep, when stair nosing is needed, or when you want decorative inlays or custom borders. Request a free in-home measure and you’ll receive a written quote with line-item detail before any work is scheduled — no surprises on install day.
Zinnia is engineered hardwood, meaning a real oak veneer is bonded to a layered wood core. That construction matters in Florida. Solid hardwood expands and contracts with humidity changes more dramatically than engineered, and over a concrete slab — the standard foundation here — it’s prone to cupping, crowning, and squeaking. Engineered hardwood tolerates moisture-vapor transmission from slab much better.
Where solid hardwood has an edge: thicker boards can be sanded and refinished more times over their lifespan, which matters if you’re planning a 30-plus-year horizon in one home. For most Southwest Florida buyers, though, the stability advantage of engineered construction outweighs that benefit, especially in a coastal climate.
| Zinnia | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Moisture-tolerant; not waterproof | Low; warps and cups over slab |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 20 mil polyurethane finish | Varies; no discrete wear layer |
| Comfort underfoot | Warm, wood feel | Warm, wood feel |
| Installed price | $8.99/sq ft installed | Typically $10–$14/sq ft installed |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms, slab homes | Above-grade rooms, crawl space homes |
Sweep or vacuum Zinnia regularly using a soft-bristle attachment — avoid beater-bar settings, which can scuff the polyurethane finish over time. 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; standing water left on the surface can work into seams and cause swelling. Skip steam mops entirely — the heat and moisture force steam into the locking joints and can compromise the adhesion between the veneer and core. Wipe up spills promptly, and use felt pads under furniture legs to prevent finish wear. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
Yes — LW Flooring Riverside planks should acclimate in the installation space for at least 48 to 72 hours before install. In Southwest Florida’s high-humidity environment, this step is particularly important. Store the unopened boxes flat in the room where they’ll be installed, with the HVAC running at your normal living temperature and humidity.
Engineered hardwood with a 20 mil polyurethane wear layer can typically be lightly screened and recoated once or twice, though it is not the same as sanding down a solid wood plank. Full sanding is limited by the veneer thickness, not the wear layer alone. For most homeowners, one professional recoat over the product’s lifetime is realistic.
Engineered hardwood is a real wood veneer bonded to a dimensionally stable multi-ply core, while solid hardwood is one piece of wood all the way through. Concrete slabs emit moisture vapor year-round, and solid hardwood absorbs it unevenly — leading to cupping, gapping, and squeaking. Engineered construction handles that vapor transmission far better, which is why it’s the standard recommendation for slab-built Florida homes.
Zinnia’s polyurethane finish resists surface moisture and makes prompt cleanup easy, but it is not a waterproof floor. Water that sits in seams or works under the planks can cause swelling and damage the core. Clean up spills quickly, and don’t use this product in areas with ongoing standing-water exposure like bathrooms or laundry rooms.
Flooring Queen installs Zinnia throughout the region — Cape Coral and Naples are two of the busiest service areas outside Fort Myers itself. The team also covers Bonita Springs, Estero, and surrounding communities. At the in-home measure appointment, the estimator will confirm whether your specific address falls within the standard service area.
LW Flooring backs Zinnia with a lifetime residential warranty and a 15-year light commercial warranty. Manufacturer warranties on engineered hardwood typically cover manufacturing defects, finish failure, and structural integrity under normal use. They generally exclude damage from standing water, improper installation, or failure to follow the care guidelines — so keeping records of your install and maintenance is worthwhile.
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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