Lafayette Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99 per square foot installed in Fort Myers — a wide-plank oak floor in a warm natural tone from LW Flooring’s Cascades collection. At nearly eight inches wide and almost five feet long, each plank reads as genuine hardwood. The embossed-in-register finish adds grain depth that flat-printed floors simply can’t match.
Lafayette is sized and constructed for the rooms where Fort Myers homeowners actually live — open-concept great rooms, primary bedrooms, home offices, and dining areas where a wide plank makes a real visual impact. The click-lock floating installation is a strong fit for concrete slab homes, which make up most of the Southwest Florida housing stock, because the floor moves independently of the slab as temperatures and humidity shift.
The attached IXPE pad handles minor subfloor irregularities and adds a layer of sound absorption. The AC4 wear rating positions this floor squarely in residential use with enough toughness for a busy household, and the lifetime residential warranty means LW Flooring stands behind it for as long as you own the home.
| Plank Width | 7-2/3″ |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 59-1/2″ |
| Thickness | 10mm |
| Wear Layer | AC4 |
| Finish | Aluminum Oxide |
| Species | Oak |
Flooring Queen installs Lafayette at $8.99 per square foot. That price covers delivery to your home, removal of your existing floor covering, standard subfloor preparation, the click-lock installation, new baseboards, and transition strips between rooms. Old material is loaded out and disposed of — no pile left in your driveway.
A few situations carry an upcharge: significant subfloor leveling beyond normal prep, stair nosing pieces, or custom layout patterns like herringbone. None of that is a surprise at the invoice — we measure your space at no charge, walk through the scope with you, and hand you a written quote before any work begins.
Solid hardwood and Lafayette share the same oak species and aluminum oxide finish, but the construction underneath is fundamentally different. Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood and will expand and contract more aggressively with Southwest Florida’s humidity swings. Over a concrete slab — the standard foundation here — solid hardwood requires nailing or gluing, and moisture vapor from the slab is a constant risk that can cup or warp the boards over time.
Lafayette’s engineered construction layers oak over a cross-ply core, which resists movement and is genuinely suited to floating over slab. Where solid hardwood wins: a thick solid board can be sanded and refinished more times over a very long lifespan. For most SWFL homeowners, engineered is the more practical choice.
| Lafayette | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Surface-resistant; not waterproof | Low; very vulnerable to moisture |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | AC4 aluminum oxide finish | Varies; no rated wear layer |
| Comfort underfoot | IXPE pad attached; warm feel | Warm, solid feel underfoot |
| Installed price | $8.99 / sq ft installed | Typically $10–$14+ / sq ft installed |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms over slab | Above-grade rooms, wood subfloor |
Sweep or vacuum Lafayette regularly — use a hard-floor setting rather than a rotating beater bar, which can scuff the finish over time. For damp mopping, a hardwood-specific cleaner like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or a lightly dampened microfiber mop is the right tool; avoid soaking the floor or letting water pool near the painted beveled edges, where moisture can wick into the seams. Stay away from steam mops, wax-based products, and oil soaps — they can break down the aluminum oxide finish and leave a residue that dulls the surface. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
Yes — Lafayette should acclimate in your home for at least 48 to 72 hours before installation. Southwest Florida’s combination of high humidity and air-conditioned interiors means the planks need time to reach equilibrium with your actual living conditions. Stack the boxes flat in the room where they’ll be installed, with the HVAC running at normal settings.
Lafayette can be lightly screen-and-recoat refinished, but deep sanding is limited by the engineered veneer thickness — typically one light refinish is realistic. The AC4 aluminum oxide finish is harder than standard hardwood finishes, so most homeowners find the floor maintains its look for years before refinishing ever comes up as a question.
Engineered hardwood bonds a real oak face over a cross-ply core, which makes it significantly more stable under humidity swings than solid wood. On a concrete slab — by far the most common foundation in Southwest Florida — engineered can float freely, whereas solid hardwood must be glued or nailed and is far more vulnerable to moisture vapor rising from the concrete below.
Lafayette handles typical household spills well when cleaned up promptly — the aluminum oxide finish resists surface moisture. However, this is not a waterproof floor. Prolonged standing water, especially near the painted beveled edges, can work into the seams and reach the core. Wipe up spills quickly and address any chronic moisture source before it causes long-term damage.
A single large room typically runs one day once acclimation is complete. A full home — say 1,200 to 1,800 square feet — usually takes two to three days for installation itself, factoring in removal of the existing floor, transitions between rooms, and baseboards. Click-lock floating is faster than glue-down, so Lafayette moves efficiently without complicated subfloor bonding steps.
Lafayette’s AC4 wear rating is among the more durable residential classifications and holds up well to dog nails under normal conditions. The embossed-in-register texture also helps disguise minor surface marks better than a high-gloss floor would. For large or heavy breeds, keeping nails trimmed and placing mats at entry points makes a noticeable difference in long-term appearance.
Engineered hardwood is the only wood we recommend over SWFL slabs, and we install it every week. Our team handles substrate moisture testing, layout, install, and trim from one source. Written installed quote: (239) 763-0770.
Continue exploring:
Considering a different material?
Reviewed by Jack Maya, Lead Installer at Flooring Queen — 20+ years installing flooring in Southwest Florida.
Let’s Discuss Your Flooring Project Today
