Amethyst Cove Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99/sq ft installed in Fort Myers — a warm caramel oak-look plank from LW Flooring’s Riverstone collection. The embossed-in-register texture and painted beveled edges give it the handcrafted feel of real hardwood without the instability that comes with solid wood in a coastal climate. At 7 inches wide and finished in polyurethane, it reads as a relaxed, contemporary floor that works across a wide range of interior styles.
Amethyst Cove is built for the conditions Southwest Florida homes actually deal with: slab-on-grade foundations, high ambient humidity, and the seasonal swings that come with part-time occupancy. The 5.5mm engineered construction — a real wood veneer over a layered core — resists the cupping and gapping that solid hardwood develops when moisture levels fluctuate.
The 7-inch plank width and warm caramel tone make it a natural fit for open living areas, primary bedrooms, and main hallways. The polyurethane finish and 20 mil wear layer hold up against sandy foot traffic, pets, and the general wear of a well-used home near the coast.
| Plank Width | 7″ |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 48″ |
| Thickness | 5.5mm |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil |
| Finish | Polyurethane |
| Species | Look |
Flooring Queen installs Amethyst Cove at $8.99 per square foot. That price covers material delivery, removal of your old flooring, standard subfloor preparation, the installation itself, new baseboards, and transition strips where needed. Debris and old material are hauled off the job site — nothing left for you to deal with.
Certain project conditions add to that base price: significant subfloor leveling beyond minor patching, stair nosing, complex room shapes, or decorative border work. The best way to know exactly what your project will cost is to schedule a free in-home measurement. You’ll walk away with a written quote that breaks everything down before any work begins.
Solid hardwood and Amethyst Cove are both real-wood floors, but they behave very differently in a Fort Myers home. Solid hardwood — typically ¾ inch thick — can be refinished more times over its life, which is a genuine long-term advantage. However, it expands and contracts with humidity changes in ways that can cause gapping, cupping, or squeaking on concrete slabs, which dominate SWFL construction.
Amethyst Cove’s engineered construction is dimensionally more stable in high-humidity environments and installs via click-lock directly over concrete without the glue-down process solid wood requires. The trade-off: engineered planks can typically be refinished fewer times than solid. For most Southwest Florida homeowners, the stability and slab compatibility make engineered the practical choice.
| Amethyst Cove | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Surface-resistant; not waterproof core | Minimal; very moisture-sensitive |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 20 mil polyurethane finish | Finish depth varies; thicker raw wood |
| Comfort underfoot | Wood veneer; firm with slight give | Solid wood; similar feel |
| Installed price | $8.99/sq ft installed | Typically $10–$14/sq ft installed |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms, slab installs | Above-grade rooms, wood subfloors |
Sweep or vacuum with a soft-brush attachment regularly — fine sand and grit brought in from outside are the biggest source of finish wear on any hardwood floor. For routine cleaning, use a hardwood-specific cleaner like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or a comparable pH-neutral formula; avoid anything oil-soap-based or vinegar-diluted, as both can dull a polyurethane finish over time. Never use a steam mop — the sustained moisture and heat can penetrate the wood veneer and cause swelling or delamination. Wipe up spills promptly, particularly near doors and in bathrooms, since the wear layer protects the surface but standing water can still work into seams. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
Plan on at least 48 to 72 hours of acclimation in the room where the floor will be installed. Southwest Florida’s humidity means the planks need time to adjust to your home’s indoor conditions. Keep your AC running at its normal setting during this period — don’t acclimate in an empty, unconditioned house.
Amethyst Cove can typically be lightly refinished once, possibly twice, depending on how aggressively the surface is abraded. The 20 mil wear layer is substantial for an engineered plank, but the real-wood veneer below it is thinner than solid hardwood, so refinishing is limited compared to a ¾-inch solid floor.
Engineered hardwood is a real-wood veneer bonded to a layered core, which makes it far more dimensionally stable than solid wood when humidity fluctuates. In Southwest Florida, where slab foundations and high ambient moisture are the norm, solid hardwood is prone to cupping and gapping — engineered construction resists those movements and installs more reliably over concrete.
Surface spills wiped up promptly won’t damage Amethyst Cove — the polyurethane finish protects against everyday moisture contact. However, this is not a waterproof floor. Standing water left to sit, or water that works into the seams over time, can swell the wood veneer or affect the core. It’s not the right choice for wet rooms like bathrooms.
Leaving an engineered hardwood floor in a closed, unconditioned Florida home for months at a time puts it at real risk. Extended heat and humidity without climate control causes repeated expansion and contraction cycles that can lead to gapping or cupping. If your home will be vacant for more than a few weeks, keep the AC set to at least 78°F to maintain stable conditions.
Yes — Amethyst Cove is a good fit for concrete slab installations. The click-lock system floats over the slab without adhesive, and the engineered core handles the slight moisture vapor that concrete naturally emits better than solid wood does. A moisture barrier or underlayment is still recommended to manage any vapor transmission from the slab.
Flooring Queen has over 20 years of experience installing engineered hardwood across Southwest Florida — slab foundations, humidity, the realities Florida throws at real wood. We install everything ourselves. 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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