Avelino Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99 per square foot installed in Fort Myers — a wirebrushed European White Oak floor in a warm natural tone from LW Flooring’s Renaissance Collection. The wide 7½-inch planks and high variation make each room feel distinct, not catalog-perfect. This is a real-wood floor built to live in, not just be photographed.
A 9/16-inch engineered construction with a 3 mm European White Oak wear layer is built to hold its shape in the humidity swings that Southwest Florida delivers year-round. The multi-ply core resists the expansion and contraction that would buckle a solid plank over a concrete slab — which describes most homes in Cape Coral, Estero, and coastal Fort Myers.
The wirebrushed finish hides the fine scratches that come with daily foot traffic, pets, and sandy floors tracked in from the beach. Seasonal homeowners benefit too — the engineered core tolerates months of air-conditioning cycling between occupied and unoccupied seasons far better than solid wood.
| Plank Width | 7-1/2″ |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 74-3/4″ Random Length |
| Thickness | 9/16″ |
| Wear Layer | 3 mm |
| Finish | Polyurethane with Aluminum Oxide |
| Species | European White Oak |
Flooring Queen installs Avelino at $8.99 per square foot, covering material, labor, removal of your existing floor, subfloor preparation for typical conditions, new baseboards, transition strips, and cleanup of all job-site debris.
Costs increase when the subfloor needs significant leveling, or when the project includes stair nosing, curved thresholds, or custom inlay patterns — your estimator will flag those items before any work begins. Schedule a free in-home measure and you’ll receive a written line-item quote showing exactly what your project costs before you commit.
Solid hardwood and Avelino are made from the same species — European White Oak — but how the lumber is engineered changes everything in a Florida home. Solid planks are milled from a single piece of wood; they expand and contract more aggressively in humid climates and are not recommended for installation directly over concrete slabs. Avelino’s layered core absorbs moisture movement without the seasonal gapping that plagues solid floors here.
Where solid hardwood has an edge is refinishing depth — a thick solid plank can be sanded down more times over its life. Avelino’s 3 mm wear layer allows light refinishing, but not as many passes as a 3/4-inch solid floor. For most Southwest Florida homeowners on slab, engineered is the practical choice.
| Avelino | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Handles surface moisture well | Vulnerable to humidity warping |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 3 mm oak, wirebrushed finish | Full plank depth, same species |
| Comfort underfoot | Warm, real-wood feel | Warm, real-wood feel |
| Installed price | $8.99/sq ft installed | $10–$14/sq ft installed, typically |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms, over slab | Above-grade rooms, wood subfloor |
Sweep or vacuum with a soft-bristle attachment regularly — grit tracked in from outside is the primary cause of surface wear on wirebrushed oak. Clean spills promptly with a damp (not wet) cloth; standing water should never sit on any wood floor. For routine washing, use a hardwood-specific cleaner such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or a WOCA Wood Floor Soap diluted to manufacturer specs — avoid steam mops, ammonia-based products, and acidic cleaners, which can dull the polyurethane-aluminum oxide finish over time. Recoating the finish every several years extends the floor’s life significantly. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
Engineered hardwood like Avelino typically needs 3 to 5 days to acclimate inside your home before installation. In Southwest Florida’s humidity, this step matters — the planks need to adjust to your indoor climate so they don’t shift after they’re nailed or glued down. Keep the HVAC running at normal living temperatures during this period.
A 3 mm wear layer supports one to two light sandings over the floor’s lifetime, depending on how much material is removed each time. That’s enough for a mid-life refresh if the finish dulls, but it won’t support the repeated full sandings you’d get from a thick solid plank. A Lifetime residential warranty backs the product regardless.
Engineered hardwood is recommended over solid hardwood in Southwest Florida because its layered plywood core handles the region’s high humidity and concrete slab foundations far better than a single-piece solid plank. Solid wood expands and contracts with moisture changes and should not be glued or nailed over concrete — the substrate found in the vast majority of SWFL homes.
Avelino’s polyurethane-aluminum oxide finish resists surface moisture, but this is not a waterproof product — prolonged standing water will penetrate the seams and can damage the wood core. Wipe up spills quickly and avoid wet-mopping. For rooms with frequent water exposure, a waterproof LVP or tile is a more appropriate choice.
Yes — Flooring Queen installs Avelino throughout Southwest Florida, including Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Naples, Estero, and surrounding communities. Service area and scheduling availability can be confirmed when you book your free in-home measure. Most projects in the region are on our regular installation schedule.
Many condo associations in Southwest Florida require a minimum IIC or STC sound-transmission rating, which means an approved underlayment must be installed beneath the flooring. Avelino can be floated with a compatible underlayment to meet those requirements, but you should obtain your HOA’s specific specs — and board approval if required — before scheduling installation. We can work with your association’s documentation.
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.
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Reviewed by Jack Maya, Lead Installer at Flooring Queen — 20+ years installing flooring in Southwest Florida.
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