Del Mar Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99 per square foot installed in Fort Myers — a wide-plank oak floor in a warm caramel finish from LW Flooring’s Grand Coast collection. At 9 inches wide and 6 feet long, each board reads like real hardwood with an embossed-in-register texture that traces the grain honestly. It’s the kind of floor that makes a room feel settled and finished without drawing attention to itself.
Del Mar is built for the conditions that wear out lesser floors in Southwest Florida. The 12mm construction with a hardwood core handles the humidity swings that come with coastal living, and the 5G locking system floats over concrete slabs without glue — which matters in a region where nearly every home sits on slab.
The caramel oak tone hides the fine sand and dust that blows in from beaches and lanais better than lighter finishes do. Seasonal homeowners will appreciate the dimensional stability during months when the AC runs light or not at all. The lifetime residential warranty reflects genuine confidence in how this floor holds up over years of real use.
| Plank Width | 9″ |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 72″ |
| Thickness | 12mm |
| Wear Layer | 30 Mil |
| Finish | Polyurethane |
| Species | Oak |
At $8.99 per square foot installed, the price covers everything needed to get Del Mar on your floor: delivery to your home, removal of your existing flooring, standard subfloor preparation, installation using the 5G click system, new baseboard reinstallation, and transition strips between rooms. Old flooring and debris are hauled off the property at no extra charge.
Upcharges apply when the subfloor needs significant leveling beyond routine prep, when stair nosing is part of the scope, or when a layout calls for diagonal or herringbone patterns. Call us or schedule a free in-home measure and we’ll walk the space with you, then put the full project cost in writing before any work begins.
Shoppers who want genuine wood grain often compare engineered hardwood to solid hardwood, and that’s a fair comparison — both use real oak, both can be finished to match. Where Del Mar has an edge is installation flexibility: the 5G floating system works directly over concrete slabs, which solid hardwood generally can’t handle without extensive adhesive work or sleepers. In Southwest Florida’s humidity, engineered construction also moves less seasonally than solid boards, which can cup or gap when moisture levels shift.
Where solid hardwood wins is refinishability — a thick solid plank can be sanded down multiple times over decades. Del Mar’s 30 mil wear layer allows refinishing, but the number of times is more limited than a 3/4-inch solid board. Solid hardwood also tends to cost more installed in this market.
| Del Mar | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Good; avoid standing water | Poor; avoid moisture entirely |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 30 mil polyurethane finish | Varies; no mil rating standard |
| Comfort underfoot | Warm, wood feel; slight give | Warm, wood feel; firm |
| Installed price | $8.99/sq ft installed | Typically $10–$14/sq ft installed |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms, slab installs | Above-grade rooms, wood subfloor |
Sweep or dust-mop Del Mar daily in high-traffic areas — fine grit tracked in from outside is the fastest way to dull a polyurethane finish. For wet cleaning, use a well-wrung mop and a hardwood-specific cleaner like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner; avoid steam mops entirely, as concentrated heat and moisture can work into the seams over time and swell the core. Never use ammonia-based cleaners, oil soaps, or abrasive scrubbers on the finish. Touch up minor surface scratches with a color-matched hardwood repair kit before they catch more debris and widen. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
LW Flooring recommends allowing engineered hardwood to acclimate in the installation space for at least 48 to 72 hours before install. In Southwest Florida’s humidity, that window helps the boards reach equilibrium with your home’s interior climate. Keep the AC running at your normal living temperature during acclimation — don’t open up the house.
Yes, Del Mar can be refinished — the 30 mil wear layer is substantial enough to allow light sanding if the surface gets scratched or worn over time. That said, 30 mil is not the same as a thick solid board; expect one careful refinish rather than multiple rounds before you reach the core.
In many cases, Del Mar’s 5G floating click system can go over existing hard-surface floors without removal, provided the surface is flat, firmly bonded, and within height tolerances at transitions. High spots, loose tiles, or thick vinyl stacks may need to be addressed first — we check all of that when we walk the room.
A single bedroom or living room is typically a one-day install once the existing floor is out. Full-home projects covering 1,500 to 2,500 square feet generally run two to three days. The 5G locking system is efficient to work with, though rooms with many angles or built-in features take longer to cut around.
Del Mar works well in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways — anywhere above grade on a slab or wood subfloor. Keep it out of bathrooms and laundry rooms where standing water is routine. It’s also not rated for below-grade installs, so basements outside Southwest Florida should look elsewhere.
Engineered hardwood handles seasonal vacancy better than solid wood, but it still needs a stable interior environment. Keep your thermostat set between 65°F and 80°F and maintain relative humidity in the 35–55% range while you’re away. Without climate control, repeated temperature and humidity swings can cause the boards to shift at the joints over time.
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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