Durham Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99/sq ft installed in Fort Myers — a natural-toned wood-look floor from LW Flooring’s Shires collection that brings understated warmth to any room. The embossed surface and wide 9-inch planks read as genuine hardwood without the maintenance demands of solid wood. It’s a straightforward choice for homeowners who want a classic look without overcomplicating the decision.
At 5mm thick with a loose-lay or glue-down installation method, Durham is well-suited to concrete slab foundations — the standard construction in Southwest Florida homes. Gluing directly to slab means no bounce, no hollow sound, and a stable floor even as humidity swings between dry season and summer storm months.
The polyurethane finish and square-edge profile keep things clean and easy to maintain, which makes this a practical fit for high-traffic areas like main living rooms, hallways, and open-plan dining spaces. It holds up in seasonal and rental properties where floors take consistent wear between tenant turnovers.
| Plank Width | 9” |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 60” |
| Thickness | 5mm |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil |
| Finish | Polyurethane |
| Species | Loose Lay |
Durham installs at $8.99 per square foot, and that price covers the full job: material delivery, removal of your existing floor covering, subfloor inspection and standard prep, installation, baseboard reinstallation, and transition strips between rooms. Debris is cleared from the site when the crew wraps up.
Some projects carry additional costs — significant subfloor leveling, stair nosing, or intricate layout patterns all fall outside the base price and will be itemized separately. Flooring Queen offers a free in-home measurement; you’ll receive a written quote specific to your home before any work is scheduled.
Durham is engineered hardwood, which means it has a real wood veneer over a layered core. That construction handles humidity fluctuations better than solid hardwood — an important difference in Southwest Florida, where summer moisture levels can cause solid planks to swell, cup, or gap seasonally. Gluing engineered hardwood directly to a concrete slab is standard practice here; solid hardwood typically can’t be glued down that way.
Where solid hardwood has the edge: it can be sanded and refinished more times over its lifespan, adding more flexibility for future remodeling. Durham’s 20 mil wear layer allows limited refinishing, but a solid 3/4-inch plank has more material to work with. If you plan to stay in the home for 30+ years and want maximum refinishing potential, solid hardwood is worth the higher cost.
| Durham | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Moderate — engineered core handles humidity | Low — solid wood swells and cups in humidity |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 20 mil polyurethane finish | Thicker wear surface; varies by species |
| Comfort underfoot | Firm, natural wood feel | Firm, natural wood feel |
| Installed price | $8.99/sq ft installed | Typically $12–$16/sq ft installed |
| Best room | Main living areas, slab-on-grade homes | Upper floors, homes with crawl space foundations |
Sweep or dry-mop Durham regularly to keep grit from grinding into the polyurethane finish — fine sand particles are the most common culprit for surface dulling in Southwest Florida homes. For damp cleaning, use a hardwood-formulated cleaner like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or a comparable pH-neutral product applied with a well-wrung mop; standing water or overly wet mopping can work moisture into the seams over time. Avoid steam mops entirely — the heat and vapor can compromise the finish and loosen the adhesive bond on glue-down installations. Acidic or solvent-based cleaners should also be kept off this floor. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
Engineered hardwood should acclimate in the installation space for at least 48 to 72 hours before install. In Southwest Florida’s humidity, this step matters — the planks need to adjust to your home’s ambient moisture levels so they don’t shift after the adhesive sets. Keep the HVAC running at normal living conditions during this period.
Durham can be lightly refinished, though not as many times as a thick solid hardwood plank. The 20 mil wear layer gives you some margin for a light screen-and-recoat if the finish dulls or shows minor surface scratches, but it won’t support repeated deep sanding. One careful refinish is realistic over its lifespan.
Flooring Queen installs Durham throughout the Southwest Florida region, including Cape Coral, Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, and the greater Fort Myers area. If you’re unsure whether your address falls within the service area, a quick call to the store will confirm it — most of Lee and Collier County is covered.
Hardwood floors — engineered included — are consistently listed as a value-positive feature by real estate agents in the Southwest Florida market. Buyers respond well to wood floors in living areas. That said, the return varies by neighborhood and price point; in entry-level homes, the premium over vinyl may not translate dollar-for-dollar at sale.
Whether Durham can install over existing tile depends on what the subfloor inspection reveals. The glue-down method requires a flat, solid substrate — if the existing tile is well-bonded, level, and in good condition, it may be usable as a base. If tiles are loose, cracked, or create an uneven surface, removal is the safer path. The in-home measurement will include a substrate check.
LW Flooring provides a Lifetime residential warranty on Durham and a 15-year commercial warranty. Manufacturer warranties on engineered hardwood typically cover structural integrity and finish defects under normal use conditions. They generally exclude damage from flooding, improper installation, or cleaning products not approved for hardwood — keep your install records and product documentation on file.
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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