Lochloosa Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99 per square foot installed in Fort Myers — a warm beige oak-look floor from LW Flooring’s Lakeview collection that reads natural and relaxed in equal measure. The embossed surface texture adds depth without overpowering a room, and the wide 7-inch plank format makes smaller spaces feel more open. It’s a practical, good-looking choice for Southwest Florida homeowners who want real wood character without the complications of solid hardwood.
A 5mm engineered construction and click-lock installation make Lochloosa a natural fit for homes built on concrete slab — the standard foundation throughout Southwest Florida. Engineered planks handle the humidity swings that come with coastal living far better than solid wood, holding their shape through wet season and the dry air of air-conditioned snowbird homes sitting vacant for months.
The wide-plank format and beige oak tone work well in main living areas, primary bedrooms, and open-plan layouts where you want visual continuity. The lifetime residential warranty signals this is built for daily use, not just light traffic.
| Plank Width | 7″ |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 48″ |
| Thickness | 5.0mm |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil |
| Finish | Polyurethane |
| Species | Look |
Flooring Queen’s installed price of $8.99 per square foot covers the full scope of a standard project: product delivery, removal and disposal of your existing floor covering, straightforward subfloor preparation, the installation itself, baseboard reinstallation, and transition strips between rooms or thresholds.
Costs go up for work outside that scope — significant subfloor leveling, stair nosing pieces, intricate layout patterns, or custom border details all carry additional charges. Before any commitment, Flooring Queen provides a complimentary in-home measurement and a written quote so you know the exact number for your specific space.
Lochloosa and solid hardwood look nearly identical once installed, but the construction is different in ways that matter in Southwest Florida. Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood milled end to end — it expands and contracts more dramatically with humidity swings, which makes it risky over concrete slab and in rooms with inconsistent climate control. Engineered hardwood like Lochloosa uses a layered plywood core that resists seasonal movement.
Where solid hardwood wins: it can be sanded and refinished more times over its lifespan, adding decades of longevity in stable, above-grade environments. But for slab-on-grade homes — the majority of Southwest Florida builds — engineered construction is the safer and more practical call.
| Lochloosa | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Better — stable over slab/humidity | Lower — expands with moisture |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 20 mil polyurethane finish | Varies; refinishable surface |
| Comfort underfoot | Warm, wood feel | Warm, wood feel |
| Installed price | $8.99/sq ft | Typically $10–$14/sq ft installed |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms, slab installs | Above-grade rooms, stable climates |
Sweep or vacuum Lochloosa regularly using a soft-bristle attachment — skip the beater bar, which can scratch the polyurethane finish over time. For damp mopping, use a well-wrung mop and a hardwood-formulated cleaner such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or a pH-neutral wood wash; standing water is the enemy of any wood-based floor and should be wiped up immediately. Avoid steam mops entirely — the heat and moisture can compromise the finish and the layered core construction. Harsh or acidic cleaners will dull the polyurethane over time, so stick to products labeled safe for finished hardwood. For technical guidance, see the National Wood Flooring Association consumer hardwood information.
Yes — Lochloosa should acclimate in the installation space for at least 48 to 72 hours before install. Southwest Florida’s humidity levels are higher than most manufacturing environments, so letting the planks adjust prevents gapping or buckling after the floor is down. Keep your HVAC running at normal living conditions during this period.
Lochloosa’s 5mm total thickness and polyurethane finish allow for light refinishing, though not as many passes as a thick solid hardwood. As a general rule, engineered floors at this thickness support one light sand-and-refinish cycle — enough to address surface scratches and refresh the look years down the line.
Engineered hardwood uses a stable plywood core topped with a real wood veneer, while solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood throughout. Solid wood moves more with humidity changes, making it a poor fit over concrete slab — the standard in Southwest Florida. Engineered construction like Lochloosa’s is specifically designed to handle those conditions.
Lochloosa works well in living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, and bedrooms — anywhere that sees regular foot traffic but isn’t routinely wet. Avoid installing it in full bathrooms, laundry rooms, or any space with standing water risk. Its click-lock system is designed for above-grade and on-grade slab installs, not below-grade applications like basements.
Hardwood and hardwood-look floors consistently appeal to buyers in the Southwest Florida market, and engineered oak is no exception. It photographs well, reads as a quality finish, and is broadly preferred over carpet in most resale contexts. That said, flooring is one factor among many — condition and overall home presentation matter just as much.
A single room install generally runs one day or less. A whole-home project covering 1,000 to 1,500 square feet typically takes two to three days, factoring in acclimation time and any prep work. Lochloosa’s click-lock system installs efficiently without adhesive, which keeps the timeline tight on straightforward jobs.
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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