Merlot Engineered Hardwood starts at $8.99 per square foot installed in Fort Myers — a wirebrushed, handscraped American Hickory floor in a warm walnut tone that reads like the real thing without the maintenance demands of solid wood. It comes from LW Flooring’s Sonoma Valley collection and arrives in a mix of 3-inch and 7½-inch widths that give any room a genuinely custom, varied look.
Southwest Florida’s combination of high humidity, concrete slab construction, and salt air can be hard on wood floors. Merlot’s engineered construction — a real Hickory face over a layered core — handles humidity-driven movement better than solid hardwood, making it a sound choice for the on-slab homes that dominate Fort Myers and Cape Coral neighborhoods. The three compatible install methods (float, glue, nail) mean it can adapt to most subfloor situations here.
The wirebrushed and handscraped surface texture does practical work beyond looks: it hides the fine scratches and scuffs that come from sandy floors, pets, and the foot traffic of snowbird rental seasons. Medium variation in the planks keeps the floor from looking uniform and artificial, and the lifetime residential warranty backs it up long-term.
| Plank Width | 3″ & 7-1/2″ |
|---|---|
| Plank Length | 74-3/4″ Random Length |
| Thickness | 1/2″ |
| Wear Layer | 2 mm |
| Finish | Polyurethane with Aluminum Oxide |
| Species | American Hickory |
Flooring Queen’s installed price for Merlot is $8.99 per square foot, and that covers the full project from start to finish: material delivery, removal of your existing floor covering, standard subfloor preparation, the installation itself, baseboard reinstallation, transition strips between rooms, and cleanup with haul-away of the old material.
Certain conditions add to that base price — significant subfloor leveling beyond routine prep, stair nosing on multi-story homes, or any custom borders and inlays require a separate line item. The best way to get an accurate number for your specific space is to schedule our free in-home measurement; you’ll receive a written, itemized quote before any work begins.
Merlot is engineered Hickory, not solid Hickory, and that distinction matters in Southwest Florida. Solid hardwood expands and contracts more dramatically with humidity changes, which makes it a risky choice over concrete slabs — the dominant foundation type in this region. Engineered construction limits that movement without giving up the real-wood face you’re paying for.
Where solid hardwood has a genuine edge is refinishing depth: a thick solid plank can be sanded multiple times over decades. Merlot’s 2 mm wear layer allows light refinishing, but not indefinitely. If a 50-year refinishing runway matters to you, solid hardwood is the honest answer. For most Fort Myers homeowners balancing humidity, slab installation, and durability, the engineered format is the more practical choice at the same price point.
| Merlot | Solid Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Handles humidity; avoid standing water | More vulnerable to humidity swings |
| Scratch resistance / wear layer | 2 mm real-wood wear layer, aluminum oxide finish | Varies by species; no factory finish standard |
| Comfort underfoot | Warm, real wood feel | Warm, real wood feel |
| Installed price | $8.99 / sq ft | $8.99–$12+ / sq ft |
| Best room | Living areas, bedrooms, slab-on-grade homes | Above-grade rooms with stable humidity |
Sweep or vacuum regularly to clear the fine sand and grit that’s hard on any wood finish in Southwest Florida — use a soft-bristle attachment rather than a rotating beater bar. For damp cleaning, a well-wrung microfiber mop and a hardwood-specific cleaner like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner or LOBA HomeCare works well; avoid anything with excessive water, vinegar, or steam, as prolonged moisture contact can raise the grain or affect the finish. Standing water should be wiped up immediately. Never use wax-based products over the polyurethane and aluminum oxide factory finish, as they create a residue that dulls the surface and interferes with any future recoating. 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, that step is non-negotiable — rushing it risks planks expanding after the floor is down. Leave boxes loosely stacked in the room where they’ll be installed, with the home’s HVAC running at normal occupancy temperature.
Merlot’s 2 mm wear layer does allow light sanding and refinishing — typically one or two times over the life of the floor. That’s meaningful but not unlimited, so heavy sanding passes are out. Screen-and-recoat is the more appropriate approach when the finish dulls rather than when the wood itself is worn.
Merlot works well in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Its three installation methods — float, glue, or nail — make it flexible for most above-grade and on-slab rooms. Avoid wet areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms; engineered hardwood is more moisture-tolerant than solid wood, but it is not waterproof and sustained moisture exposure will damage it.
Whether Merlot can install over existing flooring depends on the height and condition of what’s already there. A float installation can sometimes go over sound, flat tile or vinyl, but any height differential, loose tiles, or soft spots need to be addressed first. Our in-home measurement includes an assessment of the existing surface so there are no surprises on install day.
Real-wood flooring — including engineered hardwood — consistently appeals to buyers in Southwest Florida, particularly in the mid-range and move-up home segments where buyers compare finishes closely. It tends to photograph better and feel more substantial than vinyl plank alternatives. It’s not a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar return, but it rarely hurts and often helps relative to carpet or older laminate.
Ongoing costs for Merlot are low. A bottle of hardwood-formulated cleaner like Bona runs about $10 to $15 and lasts months with normal use. No sealing or waxing is required on the factory finish. The main longer-term cost is an eventual screen-and-recoat — roughly every 7 to 10 years depending on traffic — which a flooring professional can do without replacing the floor.
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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