Eco-Strand is a three-ply engineered flooring with 2-millimeter sawn-cut Aspen veneer as a wear layer Sawn-cut veneer—made by taking long cuts straight through the log—better shows the natural grain and color variations in the wood than sliced veneer. The veneer is placed over a 9 mm Baltic birch core and 2 mm spruce balancing backer. (In an engineered floor, the backer is roughly the same weight as the wear layer to provide balance and stability.) The tongue-and-groove flooring can be stapled, glued, or floated. Boards are 5 1/4 inches wide and cost from $4.30 to $4.80 per linear foot. Award Hardwood Floors, 888.862.9273, awardfloors.com