I'm not an expert but I do know a 4 mm wear layer means that floor can be refinished once or twice should it need it. A 1.2 mm layer, I doubt it.

Here is a very helpful article we compiled about how to pick a good quality Engineered floor <- link . A thin wear layer is going to have some limitations.

Option #2...because option #1 doesn't look very promising. The 'fibreboard core' is concerning. This isn't a 'wood' floor it would be considered a hybrid. It sits somewhere between laminate (HDF core) and an engineered hardwood (top layer of hardwood sitting on plywood). If you want engineered hardwood then PLEASE purchase hardwood. If you want laminate, then PLEASE purchase laminate. The hybrid of option #1 may not give you want you THINK it will give you. It will give you a laminate with all the issues laminate has with moisture etc. It will give you the DOWN SIDE of both floors.

Option #2 is a NICE sounding product. The total board thickness is a snick more than 1/2" (5/8" = 16mm). The wear layer of 4mm is 25% the total thickness. That's a nice ratio. The 4mm means you will get a floor that can be refinished (you need a minimum of 3mm wear layer to get a proper sand/refinish). The thickness of the wear layer also indicates the stability of the product. A THIN wear layer often PEELS/splits/cracks because it doesn't have the hold needed to grab onto a different material.

You will notice option #1 has 1.5mm. I am going to tell you a secret which not many people know. The HDF core is VERY dynamic. It is SOOOO dynamic it can/will move up to 1" over 25 linear feet! I can pretty much guarantee you the 1.5mm wear layer is NOT going to allow that type of movement. Which means the GLUE will be the ONLY THING from allowing the HDF from expanding MORE than the rigid top layer. The glue will fail and the thin wood surface will split/check/crack/peel under extreme movement (1" over 25 linear feet is considered extreme BTW).

There are few surfaces that can handle that type of movement...hardwood is NOT one of them. Paper photographs sitting over the paper HDF = no problem = traditional laminate. Cork surface over HDF = no problem...cork is very dynamic/stretchy.

Pay the up-charge or go with traditional laminate. Traditional laminate in the PRICE RANGE you are looking at for floor is going to outperform the hybrid. And the hybrid cannot go in a kitchen without SERIOUS moisture prevention the seams. The HDF will expand when it comes in contact with moisture. The wood on top will NOT expand in the same way.

Remember: floors take the MOST amount of abuse of any finish. There is always something sitting on, touching, walking on the floor at all times...because gravity works. Do not go cheap with flooring. It works out to be far more expensive.

Share pictures ones its all finished!

will do, 3 months timeline from now

@John Forte Has your hardwood flooring been installed? If so, can you post pictures? Provide feedback on the product? I'm considering Villa Caprisi and would love to see photos and get your opinion on the product. Thanks!

@John Forte floor in?

@John Forte It has been years after you installed your Villa Caprisi Trentino, how does it hold up? We are also looking at Villa Caprisi, but a different model - MODENA. Would you mind sharing your experience with Villa Caprisi? Thanks in advance.

Photos from Houzzers? My experience is when the job is done they rarely follow-up.

Same with my customers. "I promise to send pictures."

IE: My brother in law is a photo journalist, my grand daughter is very good and I can do it too...hehe. Oh, I forgot "the decorator/builder/architect plans to take pictures" and more. We'll send you the link.

I get about a 96% rate of people not sending pictures.

I also offer a $ 200 reward for good pictures of colors and styles I don't have in my room scene gallery Few take advantage of it.

alright my peeps, I see these comments in one my miscellaneous e-mails. I got you don't stress so much.

Well, the wood floors are holding up pretty well. They are fairly resistant to dings, my 3 year old has dropped plenty of things and usually there are no scuffs, dings, or other marks.

I'm pleasantly surprised how well liquids clean up, the finishing is still intact. We've spilled lasagna ( that was like the first week we lived there), yogurt, and other random crap on it. No stains.

Very minimal shifting/gaps with the change of seasons and humidity. We live in MN so major humidity shifts between summer and winter.

I would say that in the areas where there are some scrapes and dings, you can see the inner wood and the wear layer doesn't seem so thick even though it was like 3x thicker than our other options and it was level IV option compared to the 15,000 cheaper level I options when we built. I guess I'll never know but I am satisfied with the quality so far, just wish I could have had it more black like my original selection.

BTW these are all pics when the construction was finished before we moved in.

Thank you for the information, it makes me more confident on proceeding with Villa Caprisi MODENA! Your floor looks great!