Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood Flooring

Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood Flooring
Congratulations—you've finally decided to invest in your home by installing hardwood floors. Now what? One of the biggest decisions you will make when choosing your hardwood floors, is whether to go with solid or engineered hardwood flooring. While both have their benefits and drawbacks, you should choose the one that best suits your lifestyle and circumstances. Here are the basics of these two types of wood flooring:

Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwood floors are cut from a solid piece of wood and are offered both unfinished or with a prefinished surface. Because the plank is made from 100% wood, it will react to changes in humidity, so it should be placed in rooms with low moisture levels. Solid hardwood flooring is typically ¾" thick. One of the benefits of this is that solid hardwood flooring can be refinished several times over the course of its lifetime. Because hardwood is especially prone to scratches and dents, you will want to pay special attention to the Janka hardness rating scale and buy a species (i.e., oak, ash, etc.) of wood appropriate to your lifestyle and your budget. Whether finished or unfinished, wood changes color over time due to oxidation and exposure to light. Most of the Exotic Species darken in color over time, while others lighten. Solid hardwood flooring comes in many different wood varieties, including exotic woods. It is also more expensive than engineered hardwood flooring because it is 100% wood.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood floors are a combination of solid hardwood flooring on top and unfinished plywood underneath. The benefits of engineered hardwood flooring are its increased strength, range of styles and finishes, and because engineered floors come prefinished there is no wait time for sanding and sealing. Engineered wood flooring also works well in kitchens, basements, and bathrooms where light moisture might be present. When installed by a professional, engineered wood can be re-finished three to four times in its lifetime. This is better for the environment and uses four times less of each log than solid hardwood floors.

When considering these two options, you should keep in mind the specifics for your home. For example, do you have kids? Pets? What is your budget? Will you buy finished or unfinished? How will the wood be cared for? These factors will all contribute to your decision. Hardwood flooring is an expensive and lifelong investment for your home that can turn even the dreariest space into an antique heaven or modern masterpiece. Only with the proper care and maintenance will your floors keep their beauty and luster, so be sure to choose the best floor type for your individual household's needs.