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Engineered vs Solid Hardwood Flooring
Engineered vs solid hardwood flooring can start many a lively debate among friends, home builders or remodelers and homeowners. There are pros and cons to both, but for the most part, nobody can tell the difference in the look once the floor is installed. Let price, availability, and environmental issues help guide your choice.
In a world that is full of comparisons of different products and features, you will find that it can pay to compare items to get the best deal for your money. By comparing apples to apples and even apples to oranges, you can find the product that fits your needs and your budget. The good news is that this process doesn't even have to take you out of your home, if you wish, because most research can be done in the privacy of your home on your computer. This includes the engineered vs solid hardwood flooring comparison that you will want to do if you are considering either one of these flooring options for your home or room.
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When considering engineered vs solid hardwood flooring, you first want to find the features of each so that you have some basis to compare these two types of coloring. Here are the basics of each of these two types of wood flooring.
Engineered hardwood flooring
Engineered hardwood flooring is less expensive than solid hardwood. It made of a wood layers, but the layers below the surface are often composed of less expensive, stronger wood layers. The top layer is the decorative wood you have chosen for your home or office. Engineered hardwood flooring is also more environmentally friendly than solid hardwood floors because the sub-surface layers are made from "junk" or "scrap" wood, not the ornamental wood. This approach saves more forests because each tree of the desired ornamental wood can go further than it does with solid wood flooring.Unlike solid hardwood flooring, engineered flooring can be installed in any room that you choose, even a basement, because it can withstand moisture due to the layers of flooring that withstand buckling and rippling. Engineered flooring can also be installed over radiant floor heating, which can keep your feet warm during those cold winter months. It's also easy to install and looks just as beautiful as hardwood flooring at a much better price that will fit almost anyone's budget.
You'll be able to get three to four resurfacings from most engineered hardwood floors. So it's not as long lasting as solid wood flooring, but it's a durable floor during its lifetime.
Solid hardwood flooring
Solid hardwood flooring comes in many different wood varieties, including exotic woods. It's slightly more expensive than an engineered wood flooring, but if you are a diehard wood enthusiast, then you may want to stick with a solid hardwood flooring.Solid hardwood can't be installed (or isn't recommended) in high moisture rooms, like the kitchen, bath and basement. This is because the higher moisture content in the air -- or even on the floor -- can cause the wood to ripple or buckle, which will destroy the flooring.
Because you can refinish a solid wood floor more times than you can an engineered wood floor, this flooring type lasts longer, helping balance some of the environmental problems associated with some wood floors.
If you have children or pets, then you may want to consider the durability factor of solid hardwood flooring in your decision. Most solid hardwood flooring will need to be professionally installed, so if you are a do-it-yourselfer, then this is something that you will want to keep in mind.
Deciding between engineered vs solid hardwood flooring is a decision that should be made carefully. In some cases, your budget will be the determining factor, but if at all possible, it is better to let other considerations make your decision for you. Consider the rooms that you will be installing the flooring in, the people who will be walking on and enjoying the floors, and what your dream flooring is to help you determine the winner between engineered vs. solid hardwood flooring.
Comments
Hi Ed,
I would have to agree that if moisture is a concern for your area that Engineered Wood flooring would be a better choice. Please read through my article on Engineered Hardwood Flooring as well here: http://www.theflooringlady.com/engineered_hardwood_flooring_economical.html/
The Flooring Lady at June 29, 2009 04:28 PM
Hello, Thanks for this outstanding forum. My wife and I live in Tampa, FL. Our base floor is a concrete slab. We want to install hardwood floors in our hallways and bedrooms. Every “expert” we’ve spoken to has given us different suggestions. Our biggest challenge is the Florida humidity. We are leaning towards engineered wood versus solid. One salesperson told us that engineered floors sounds cheap and thereby recommended gluing solid wood floors. The next salesperson told us that because of the humidity in FL, we should use a floating engineered floor. The third salesperson recommended a solid floating floor. Would you recommend gluing a solid floor, gluing an engineered floor, floating a solid floor, or floating an engineered floor? Thanks in advance.
DS at August 24, 2009 06:40 PM
DS,
Whew! When I put engineered bamboo flooring in my house I heard the same sorts of debates. My conclusion was that regardless of the choice I needed to let the flooring material completely acclimate to my home and its conditions. It took patience, but I'd already had one flooring choice go bad and I was willing to do it right.
Engineered flooring is more stable than solid wood. It can't be refinished as many times, but you may not care about that, especially if you take good care of your floor.
Floating floors do move with climate changes as humidity and heat go up and down and are easier to install than a glue-down. To avoid gluing the edges of the boards/planks be sure to get a click floor, if possible, so you create one large floor that will shift with the weather.
Good luck. And enjoy that new floor.
The Flooring Lady at August 25, 2009 11:10 AM
I have read all the pages in this article......and we have to tell the builder tomorrow what floor we want. I see that you say you chose bamboo for your own house. We are trying to choose between bamboo and engineered wood. The dealer says the bamboo doesn't feel like wood when you walk on it..it feels like vinyl and tennis shoes can stick to it and it scuffs more. My whole decision is based on which is truly the best environemntally PLUS the best buy. Would you discuss bamboo vs. engineered hardwood? Thanks.
MB at September 7, 2009 04:42 PM
MB,
This article and as well as my article on Engineered or Nonengineered Hardwood Flooring which does discuss the environmental decisions between the two should help you in determining what type of flooring will fit your eco-conscious and your budget.
The Flooring Lady at September 9, 2009 01:52 PM
Please clear up confusion as to cost of engineered hardwood and solid hardwood. You stated that engineered hardwood is "less expensive" than solid hardwood. Chris Smitts at ezinearticles.com/Engineered-Hardwood-Floors-Can- Dramatically-Speed-Up-Your Installation says you "may pay a few more dollars for the engineered hardwood floors".
G. McIntosh at October 2, 2009 10:29 AM
G. McIntosh,
Thanks for the question.
I believe if you continue reading the article mentioned above, it states further on that engineered hardwood floor would save money vs. the solid hardwood.
The Flooring Lady at October 6, 2009 10:33 AM
Lots of great information. My husband and I live in Texas and we are having engineered wood flooring installed in our home. We have cats and a dog, how does engineered wood flooring stand up to pet accidents? Thanks for the help.
GC at October 20, 2009 02:17 PM
GC,
Engineered wood floors do stand up to moisture better than hard wood. Pet accidents are hard on any floors, but this would be a good choice. I would be sure to ask the installer if any additional sealer is needed, and let them know your concerns.
The Flooring Lady at October 22, 2009 09:20 AM
I came upon your site looking for comparisons about engineered vs solid hardwood for a friend, and feel compelled to say something. Solid hardwood floors are NOT that difficult to install - my husband and I have installed unfinished oak and hickory (and finished them) and finished bamboo - beautiful. We are about to install finished maple, oak, and more bamboo as well as engineered cork. Also, while I applaud the environmental concerns (why we use bamboo, and no, while it doesn't sound like true hardwood, it certainly doesn't sound like vinyl!) - engineered wood, while using 'scrap' woods, must require more glues (chemicals) to adhere the layers (increased VOCs) - and many scrap woods may not be sustainably harvested either. We obviously use both, and I have seen plenty of engineered wood that is much more expensive than solid. To be fair. Cheers,Angela
Angela at November 16, 2009 08:48 AM
