Solid Hardwood vs Engineered- What’s the difference?

Wood is a natural and renewable material that has been used for centuries in construction. Wood flooring can be found in many places, from the floors of your local grocery store to the cabin you're staying at this weekend. Naturally, there are many different types of wood flooring. Let's focus on two: solid and engineered. It's important to know the difference between these two materials if you want your home or office space to have a beautiful finish with longevity.

Advantages of Solid Wood Flooring

Surface: Solid wood looks and feels more natural than engineered hardwood. It is uniform in color and there are no gaps or glue lines, so the flooring will feel more like a smooth surface to walk on and won't have any grooves or ridges in it.

Maintenance: Solid wood can be sanded down to remove scratches and stains without sacrificing too much of the actual flooring material many times over, whereas engineered hardwood can only handle being refinished once before needing to be replaced.

Resale Value: Solid wood is worth more on the resale market than engineered hardwood, so this is something you will want to consider if you are planning on selling your home someday.

Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring

Installation: In some cases you can even install engineered wood yourself without hiring a professional thanks to click-and-lock systems that allow boards to easily go together. Other times engineered wood is glued together, which is slightly more difficult to install but still easier than traditional solid wood.

Cost: Engineered hardwood also has the advantage of being less expensive than solid hardwood because there's less material involved.

Disadvantages of Solid Wood Flooring

Cost: Solid wood is more expensive than engineered hardwood, so if you are on a budget this may not be the best option for your home.

Durability: Solid wood floors are less resistant to water, which means that it's more likely they will warp or buckle if exposed to too much moisture.

Installation: Solid wood flooring is not as easy to install yourself compared to engineered hardwood which you can do without hiring a professional.

Disadvantages of Engineered Wood Flooring

Durability: Engineered hardwood won't last as long as solid hardwood, which means you'll have to replace it more often.

Moisture: Engineered wood flooring is also not as resistant to damage from water, which means it's likely to warp or buckle if exposed to too much moisture.

Repairs: Replacement planks can be difficult to install without a professional if they are glued together. Even just click-and-lock planks have to be taken completely apart to replace a single faulty or damaged plank, which is time consuming to say the least.

Final Notes

Engineered hardwood flooring is a cheaper and easier option for homeowners on a budget who still want the look of wood floors. Traditional solid wood floors are more expensive and require regular maintenance, but they also offer better durability than engineered boards. If you're shopping around for the right type of hardwood flooring we hope this post helped give you some insight into what's available!

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