If you’re trying to decide between solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring, there are a few differences to consider.
Engineered hardwood has come a long way over the years, making it nearly indiscernible from solid hardwood flooring. Though they look the same, the two flooring options have some key differences that could affect which you choose when it’s time to install a new hardwood floor in your home.
Structure
Solid hardwood flooring is made of pure wood—typically hardwoods such as oak, walnut, and cherry, among others. This provides some important advantages—and disadvantages—to engineered hardwood.
Engineered hardwood flooring has a thin layer of solid hardwood on top of a plywood base. Having a plywood base might make it seem like it’s an inferior product, but it isn’t completely outshined by solid hardwood flooring.
Longevity
Solid hardwood flooring can last up to 100 years or more because it lacks the plywood base. Being made of solid hardwood allows this flooring to be sanded down and refinished multiple times over the course of decades. This is a major advantage, but improper care will still take years off the life of solid hardwood flooring. There’s more wood to work with, but it’s not infinite.
Engineered hardwood flooring can typically only be sanded and refinished once—twice if you’re lucky. This greatly reduces its lifespan, even with excellent care. That said, this flooring can still last up to 30 years or so.
Warping
Solid hardwood is actually more prone to warping than engineered hardwood. Since the whole floor is pure wood, it is far less resistant to water and heat damage.
The plywood base for engineered hardwood flooring adds stability and makes it less vulnerable to the same types of damage, making it more durable than solid hardwood flooring.
Affordability
Unsurprisingly, solid hardwood flooring generally costs around twice as much as engineered hardwood. This is considered more of a luxury flooring, however, and is proven to raise the value of your home. This could make the extra cost worth it in the long run.
Engineered hardwood flooring isn’t a particularly cheap option but it is considerably less costly than solid hardwood, costing around half as much. It doesn’t have the longevity of solid hardwood flooring, but ultimately it is still capable of lasting for several decades before needing to be replaced.
Verdict
Ultimately, there is no clear winner between solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. The best option between the two will depend on the look you want and what your particular needs and personal taste are.
Contact Mike’s Flooring and Design Center
Since Mike purchased the business in 1996, he and his team have helped families like yours throughout Delmarva, Sussex County, DE, and Ocean City, MD. Mike continues to be involved in the day-to-day operations, ensuring the vision you share is the one we help deliver.
Over the years, we have established relationships with local manufacturers, such as Adura, COREtec, and Bruce, who we trust to deliver superior work. Our team will continue to be your point of contact through the entire process to be sure you are completely satisfied.
We also provide “SHOP AT HOME” service. We will bring samples directly to your home, or should you already know what products you want, we can safely provide you with a “FREE ESTIMATE.” This allows you the flexibility of not having to be at home for us to do an estimate, nor the installation. All we will need to know is what areas in your home we would be doing and how we can gain access (hidden key, lock box, coded entry, realtor, neighbor, etc.). This is tailored around the homeowner who needs to get their unit ready for the season or simply enhancing their home but does not want to leave their home or can’t make it to town (Ocean City, Berlin, Salisbury, Worcester / Wicomico County Maryland & Sussex County Delaware).
This service is not new to us. We have already been providing this service for our customers for the past 26 years. With the current situation at hand, we can continue to provide you with your Floor Covering and/or Window Treatment & Design needs along with the “AWESOME SERVICE YOU DESERVE, ALONG WITH PROFESSIONAL, QUALITY INSTALLATIONS.”