The warmth, classic feel, and longevity of hardwood have attracted homeowners and builders for ages. There are also multiple manufacturing advantages for builders and homeowners, including substitutions for natural wood in the form of an engineered hardwood product. Commercial Floor Services has been installing engineered and solid wood flooring for many years. This article will cover some of the similarities, pros, and cons of solid and engineered wood flooring.
Product definitions:
As the name implies, solid wood flooring is one solid piece of wood that has been milled to meet its dimensional specifications. So if you’re installing solid wood, each plank will be 100% oak, bamboo, or whatever species is selected.
Planks of engineered hardwood are made of multiple layers of wood that are laminated together, with only the top layer being the desired wood, such as oak. By alternating the direction of the wood grain with each layer, engineered flooring stays very strong. It maintains an economical price point as the layers beneath the hardwood surface layer is more affordable. Engineered hardwood is available in many of the same types of wood as solid hardwood, from oak to bamboo.
Both solid and engineered hardwoods are available with beveled edges, hand-scrapped surfaces, stains, and other finish options. Engineered wood can also be classified as a wood floor for home resale purposes, just like solid hardwood.
Installation and maintenance:
Regarding installation and maintenance, there are many significant differences between solid and engineered hardwood. While the planks of each product look identical when the floor is complete, the difference in materials affects how and where they are installed and how they will be maintained.
Engineered hardwood is milled with grooves that allow the planks to fit together tightly as they are installed, just like its solid counterpart. Solid hardwood is more susceptible to environmental changes due to the nature of being a single piece of wood. Solid wood planks will expand and contract more than their engineered counterparts as they are far more susceptible to humidity and moisture. In addition to fitting together, solid wood planks must be nailed or stapled to the subfloor as the installation progresses. Although new glue products advertise the ability to install solid wood on a concrete slab, they are relatively new to the market, and caution is advised as an engineered product can offer time-tested reliability.
In contrast, engineered wood can be installed with nails or staples in addition to being secured with glue, or it can be installed as a floating floor. This installation flexibility can allow a homeowner to have a wood floor in areas where solid wood is unusable, such as a basement. Since the engineered products can match the solid wood in other home areas, continuous floors are available throughout the home.
When it comes to protecting and maintaining your floors, solid and engineered wood products are relatively similar. Since the top layer of an engineered plank is hardwood, just like its solid counterpart, there are many similarities. Both products need protection from scratches and dents and the same types of cleaners and polish are appropriate for both.
One notable difference is when it comes to refinishing. Solid wood flooring can be sanded down multiple times, allowing several refinishes over the floor’s lifetime. This is why solid hardwood can last for decades. Some engineered products can also be refinished, but it is vital to have a professional do this as the top layer of hardwood must not be sanded away, or the structural layers of wood will become visible. This means that there are usually fewer refinishes available for an engineered product.
The team here at Commercial Floor Services has been installing both solid and engineered wood floors for many years and we have the experience and knowledge to help you make the best decision for your home.
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