Solid Hardwood and Engineered Wood Floors, The Facts

Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood

Engineered wood flooring vs solid wood flooring, which is best? The answer has and continues to be an ongoing battle, among many experts!

The face solid wood and engineered wood may look the same. Regardless, there are differences that you should be aware of.

Both solid and engineered wood floors offer benefits and disadvantages.
With both there is a wide selection of styles and colors to choose from.

Use: Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood

Solid wood flooring can be installed on grade and above grade, but not below grade.
Solid wood performs best in a moisture-controlled environment.
Engineered wood flooring is more dimensional stable. Like solid wood floor it can be installed on grade or above grade.
While solid wood floor cannot be installed below grade, engineered flooring can.
Engineered flooring can also be installed in many areas where moisture prevents the installation of solid wood. When moisture is a problem, the advantage goes to engineered flooring.

Installation: Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood

Solid wood strip or plank, installed with nails or staples will usually require a wood or OSB subfloor or underlayment.
Glue down solid wood can be glued over a variety of substrates.
Engineered flooring will also require a wood or OSB substrate, when nailed or stapled down.
Glue down engineered flooring may be installed over a variety of substrates.
Some engineered floors can be installed as a floating installation, where solid floors cannot.
If you need a floating floor, engineered wins this battle.

Heat and Moisture: Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood

Solid wood planks expand and contract with a change in temperature and relative humidity.
Engineered floors will also expand and contract but not nearly to the degree of a solid wood floor.
With both floors, moisture related expansion and contraction is primarily in width. The change in length is usually minimal.
Properly manufactured, engineered wood flooring is constructed with cross ply contraction. Each layer of ply is staked with the grain running in the opposite direction. The plies are laminated together, which helps to prevent expansion and contraction.
Some engineered floors are plied with woods of different species and densities which may not be as stable.
When installed in a high moisture environment, the expansion-contraction advantage, goes to a properly constructed engineered wood flooring.

Long Term Performance: Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood

For long term performance, you may sand and refinish a 3/4″ solid wood floor as many as 10 times. You will find the original solid wood flooring in many houses that are over 100 years old.
With an engineered floor, you may be able to sand it once. Many engineered floors cannot be sanded.
Solid wood flooring wins in the battle over engineered floor vs solid wood.

Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood Quick Comparison Chart

Characteristics
Fastener or staple installation
Floating installation
Scratch and dent
May refinished
Reacts to moisture
On or above grade install
Below grade installation

Solid Wood
Yes
No
Yes
Up to 10 times
Yes
Yes
No

Engineered Wood
Yes
Some
Yes
0 to 2 times
Less
Yes
Yes

Wood Flooring Grades the Beauty and Ugly

There are different wood flooring grades (be it on room or shower) offering a variety of characteristics to wood floors. There is beauty and there is ugly in wood flooring. These perceptions can be the same wood flooring grades and the same pieces of wood within those grades. With wood flooring, what one person sees as ugly another person sees as beauty. Examples of this would be Cabin, Character and Premium wood flooring grades.

Wood Floor Cupping Cause and Effect

Wood floor cupping is a common problem that occurs with both solid and engineered wood floors. If you think you can escape cupping by installing a bamboo or laminate floor you can’t for they can also cup.

Wood Flooring Problems Moisture Related

Wood flooring problems are usually unexpected and most often preventable. Wood flooring is the real thing, unlike laminate which is a photograph of wood. Being a product of nature there will be occasional wood flooring problems. Wood flooring problems will usually be prevented through proper milling, installation and care once it has been installed. The information in this article also pertains to bamboo flooring.

Refinishing Hardwood Floors on Your Own

Refinishing hardwood floors is an adventure that some avid do-it-your-self individuals will take up on their own. If your hardwood floors are in dire need of refinishing, get a few estimates from professionals. You may be surprised at the figures. You may want to sit down when they tell you it will cost you $1200 to have your living room redone. For many homeowners refinishing hardwood floors is a job they would prefer to have the pro perform. While you could carpet over your hardwood for less than refinishing hardwood floors, carpeting over beautiful hardwood floors seem, well, wrong?

Hardwood Flooring Questions

Do you have some hardwood flooring questions to ask? Hardwood flooring is a substantial purchase. The variety of floors to choose from seems almost limitless. Here are some answers to frequently asked hardwood questions that should be of good assistance in selecting the ideal wood floor.

Wood Hardness Testing

Wood hardness testing methods are used to measure wood hardness in pounds of force. Many different species of wood that are of many different hardness levels are used in the manufacturing of hardwood floors. Wood hardness testing comes a bit late when a new hardwood floor is installed and it becomes indented by high heel shoes a pebble, furniture legs or other method.

Wood Flooring Disputes

Wood Flooring Disputes: Should You Choose Court Trial Or Arbitration?

By Blake R. Nelson

If you’ve entered into a contract with a customer, chances are good that you’ve approved via your signature some sort of dispute resolution—maybe you agreed that disputes will be heard at a particular location, or maybe you agreed to a specific form of dispute resolution. Did you realize that?

Veneer Checks in Wood

Understanding and Minimizing Veneer Checking on Furniture Panels

Craig L. Forbes

Assistant Professor and Wood Products Extension Specialist

North Carolina State University

A commonly occurring and costly problem in wood furniture manufacturing is the development of small cracks in the furniture’s finish called veneer checks. Veneer checks usually appear as uniformly spaced hairline cracks in the finish or, in severe cases, cracks with accompanying ridges on the wood surface which actually can be detected by touch. In any case, veneer checks always run parallel with the grain of the wood (Figure 1), a characteristic that can be used to distinguish veneer checks from other defects. Random orientation of cracks in the finish (not parallel to the wood grain) generally indicates non-wood-related causes.

Laminate or Real Wood Floors

Laminate or real wood flooring is a decision that we may find ourselves faced with. Whether you have just built a new home, or are considering a change to your current flooring, perhaps you are intrigued by the addition of wood. There is nothing more classic than hardwood floors. It is found in the most expensive of homes and lends a certain charm to every room. Real wood flooring, while beautiful, is also expensive. It may or may not be the right choice for you. This article will explore the terms laminate and wood flooring and why you should be familiar with their individual meanings.

Solid Hardwood and Engineered Wood Floors