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Engineered vs Solid Wood Floor

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

On it’s face solid wood and engineered wood may look the same. With both there is a wide selection of styles and colors to choose from. About 200 different species of wood used in both solid and engineered wood flooring.

Both solid and engineered wood floors offer benefits and disadvantages. Regardless, there are differences that you should be aware of.

Differences

Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood

Solid hardwood flooring is a single piece of wood from top to bottom.

The top layer of an engineered floor is also solid wood. The core layer is multiple layers or slats glued together. The layers are ran in opposing directions. Manufacturers use a variety of core materials, including plywood or medium-density fiberboard and high-density fiberboard (HDF).

Where to Install: Engineered Floor vs Solid Wood

Solid Wood

  • Install solid wood flooring on grade and above grade, but not below grade.
  • Solid wood performs best in a moisture-controlled environment.
  • Solid wood strip or plank, installed with nails or staples will usually require a wood or OSB subfloor or underlayment.
  • You may install a glue down engineered floor over a variety of substrates.

Engineered Wood

  • Engineered flooring will also require a wood or OSB substrate, when nailed or stapled down.
  • You may install a glue down engineered floor over a variety of substrates.
  • Some engineered floors allow floating installations while solid floors do not.

Heat and Moisture

  • 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.
  • Engineered wood flooring is constructed with cross ply contraction. Each ply layer stacked 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

  • 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.
  • For long term performance, solid wood flooring wins in the battle over engineered wood floors.

As you see, there are advantages and disadvantages to both solid wood floors and engineered wood floors. Choose wisely and with either, you will be pleased with your choice for years to come.

Both solid wood floors and engineered wood floors can fail. If you are experiencing a failure or have a concern with your wood flooring The Weinheimer Group can help. The Weinheimer Group offers flooring inspections throughout Oregon and Washington. To schedule and inspection or discuss your concern, fill out a request online.