When it comes to purchasing hardwood, there are two options to choose from: solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. Here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantages each provide.
Construction and Design
Solid hardwood planks are created by taking a solid piece of wood and using that to create the entire plank.
Engineered hardwood only uses a small layer of solid wood on top of layered plywood.
The variety of shapes and sizes of both types of hardwood is somewhat different. Solid hardwood planks tend to be longer and more narrow than engineered hardwood.
Durability
The construction of solid hardwood makes it more durable and longer lasting than engineered hardwood.
Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished if they are starting to look worn and aged. Solid hardwood can usually be refinished two to three times, but engineered hardwood can usually only be refinished once.
If properly taken care of both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood will last a lifetime.
Investment
On average, engineered hardwood costs less than solid hardwood. However, more premium collections of engineered hardwood do match up cost wise to solid hardwood.
Engineered hardwood also usually costs less to install. Solid hardwood will likely take two to three times longer to install than engineered hardwood.
Resale Value
Even though solid hardwood flooring generally lasts longer than engineered hardwood, it has a similar resale value when selling a home.
Humidity Issues
It isn’t recommended to install hardwood flooring in very humid and wet environments, engineered hardwood will hold up better in environments with more humidity than solid wood flooring will. Engineered hardwood is more resistant to warping.
Overall, both engineered and solid hardwood are great options for your home. There are many different designs, and most looks will be available in both solid and engineered hardwood.
Check out County Flooring’s free product visualizer and you can see how our selections of solid and engineered hardwood look in your space.
