Below is a comparison of engineered and solid hardwood.
THE LOOK:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Looks Beautiful, natural look, no two pieces are exactly alike. Wide variety of wood types and finishes. | Beautiful, natural look, no two pieces are exactly alike. Wide variety of finishes. Especially great for wide plank floors. |
MATERIALS:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
100% wood- solid. | Top layer veneer is solid wood, with composite backing. |
DURABILITY:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Varies by wood type, thickness, width, and finish. | Varies by veneer type and thickness, board thickness, and finish. |
GOOD FOR PETS:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Look for types that are recommended by the manufacturer for pets, take special precautions to protect floors. | Look for types that are recommended by the manufacturer for pets, take special precautions to protect floors. |
EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Prone to expansion and contraction. | Does not expand or contract as much as Solid wood. |
MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Sensitive to moisture and temperature fluctuation. | Sensitive to moisture and temperature fluctuation, but less so than hardwood. |
CARE AND CLEANING:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Frequently sweep or vacuum, occasionally mop with approved cleaner and damp mop | Frequently sweep or vacuum, occasionally mop with approved cleaner and damp mop |
REFINISHING & SANDING:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Can be sanded and refinished multiple times depending on thickness of product. | May be sanded and refinished once, twice, or not at all depending on veneer. |
RADIANT HEAT COMPATIBILITY:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Compatible with a small subset of hardwood floors. See manufacturer specifications | Most are compatible, check with specific manufacturer & heat rating. |
INSTALLATION OFF LIMITS:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Never below the table (basements). Avoid areas where moisture is present. | Use with caution in basements, bathrooms, kitchens (and consider better options like tile, vinyl, etc.) |
INSTALLATION METHODS:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Nailed. Solid Hardwood must be acclimated for days based on the manufacturers specifications at the dwelling it is being installed at. | Nailed, stapled, glued, floating. Engineered Hardwood must be acclimated for days based on the manufacturers specifications at the dwelling it is being installed at. |
SUMMARY:
Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
Solid wood over the years has dropped in popularity. It is typically used to for matching to existing solid wood in a home during a remodel or an addition. Wider planks have been typically more popular which you would see in the engineered variety. The average width of these boards is about 3 1/4" wide. | Engineered has grown exponentially in popularity over the years. Due to the wider plank. Typical width ranges from 5"-9". Engineered can usually be a less expensive option as well due to the mills only needing a thin layer of veneer vs the entire solid plank. Engineered is typically used in new construction homes and remodels. |
Stop into SimpleFLOORS located at 2325 Enterprise Ave in Tea today or call us at 605-553-9077, and let our expert staff help you decide if Solid wood or Engineered Wood is the best option for you!
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