Solid Wood flooring vs. Engineered Wooden Flooring? Who’s the Winner?

Hardwood flooring is the best way to enhance the beauty, durability and value of your home. Among the various wood flooring options available, solid wood and engineered wood are the prominent ones. Since both are different in terms of composition, versatility and suitability of conditions, you need to know about the features of both before zeroing in on one option.

Difference between solid wood and engineered wood flooring:

The major difference between solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring is in the composition of wood panels. While solid wood is milled from a single piece of wood with thickness 18-20 mm, engineered wood is composed of various layers of wood compressed and glued together to the desired thickness.

Features of Solid wood flooring:

• Solid wood flooring is installed with the standard tongue and groove mechanism, which can expand and contract due to the changes in relative humidity.

• Solid wood flooring has the advantage of sanding and refinishing it whenever required, although it is generally required once in 15-20 years.

• It can last for many years and with ageing the beauty of the wood is enhanced that adds more character to your home.

• It is little more expensive than engineered floor. Urethane coated floors offer the economical choice of being re-coated for a new look instead of sanding and refinishing.

Features of Engineered wood flooring:

• Engineered wood is produced by several layers of wood stacked and bonded together under high temperature and pressure. Due to this, engineered wood is least affected by humidity variations and can be set up at all levels of your home.

• The engineered pieces fit together for fast and inexpensive installation.

• This flooring can be installed even in bathrooms, basements or moister areas.

• Since most of the tree is utilized to make the wood piles, least wood wastage is there and it is considered more Eco friendly.

• Engineered wood is pre-finished with its edges beveled for an attractive look.

How to compare solid wood and engineered wood:

Both solid wood and engineered wood have advantages and limitations in terms of general appearance, resistance to climatic variations and durability.

Undoubtedly, engineered wood panels are longer and wider than solid panels. At the onset engineered wood is better secured and prefinished with special treatments and delivers a more appealing appearance. To a great deal, engineered wood fits more tightly. Moreover, installation charges are less in engineered wood compared to solid wood.

Despite of its limitations, solid wood promises many advantages. Since solid wood is typically thicker than engineered wood, you can do re-sanding to smooth the surface in the future, if needed. In engineered wood depth is less for re-sanding.

Engineered wood lets you have the solid wood look without the drawbacks of it. Thus, engineered wood is a more practical choice for many house owners with its versatility and climatic resistance. However, experts suggest having solid wood flooring for a heavy traffic area because its thicker wood panels last longer and could be refinished in the future.