Solid hardwood vs. engineered hardwood. Which is better?

I get this question about hardwood often and of course the answer is "it depends."  It depends on many factors including your subfloor, condition of your floor and what factors are important to you (e.g. ability to sand & refinish, height of floor (relative to other surfaces and/or cabinets and doors), cost, type of wood.  There is no "one size fits all" answer.

Usually, I go to a customer's home where I can look at their circumstances and advise them.  I'll ask them questions to better understand their needs.  And, often, I will give them prices for both options, so they can make a well informed decision.

Clarification - this is a discussion about HARDWOOD not LAMINATE.  Laminate is fake hardwood - it looks real, but it's not.  Engineered hardwood sounds fake, but it's not. It's real hardwood through and through just done in layers (it's a poor term for it that often causes customer confusion).

Advantages of solid hardwood.  (3/4" thick)

- It can be sanded & refinished MANY times.  So, if you get lots of scratches or if you want to change the color later, you can.

- If you have other hardwood in the house, chances are it's solid and this could be matched up to it from a height perspective and sometimes from a color perspective.

- Sometimes, it's less expensive...this all depends on what you are comparing it to, but sometimes, solid is less expensive than a sandable engineered product.  Sometimes, this is simply because the solids are more popular and sell more and hence are put on special more often.

- Comes in both prefinished and unfinshed forms.  (i will write another blog post on this).  So, if you have hardwood in other areas and want to match the color exactly (or almost exactly), this can be a great option for you.

Advantages of engineered hardwood (thickness varies from 5/16" to 3/4" but usu 3/8" or 1/2")

- Does not require a plywood subfloor.  This means if you have cement, you can install right over it and you don't have to worry about installing plywood which can greatly increase your costs.

- Can be installed below grade (e.g. in a basement that is below the ground).  Now, if there is a moisture problem hardwood may not be your best choice, but assuming moisture is not an issue, engineered hardwood is more flexible as to where it can be installed.

- Multiple ways to install - nail down (if plywood), glue or float.  More abt this in another post.

- Engineered hardwood is often (but not always) more stable.  Because of it's layers, it's often stonger than solid hardwood.  And, because the layers are perpendicular to each other, there is usually less expansion and contraction so it allows for a tighter fit, esp during the winter when it's more arid.  In addition, because it's more stable, you can often go wider in the planks (and can do so more cost effectively).

- Often, engineered products can be less expensive.  This is not always the case, but often the 5/16" and 3/8" are less expensive.  But, the thicker ones, esp if they can be sanded & refinished multiple times can sometimes be more expensive.  Of course, everything depends on what you are comparing (e.g. type of wood, width of planks, grade of wood, etc....I think I'll have to do a whole other blog post for on this topic.

- Some engineered hardwoods can be installed over radiant heat (but not all).  Very few solid hardwood can - only quarter sawn or rifted - usually this only comes in an unfinished format.

I hope this info is helpful for you.  If you do have an interest in setting up a free appointment - either for yourself or for a client, pls call us at 914-937-2950 or visit our website.  There are many of us across the country so you can also try to find someone in your area.  See what our customers are saying about us.

And, if you have any questions, feel free to write in.

Debbie Gartner, Floor Coverings International in Westchester/Western Fairfield

Feel free to download our free flooring guide.  Or, visit our flooring selector - almost 2,000 options for hardwood, carpet, tile and more. 914-937-2950.

"We bring the store to your door."

Originally posted at: Westchester Flooring - We bring the store to your door: Solid hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring. Which is better?