Posted on Friday, October 31, 2014 10:41 AM
When shopping for hardwood flooring, one of the most important decisions you will make is whether to go with a solid wood or an engineered wood. While there are benefits found within each of these types of hardwood flooring, there are situations where one type of wood flooring may be better suited for your use than the other. Here’s a brief overview to help explain the differences between these two types hardwood flooring. Solid Hardwood Flooring As its name implies, solid wood flooring is made from one solid piece of 100% natural wood. Planks are available in various widths, lengths, and thicknesses, with most traditional planks offered in a 3/4” thickness with a tongue and groove fit. Solid wood can be stained and finished at the factory during the manufacturing process – referred to as prefinished or factory finished. Or you can choose to sand and finish this flooring after it is installed. And, if a high-traffic area becomes worn, or if the floor becomes scratched, solid hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times to restore the flooring to its original beauty. For installation, solid hardwood flooring requires nailing or stapling planks to an approved wooden subfloor. It’s not recommended to install over concrete slabs. Engineered Hardwood Flooring Engineered hardwood is also 100% wood. The difference here is that it is manufactured by permanently bonding together multiple thin layers of wood, called plies. Each ply is arranged in the opposing direction of the ply above it, so that grains run in opposite directions. This cross-ply construction produces a highly dimensionally stable plank that is not affected by moisture like solid wood flooring. Engineered wood planks are available in various widths and lengths, much like solid woods. Planks range from about 3/8” to 3/4” thick. The top wood top layer is usually stained and finished at the factory with a combination of aluminum oxide crystals for extra durability and several coats of UV-cured urethane. Engineered wood planks with at least a 1/8” thick top wood layer can generally be successfully sanded down and refinished, if needed. Most engineered wood floors can in glued, stapled, or floated over a variety of sub-floors on all grade levels. Which Type of Hardwood Flooring Works Best in Your Home? In terms of appearance, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between solid and engineered hardwoods once the flooring is installed. Both types are offered in a variety of wood species, widths, and finishes. Both can be stained to a variety of colors and are offered in several finishing options such as beveled or smooth edges and hand-scraping for added character. The major difference is that solid wood planks are more susceptible to the effects of moisture. Extreme temperature changes, high humidity, and excessive dampness will cause solid planks to expand and contract, resulting in gaps between the planks, referred to as cupping. Therefore, solid hardwood flooring is not recommended in humid areas, sites with extreme temperature changes, or for installations over concrete slabs or in rooms that are below grade level, such as basements. In contrast, the cross-ply construction of engineered wood flooring prevents the planks from growing and shrinking with changes in moisture and humidity levels, effectively avoiding the issues found in solid wood flooring. This makes engineered wood flooring the better choice for homes in areas like California where humidity and moisture are often a top concern. Engineered flooring can be installed over concrete slabs and even over radiant heating systems. In fact, engineered wood floors work well in just about any room of your home. The Right Choice for You Understanding the differences between solid and engineered hardwoods is an important step to choosing the wood flooring that’s best for you. Whether you choose solid or engineered wood flooring both will add pretty much the same resale value to your home. Need help finding the right hardwood floor for your home? Give us a call or stop in our Barry Carpet showroom. We’re happy to answer all your questions about hardwood floors and make sure the flooring you choose is the perfect one for your needs and budget.