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Engineered

Develop at a later date to solve some limitations of traditional solid wood flooring; engineered wood is made of two or more layers of wood to forma single plank. The top layer is the wood that is visible and provides its appearance, and it is adhered to the core made of several layers of wood which provides stability. When solid wood is not suitable for use, engineered wood can provide an authentic wood flooring appearance with the needed stability.

Solid Wood

Solid wood floors are the traditional type of wood floors. They have a variety of dimension, and are milled from a single piece of timber. Although solid wood flooring should not be used in certain environments, and has certain limitations; however when conditions permit, it is generally the best choice of wood flooring for any home.

Choosing Between Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring

It is difficult to make a direct comparison between solid and engineered wood because they are made for different purposes.

Solid wood flooring cannot be installed over concrete, should not be installed below grade (basements) because of humidity concerns, and should not be used with radiant floor heating. Solid wood flooring is also prone to contraction and expansion due to humidity, and temperature. It also limited in plank widths because it is prone to gapping and cupping in wider widths. However because the whole plank is milled from a single piece of lumber it can be sanded multiple times.

Engineered wood flooring is designed specifically to be used where solid wood plank cannot be used, but where hardwood flooring is desired. Engineered wood flooring can be installed over concrete, in below grade environments like basements and is less prone to changes in size due to humidity and temperature. However, because only the top, thin layer of engineered wood flooring is made from hardwood, it is not to be re-sanded multiple times like solid plank.