Engineered Hardwood Vs. Solid Hardwood

Hardwood floors are a thing of beauty and add value to a home.

While many homeowners appreciate the beauty and durability of a solid hardwood floor, caring for them can be an intimidating process for some. In these cases, engineered hardwood flooring is a great alternative.

Function

While solid wood floors contain nothing but the actual species of wood throughout, engineered flooring displays the genuine wood in a top, thin layer that covers a bottom layer of plywood and other material.

Considerations

Although there is no visible difference to an observer, engineered flooring is made using less real wood than a comparable solid hardwood floor, and therefore is more environmentally friendly.

Durability

Engineered flooring proves just as durable as solid wood flooring, although it has the added benefit of being more resistant to warping and splitting when exposed to moisture.

Maintenance

Due to the thin nature of the top layer in engineered flooring, sanding out dents or scratches can only be done a few times at most, while solid wood floors are thicker and can be sanded many times.

Cost

Prices for engineered flooring are very comparable to solid wood flooring. As of 2009, costs range from $8 to $10 per square foot.

References

• Engineered Hardwood Flooring
• How to Choose a Wood Floor
• Professor's House: Engineered Wood Flooring