hardwood floor choices

Homeowner’s Guide: Hardwood Flooring vs. Engineered

Types of Hardwood FlooringAre you in need of new flooring for your space? Want to leave your friends and family feeling floored by your new floors, but not sure how to pick the right option? Then it’s time to explore your options.

Today, Denver’s Choice Hardwood Floors explains the difference between hardwood flooring and engineered, so you can make the best decision for your home.

Defining Solid and Engineered

If you don’t want laminate or some sort of vinyl lookalike, your options include solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. While they may look similar on the surface, they’re actually quite different. Here is a breakdown of both flooring types and their pros and cons.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Solid hardwood flooring is constructed completely from one species of wood. It comes in many forms and species, such as cherry, walnut, and oak. Available products can range greatly in terms of finish, installation cost, and dimension stability. 

Oak, maple, and hickory are extremely popular options known for their beauty and classic style. Oak is a superb choice for traditional homes while maple tends to be long-lasting yet affordable. Hickory is an extremely durable option, but installation can be tricky and require more time to complete the job. Then you’ve got your exotics which cost more but look amazing. You can choose from teak, mahogany, Brazilian cherry and many more.

Overall, solid hardwood flooring is extremely robust. If properly installed and maintained, it can last a lifetime. Hardwood flooring, however, requires a greater upfront investment and is more susceptible to water damage. This makes it a less desirable choice for spaces with high amounts of humidity or moisture. However, by using a plywood sub-flooring, you can certainly overcome this shortcoming and have hardwoods installed in areas such as your basement.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring is made from multiple layers of wood that have been pressed together. This option is more affordable than solid hardwood and can be installed directly over basement concrete floors because it doesn’t expand and contract with humidity. 

The biggest downside of engineered hardwood is that it can’t be refinished. You can’t alter the look of it or fix it should damage ever occur which means it won’t last as long as a solid flooring material. Engineered hardwood may also turn off hardwood purists if and when you should ever choose to sell your home. 

Differences Between Solid Hardwood Flooring & Engineered

Solid hardwood can be sanded numerous times. Engineered hardwood can be sanded once or twice at most. And while both options are durable, well-maintained solid hardwood can last much longer.

When comparing solid hardwood and engineered hardwood, you should know that one option isn’t necessarily better than the other. Rather what matters most is your individual needs, and whether both types of flooring can fulfill them. 

Engineered hardwood is ideal for anyone looking to install a more affordable floor due to budget restraints, especially if you’re redoing floors throughout your home. Solid hardwood is ideal for people with bigger budgets and who prefer higher quality wood. It’s also ideal for people looking to increase the resale value of their space.

Final Thoughts on Different Types of Hardwood Flooring

Whether you’re looking to improve the aesthetics of your home or increase the resale value, hardwood flooring is certainly worth the investment. Now that you know the types of hardwood flooring and how they differ, you can make an informed decision about what would work best for your needs, budget and style preference.

Looking to leave family and friends floored with your new flooring choice? Get started with a free flooring estimate!

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