Solid Hardwood or Engineered Hardwood Which is Best to Use

While both are made of genuine hardwood, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood  been so closely
compared that there is now some sort of rivalry between these two excellent flooring choices. Homeowners and homebuyers, especially those first time ones are often baffled between the similarities and differences of the tow and can hardly tell which one would be more appropriate for their needs and best suits their requirements.

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To help you with all your woes and questions, below are some basic things worth knowing about solid and engineered hardwood flooring and the advantages of one over the other:

What is solid hardwood?

Solid hardwood are famous to use until the earlier part of 1900 when there are plentiful hardwood trees and the world population is not so lush. Solid wood is ¾ inches thick. It is made from a single trunk of a good and matured solid trunk. It is seasoned well to avoid it from expanding when installed on your floor. Sometimes, contractors leave a little gap between the wood planks if ever it expands.

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What is engineered hardwood?

It is a solid wood plank made by 100% wood. However, it is composed of three to five layers of wood which are glued together. Each layer is arranged criss-crossed over the other so that it can support the other layer. The criss-cross arrangement makes the engineered hardwood stronger and less prone to expansion even when humidity is high.

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Which is better to use?

There is a thin line between solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. It is difficult to tell which one is better in performance. To know how each one works, here is a close comparison for you to reflect upon:

1. What are they made of?

• • Solid hardwood: Pure wood and no cuts from top to bottom, side to side.
  • Engineered hardwood: Three to five layers of 1/6” thick wood arranged in layers. The topmost layer is finished while the underlying layers are high density fibreboards which make the floor stronger.

2. How thick is each type?

• • Solid hardwood: It is between 3/8” or ¾ “.
  • Engineered hardwood: You can pick sizes from 3/8” to ½” only.

3. How wide is each type?

• • Solid hardwood: It comes in a minimal width of 3.25 inches to 11 inches. You can also get 5 inches from the store.
  • Engineered hardwood: Same as the solid hardwood, it is also 3.25” to 5” wide. You can request for wider size such as 11 inches in the floor store.

4. What types of wood are available?

• • Solid hardwood: There are many varieties of solid hardwood. But, the most preferred species are Cherry, Pine, Oak and Mahogany.
  • Engineered hardwood: Almost all of the species of solid hardwood are available.

5. Is it ready to use?

• • Solid hardwood: There are some stores that sell pre-finished. Most of the time, they are not yet finished that makes the installation difficult.
  • Engineered hardwood: They are always pre-finished. You can install and walk on then readily.

6. Can you resell it?

• • Solid hardwood: Yes. The value can be higher than how much you bought it if you sell it a decade from now.
  • Engineered hardwood: Excellent. It has the same value as the solid hardwood.

7. Can you sand it anew?

• • Solid hardwood: Yes, several times.
  • Engineered hardwood: You can sand it only once.

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Choose well. Pick the floor that suits your lifestyle and will be with you for almost all of your lifetime.