Solid Vs Engineered Hardwood

Solid vs Engineered Hardwood

At Atlas Floors Carpet One Floor & Home in San Antonio we know that the decision to install hardwood flooring leaves many of us questioning the many different product types. Of course, it’s always critical to make an educated decision to ensure that your new floor not only suits your personal style, but can cohabitate perfectly with your family’s activities. Modern hardwood flooring is available in two distinct families: solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. When it’s time to choose a floor that can withstand your room’s location and activity level, knowledge is power. Although the differences between these two distinct types of hardwood isn’t visually discernable, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. Please consider the information below as you arrive at your final decision.

Benefits of Engineered Hardwood

Offering up all of hardwood’s benefits along with modern innovation, engineered hardwood flooring is manufactured using hardwood veneers, which are milled and bound together to form resilient cross-grains. These wooden layers, which often include plywood, make for an enduring floor plank that won’t be affected by factors like humidity and climate fluctuations. Engineered hardwood is made to handle heavy furnishings and frequent foot traffic. It’s generally more affordable than solid hardwood, yet can be sanded or refinished a handful of times over its lifetime. Engineered hardwood can be installed below grade, unlike solid hardwood.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

For the die-hard traditionalist there’s simply no substitute for solid hardwood. With each plank painstakingly crafted from a solid hunk of natural wood, the appeal of solid hardwood is undeniable. Solid hardwood brings ongoing value to your property, and if properly cared for, can be enjoyed by multiple generations. Still, solid hardwood does have its limitations. It isn’t a great choice for kitchens, laundry rooms, or bathrooms, since humidity can cause it to buckle or expand. Solid hardwood should never be installed below grade. However, it does have maximum evergreen potential, since it can be sanded down and refinished over and over again as the years pass by.