Learn Design: Engineered Hardwood Flooring vs Solid Hardwood | A Comprehensive Comparison
Deciding between engineered wood flooring versus hardwood is tough; both are versatile and stylish. Learn about their different benefits with LL Flooring.
When selecting the perfect hardwood flooring for your project, engineered hardwood and solid hardwood both offer unique benefits and features, making them suitable for various home improvement scenarios. Let's explore the key characteristics of engineered wood flooring versus hardwood and discover how these two flooring types can provide optimal value.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Crafted from a single piece of wood, solid hardwood showcases all the natural beauty of the unique grain patterns and color variations.
Check out some of the features and benefits of solid hardwood flooring:
- Resilience: Solid hardwood is known for its longevity and toughness. With proper care and maintenance, it can last for generations.
- Refinishing options: Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished, allowing you to change the look and feel of your floor over time or restore it to its original beauty.
- Sustainable source: Solid hardwood flooring comes from a renewable resource—wood. This means you can beautify your home while limiting the environmental impact.
- Value addition: Solid hardwood is such a sought-after feature that it often increases a home’s value.
Ideal Home Renovation Projects
What’s your project? Here are some reasons to consider choosing solid hardwood flooring:
- On or above-grade installations: Solid hardwood is best suited for both on and above-grade installations, as it is sensitive to moisture and humidity changes.
- Living spaces: Areas like living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms are ideal for solid hardwood flooring, as these spaces typically experience less moisture and humidity.
- Long-term investments: If you plan to stay in your home for many years, solid hardwood flooring is worthwhile due to its resilience and longevity.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
This flooring has the beautiful look of solid hardwood combined with added strength and versatility.
Features and Benefits
Here are some things to love about engineered hardwood flooring:
- Real wood veneers: Engineered hardwood features real wood veneers, offering a natural beauty and elegance that is indistinguishable from solid hardwood flooring.
- Versatility: Engineered hardwood is designed to be installed on all grades (below, on, and above) and can be used in various areas of the home, including basements and moisture-prone areas.
- Stability: Composed of multiple layers of wood, engineered hardwood is less susceptible to warping or cupping due to moisture or humidity fluctuations.
- Wide widths and long lengths: Engineered hardwood is available in wide widths and long lengths, allowing you to update your rooms with a more spacious look.
- Multiple installation options: Engineered hardwood floors come in tongue-and-groove and click profiles, providing installation options suitable for DIYers and pros alike.
- Water-resistance: With our AquaSeal collection, you can count on water resistance, which is especially important in busy homes with pets and children.
- Return on investment: Engineered hardwood flooring offers a similar return on investment to solid hardwood flooring, so you can invest with confidence.
Ideal Home Renovation Projects
Here are some home renovation projects where engineered hardwood really shines:
- All grade installations: Engineered hardwood suits all grade levels, including basements and moisture-prone areas.
- Kitchens and bathrooms: The increased stability of engineered hardwood makes it an excellent choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, where moisture and humidity levels vary.
- Quick home updates: If you’re looking to update your home quickly or take on a DIY project, engineered hardwood flooring’s versatile installation options are a great advantage, and LL Flooring can arrange for professional installation if you'd prefer to stay hands-off.
Comparison Chart
| Solid Hardwood Flooring | Engineered Hardwood Flooring |
| Consists of boards made of one solid piece of unique wood | Consists of boards made of a veneer of unique wood adhered to a core |
| Possesses a wide range of colors | Possesses a wide range of colors |
| Can have deep and dramatic textures | Can have deep and dramatic textures |
| Can be DIYed; however, we recommend professional installation | Offers more DIY-friendly options like click and floating installation; however, we still recommend professional installation |
| Will expand and contract with changes in climate because its boards are solid pieces of wood | Is a more dimensionally stable product because its boards are made of layers of wood bound together using adhesives and pressure |
| Requires the use of appropriate moisture barriers, along with controlled temperature and humidity levels within your home | Requires the use of appropriate moisture barriers, along with controlled temperature and humidity levels within your home |
| Can be installed on grade (first floor or ground level) or above grade (second floor or above), over a suitable, properly prepared subfloor | Is appropriate for every level of your home over any suitable, properly prepared subfloor |
Which Is Better, Solid Hardwood or Engineered Hardwood?
Both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring offer unique benefits and features that cater to different scenarios, so there’s no wrong choice—just a hardwood floor for every type of project!
Solid hardwood is an excellent choice for above-grade installations and living spaces, where its toughness and natural beauty will shine. On the other hand, engineered hardwood flooring offers greater versatility, making it suitable for all grade levels and moisture-prone areas, such as basements, kitchens, and bathrooms.
What’s the Best Choice for Your Project?
When deciding between solid hardwood flooring versus engineered, you should consider multiple factors, including your installation preferences and the specific needs of your space. With a thorough understanding of the features and benefits of both types of flooring, you can make an informed decision that will enhance the beauty and functionality of your home for years to come.
To compare how solid hardwood versus engineered wood flooring looks in your home, try LL Flooring’s Picture It! Floor Visualizer. Or, to get a real feel for engineered wood flooring versus hardwood, why not order one of our free sample kits?
Would you like to try out the products mentioned in this article? Add 4 Free Samples to your cart and have them shipped right to you, no credit card needed.
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