Hardwood floors bring beauty and value to your living space. You have two choices when it comes to installing hardwood floors: solid vs. engineered, StarFloors is here to lay-out all the information you need in order to make a decision that fits your lifestyle.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring:
How is it made?
Engineered hardwood flooring consists of plies of wood that are glued and laminated together to create a wood plank. The thickness can range anywhere from ¼” to just over a half inch.
Perfect for Various Weather Conditions
The plywood backing on the engineered flooring prevents cupping due to moisture conditions and minimizes gaps due to seasonal changes. It is more resistant to both moisture and heat.
- Radiant heat sources
- Damp basements
- Rainy climates
All Hard Surfaces Welcome
Engineered hardwood floors can be installed on top of anything that has a hard surface, this includes:
- Concrete
- Terrazzo
- Marble
- Plywood
- OSB
- Vinyl
- Vinyl Title
- Ceramic Tile Floors
Installation, A piece of cake
This flooring has a very fast and easy installation process, it is made easy by the construction of the wood-it snaps together and can be glued or nailed down.
Sanding, Not so much…
Sanding can only be done a handful of times due to the thin layer on top. Engineered hardwood floors have the ability of looking “perfect,” this means that this floor could look fake. Solid hardwood does not have lines where the panels join as engineered hardwood floors do.
Solid Hardwood Flooring:
How it’s Made:
A piece of a real hardwood species that is usually cut into ¾”
planks. It is the sole material in the making of the flooring. Solid hardwood
is recommended for above ground surface and can be installed over any wood flooring (plywood, OSB, etc.) it is not recommended to be installed over concrete nor anything else.
Unlimited Lifespan for the Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood floors can have an almost unlimited lifespan due to the ability to refinish and sand it many times.
Weather and Concrete Permits
Solid hardwood flooring is not recommended for installation where the humidity levels are high, the flooring will absorb the moisture, causing the edges to curve upward. Solid hardwood flooring cannot be installed on or below grade levels, nor concrete slab foundations
The Appearance
Engingeered hardwood flooring may look perfect when installed, therefore making it look “fake.” This is due to the planks being glued and nailed together. Solid hardwood flooring has imperfections making it look like real hardwood-with engineered hardwood floors looking so “perfect” this tends to take away from the character of real hardwood that has a sense of real quality.
Do you have any additional questions about engineered vs. solid hardwood flooring? A StarFloors representative would be happy to help you at any time. Visit www.starfloors.com for more information.
