Hardwood flooring is a timelessly popular choice of floor covering that is known for its durability, chic aesthetic, and property value-boosting qualities. The two most common types of hardwood flooring are solid and engineered. At this point, you might be asking yourself the difference between the two. That's exactly what Wholesale Flooring and Granite intends to address with this article! Read on to discover the five major differences between these two extremely popular floor covering choices.
1. The Way They're Made
The biggest difference between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring is the manner in which they are produced. Engineered is made by creating a plywood or core board base, that is then overlaid with a hardwood veneer and subsequently treated with various protective layers to maintain and protect the quality and appearance of the veneer.
Solid, on the other hand, is made entirely out of pure hardwood.
2. Durability
Overall durability is one of the most attractive features of either type of hardwood flooring, but there are a few key differences between the two. Thanks to the different ways they are produced, engineered hardwood flooring is more suitable for rooms that employ radiant heating, are prone to moisture, or that have a subfloor made of concrete, like a basement, for instance.
Although incredibly durable, solid hardwood is prone to problems involving temperature and humidity, and requires a bit more maintenance to keep it from cracking, cupping or warping under adverse conditions. A surface finish can mitigate this problem but only to a small extent.
3. Climate Sensitivity
Climate is a major factor in the preservation of a wood floor's condition and service life. Engineered hardwood flooring is specifically designed to be resistant to rapid changes in temperature and humidity, and is more suitable for regions where the flooring is likely to experience these conditions. The same goes for any sort of extreme weather, such as intense heat or deep cold.
Because solid hardwood is a natural product, it absorbs moisture and is prone to warping , buckling and expansion in these situations. Hardwood flooring is not recommended for use in below-ground applications, due to the increased moisture found in that environment.
4. Installation
Whereas solid hardwood requires gluing or nailing to install properly, Engineered hardwood flooring is designed in such a way that the planks can be installed by an interlocking, floating mechanism. This means that engineered requires far less expertise to install properly than solid, and can be installed by anyone with even the most modest DIY chops.
5. Cost
Because engineered is far less costly to produce and can be installed without professional help, it is considered to be the more cost-effective choice between the two types. It does bear mentioning that, in the long run, you might consider solid's ability to be refinished a number of times before replacement is required, a factor in overall cost-efficiency.
Hopefully, this quick guide to these two incredible floor covering options has answered any questions that you might have had about the differences between them. However, if you have any further questions, we would like to encourage you to call or stop in at our showroom in Baton Rouge, LA to chat with our staff. They're on hand to answer any lingering questions you may have, and help you find the flooring solution that is most suited to your home's conditions, as well as your budget. We hope to hear from you soon!
-
3 mins
