With an exotic or even highly coveted hardwood such as maple engineered flooring is likely to be cheaper overall.
Engineered hardwood floors vs solid hardwood.
Engineered hardwood tends to be cheaper.
Pros of engineered hardwood flooring.
Solid hardwood is known to warp and expand especially if humidity exceeds 60 or so within the home.
Solid hardwood flooring is available in a wide array of wood species including oak maple and black walnut as well as regional specific choices like pecan mesquite and others.
Since solid hardwood is cut from a single piece it usually will have more value.
How long will an engineered wood floor last.
When solid hardwood is sand and refinished on site there is the potential for true smooth surfaces i e.
Depending on the thickness of the veneer that tops the flooring the quality of flooring used and how well you maintain your floors engineered hardwood can last a lifetime.
The damaged parts are easier to be matched with the replacement wood unlike engineered flooring which can sometimes be hard to match and repair.
Unlike solid hardwood flooring engineered flooring can be installed in any room that you choose even a basement because it can withstand moisture due to the layers of material in the flooring that are designed to withstand buckling and rippling engineered flooring can also be installed over radiant floor heating.
It is always nailed down to the subfloor a process that requires some skill.
Solid wood flooring vs.
Normally installers compensate for this movement by leaving an expansion gap between the floor and the wall.
A beveled edge and the stain as well as poly covers the entire surface for a more contemporary look.
Solid wood flooring comes in long planks usually made of a hardwood species.
Longer installation solid hardwood floors take a bit longer to be installed stained and protected than engineered flooring.
Engineered wood flooring.
Solid wood flooring expands and contracts with changes in your home s relative humidity.
Solid hardwood tends to have better resale value.
Engineered flooring is typically between 3 8 to 3 4 thick whereas solid hardwood is 1 2 to 3 4 thick.
A square edge vs.
Most prefer the looks of the solid hardwood as well as the longevity.
Versatility and ease of installation.
The exception to this would be comparing a basic solid hardwood against a rarer engineered hardwood.
It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed.