Hardwood Flooring – Engineered or Solid?

Life is full of profound questions. Venti or grande? Paper or plastic? The chicken or the egg? And most importantly: Why hardwood? Luckily, unlike some of the more complicated conundrums, the hardwood question is easily answered. Hardwood flooring adds warmth, elegance, durability and timeless beauty to any home. The richness and splendor of natural hardwood is a complement to nearly any décor style, from traditional to avant-garde. Best of all, hardwood flooring offers a wealth of options – both solid and engineered constructions, numerous wood species, countless finishes – to satisfy design dreams at every price point.

Imagine the ideal dream home… hardwood floors are probably in the picture. Many real estate agents agree that homes with hardwood floors are easier to sell, and often fetch higher prices than homes with carpet or other flooring styles. Plus, hardwood floors promote a healthier home environment because the smooth surfaces do not collect pollen and allergens as readily as carpet fibers do. Hardwood floors are much easier to maintain as well. With just minimal care, hardwood flooring can add beauty to a home for generations.

Essentially, there are two types of hardwood flooring: Solid and Engineered. Each style has its own benefits. Selecting one over the other is not a matter of quality, but a matter of application and environment. Solid floors are made from single sawed and milled planks, usually between ¾” and 7/16” thick. Each plank is completely unique through and through. Modern finishes protect the wood from foot traffic and damage ensuring long life and durability. Plus, the natural wood grain becomes more rich and complex as the wood ages. One of the most popular lines of solid wood is the BR-111 ¾” Solid collection. The line includes beautiful hardwoods like Brazilian Cherry, Mahogany and Teak. Other top manufacturers such as IndusParquet and Lauzon offer distinctive Oak and Maple hardwood styles that lend themselves to nearly any décor theme. Bear in mind, solid hardwood floors are not appropriate for use high-moisture areas, and they cannot be installed directly over concrete.

Engineered hardwood floors offer the look and feel of solid planks, but feature modern design improvements that allow the woods to be installed in high moisture and high humidity areas, as well as directly over concrete in basements or commercial spaces. The construction consists of a thin solid hardwood surface layer over several additional layers of wood composite materials. This engineered design offers added strength, added durability and added moisture resistance, while still offering the distinctive beauty of solid hardwood. Anderson offers an enormous selection of top-quality engineered floors. Their Appalachian Casitablanca includes a variety of rich colors with genuine hand-scraped finishes. The Hickory Forge collection offers a timeless rustic-yet-refined look. At the higher end of the engineered spectrum, Virginia Vintage Crossfire effortlessly captures the essence of luxury with stunning finishes and extra wide planks. Many manufacturers offer compatible solid and engineered options, so that styles can be alternated where necessary.

If you are planning to install hardwood floors in your home and have questions, please give us a call at 866-705-1340 and a hardwood flooring specialist will help guide you in the right direction.