There are a huge number of options in the market these days. Out of these options, hardwood flooring is one of the most wanted flooring options. If you have decided to select between the solid and engineered wood flooring, then you are steps away from installing the best kind of material for your wooden flooring system. The solid and engineered wood flooring has been in the market for quite a long period and has been busy competing for the attention of homeowners. Understanding the PROS and CONS of both will assist you in making the right decision for your flooring system.
To start with, solid hardwood is mostly ¾ of an inch thick and is being milled from a single piece of wood. This thickness means that the hardwood can be sanded down and refinished over and over again throughout its life.
Since solid hardwood is typically made from a single type of wood, there are tendencies that the changes in humidity can cause expansion or contraction of the wood. This can likewise result in warping. Hence, in order to avoid this issue, make sure you install solid hardwood furniture in rooms that are no likely to be exposed to humidity such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
On the other hand, engineered hardwood is usually made of five layers of woods which are bonded together using pressure and heat. This type of wood flooring tends to be less expensive since the only the outermost layer is expected to have the desired type of wood. Other layers of the engineered hardwood will consist of engineered pieces. The more the layers present in an engineered hardwood, the more times it can be refinished.
Which to Pick?
Since you are now aware of the pros and cons of solid and engineered hardwood flooring, it is time to make your decision. The first thing to consider is your location. You should note that any surface located at a level below the ground has a greater risk of being exposed to moisture. Therefore, solid hardwood flooring is not recommended.
Rooms that are situated below the ground level such as basements or sunken living rooms are good with engineered hardwood flooring.
Also, take a critical look of your room and consider if the function of that room will make it prone to moisture like the kitchen and bathroom. If so, engineered hardwood flooring is recommended.
Thirdly, you need to consider the subfloor you are going to install. If your subfloor is plywood, then your option would be between engineered or solid wood flooring. This means that you can go for any one you prefer. However, if your subfloor is concrete, your choice should be engineered wood floor.
To start with, solid hardwood is mostly ¾ of an inch thick and is being milled from a single piece of wood. This thickness means that the hardwood can be sanded down and refinished over and over again throughout its life.
Since solid hardwood is typically made from a single type of wood, there are tendencies that the changes in humidity can cause expansion or contraction of the wood. This can likewise result in warping. Hence, in order to avoid this issue, make sure you install solid hardwood furniture in rooms that are no likely to be exposed to humidity such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
On the other hand, engineered hardwood is usually made of five layers of woods which are bonded together using pressure and heat. This type of wood flooring tends to be less expensive since the only the outermost layer is expected to have the desired type of wood. Other layers of the engineered hardwood will consist of engineered pieces. The more the layers present in an engineered hardwood, the more times it can be refinished.
Which to Pick?
Since you are now aware of the pros and cons of solid and engineered hardwood flooring, it is time to make your decision. The first thing to consider is your location. You should note that any surface located at a level below the ground has a greater risk of being exposed to moisture. Therefore, solid hardwood flooring is not recommended.
Rooms that are situated below the ground level such as basements or sunken living rooms are good with engineered hardwood flooring.
Also, take a critical look of your room and consider if the function of that room will make it prone to moisture like the kitchen and bathroom. If so, engineered hardwood flooring is recommended.
Thirdly, you need to consider the subfloor you are going to install. If your subfloor is plywood, then your option would be between engineered or solid wood flooring. This means that you can go for any one you prefer. However, if your subfloor is concrete, your choice should be engineered wood floor.
