There are a few key differences when it comes to solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring.
When you finally decide you want to install a brand new hardwood floor, you have two options: solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. How do you know which is right for you? It’s always a good idea to consider the key differences between these two flooring types before deciding which one is the best fit for your home and lifestyle. Both come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and neither is inherently superior to the other. It all just depends on what you want from your flooring, and sometimes even placement can help to determine which is the better choice.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood flooring uses planks that are made up of solid wood, so 100% of the plank is made of the wood of your choice.
- Higher cost per square foot than engineered hardwood flooring
- Potential to last much longer, even over 100 years
- Less resistant to water damage and warping
- Tends to be around 3/4″ thick
- Can be sanded down repeatedly when top layer becomes damaged
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring uses planks that have your wood of choice as a top layer, while the rest of the plank is made up of plywood or a wood composite.
- Lower cost per square foot than solid hardwood flooring
- Lasts approximately 30 years
- More resistant to water damage and warping than solid hardwood
- Less than 1/2″ thick
- Can be sanded down and refinished once or twice, but needs to be replaced after that
- Planks are easy to replace
Similarities
There are a few similarities between solid and engineered hardwood flooring. First, the aesthetics will be very similar as long as the wood species is the same. Another similarity they share is that they are both pretty low-maintenance. Wood generally only needs to be resealed every 5 years and refinished every 7-10 years. Daily care can be done with sweeping and vacuuming. Mopping should only be done every once in a while when needed, and it should not be done with a wet mop in order to avoid warping. Remember to use a wood cleaner when mopping your wood floor.
Hardwood Flooring from Jason Brown Wood Floors
At Jason Brown Wood Floors, our commitment to quality installation is clear in all that we do, which is why our customers consistently rate us as one of the top contractors in the region. We have been awarded Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Award 4 times and have been proudly serving the Baltimore Area for over 16 years. If you’re ready to speak with someone about your hardwood flooring project, we want to hear from you! Contact us at 410-668-9131 or send us a message here.
Jason Brown Wood Floors is also your convenient dealer of high-quality, professional-grade power tools. We offer brands that tradespeople trust most for the job. Come check out our Abingdon showroom to browse the in-stock selection of products and tools by Festool, Freud, Diablo, Shaper, Mirka, Makita, Saw Stop, and Grex.
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