Hardwood Information

Solid hardwood flooring comes in varying lengths, all made of a single solid piece of wood. It is milled with tongue and grooves on opposite sides allowing the boards to interlock when installed. Typically solid wood flooring is nailed down to the subfloor, but it can also be stapled or glued.

Engineered flooring is made of several layers of high quality plywood with a thin layer of of hardwood bonded as the top layer.  The construction of engineered flooring gives it more dimensional stability then its solid counterpart.

Solid hardwood is able to be sanded and refinished several times over the course of its lifetime. Being made of solid wood allows its lifespan to be extended by sanding and refinishing it. Typical lifespan for solid wood flooring is around 30-100+ years with proper maintenance and care.

Since engineered is made of several layers of ply and only a thin layer of hardwood on the top, these floors can only be sanded and refinished once or twice.  Typical lifespan of engineered floors is around 20-30 years.

Both floors come in a variety of wood species, but ultimately solid will give you the most options. Solid wood flooring is made from a multitude of different species of wood while engineered has far fewer options. Both have a wide range of colors available to fit your home perfectly. 

Solid wood flooring typically has very tight seams between the planks, and come in a wide variety of widths. Solid wood plank widths can be anywhere from 2 1/4" to 8" wide . Engineered flooring tends to have wider planks with slightly beveled edges giving the planks a small groove between them. Engineered plank widths are typically 5"-9". 

Engineered flooring is almost always sold as a prefinished product. Meaning that is stained and coated with a layer of protectant at the factory. However solid wood flooring comes both unfished and prefinished.

One of the main factors to consider is the durability of your floor. Solid wood flooring can be sanded and refinished giving it an edge compared to engineered flooring. The prefinished forms of both floors tend to be very durable due to the hard, factory applied finish. Both floors are great against resisting heat however when it comes to water, engineered is a better choice. Solid wood is not recommended for installation in basements or below grade to due to the amount of moisture that leaks through the concrete. Moisture causes the wood to swell and potentially warp. Engineered flooring however can accommodate higher moisture levels due to the plywood construction and it is typically rated for below grade(basement) as well. Neither floor is recommended to be installed in truly wet areas of the home.