What type of hardwood is best for you?
What’s the difference? Solid hardwood is the traditional version of hardwood flooring. They feature planks made from a single, solid piece of real wood. Engineered hardwood on the other hand is a layered wood floor made from thin slices of hardwood layered on top of another piece of high-quality wood composite such as plywood. Engineered wood is often more cost effective and versatile – and can often be installed on any grade, even in basements.
Solid Hardwood
Engineered Hardwood
The durability of your hardwood is determined largely by the thickness of each plank. In addition, other factors include the wear layer and finish.
Standard hardwood planks come in a few different thicknesses. A ½-inch or 3/8-inch thickness is common for engineered hardwood planks, for instance. Solid hardwood floors, on the other hand, are much thicker – often ¾-inch with an added wear layer. This wear layer allows for additional refinishing. This is a selling point of solid hardwood over engineered. Engineered wood can often be sanded, but likely only a single treatment over its lifespan.
