Are you confused about the differences between solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring? Not to be confused with laminate flooring, both sold and engineered hardwood flooring are entirely manufactured from hardwood. Each has pros and cons to consider based upon your intended usage.

Solid hardwood flooring refers to single boards milled from 3/4" hardwood planks. Engineered flooring is made from multiple layers of hardwood stacked on top of each other, generally in a cross-grain pattern, with a finished veneer as the top layer. Hardwood being an organic material may contract, expand, buckle and gap in reaction to changes in humidity and temperature. However, the layered design of engineered hardwood flooring makes for a much more stable product, and leads to fewer of these issues occurring in your home. In addition, expert installers compensate for floor movement by leaving precise gaps between boards, next to walls, and use base molding as well as afinishing touch to hide gaps.

Solid hardwood
Cons: more costly, more difficult to install, cannot be installed over concrete or any substrate that cannot be nailed into, shouldn't be used in areas of high humidity such as bathrooms or basements.
Pros: can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life.

Engineered hardwood
Cons: can only be sanded and refinished if the top layer has 3mm-6mm of thickness available.
Pros: can be installed most anywhere in your home, can be nailed, glued, or floated, and is less costly than solid hardwood.

Make an informed decision when shopping for your hardwood flooring. Please come in to our showroom to see samples from many manufacturers and to talk with expert flooring consultants who can help you choose the best product for your home.