Solid hardwood and engineered wood are very similar floor coverings in appearance, when in reality they’re quite different from each other in many regards.
To make an informed decision and choose the floor best suited to your needs, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. Here is an overview that will allow you to compare these two types of floor coverings.
Composition
Solid hardwood floors are made from 100% solid wood, making them completely natural products. Each board is thus carefully fashioned from a single piece of wood. The wood species offered are varied, but the most common are maple, oak and birch. Planks are 3/4" (19.8 mm) thick and come in various widths, ranging from 2 1/4" up to 7".
Engineered wood floors are made up of different wood layers glued on top of each other. The top ply, also called the wear layer, is a thin strip of hardwood with a thickness of only 3 mm to 4 mm. Different wood species can be used, such as oak and maple. The bottom layers of engineered wood floors (there are usually 3, 5, or 7) are made of hardwood plywood. Baltic birch is the material most often used in the manufacture of these plywood layers.
Appearance
Once installed, the visual appearance of solid hardwood and engineered wood is virtually identical. Solid hardwood floors, however, offer a wider variety of designs. In terms of wood grades, since engineered wood floors only have a thin layer of hardwood, they're generally offered in wood grades with a more uniform appearance, without a great richness of character. Solid hardwood floors can be made with various grades of wood, ranging from the plainest, such as our Select & Better grade, to the richest in character, like our Unique grade.
Durability
Durability is definitely the biggest advantage of solid hardwood floors. No other material resists the test of time quite so beautifully, and that's why specialists consider it to be THE most durable floor covering. It can be sandblasted up to 7 times throughout its useful life, offering a complete refurbishment every time, with the opportunity to apply a different stain and varnish if you wish to change the look of your home. Hardwood floors are also easy to maintain, repair, and restore, which is also a huge plus. If you’re not convinced yet, think of all the prestigious century-old houses that still sport their original wooden floors, even after more than a hundred years of existence.
Just like solid hardwood, engineered floors are easy to maintain, repair or restore. They can be sanded 1 to 2 times during their useful life, depending on the model. Afterwards, when they become too worn, they unfortunately have to be replaced.
Health and Environment
A healthy, natural and local material, solid hardwood is the most environmentally friendly choice for flooring. It is a renewable resource, non-polluting, and available locally, so there's no need to import materials from overseas. In terms of production, solid hardwood has the smallest carbon footprint among all categories of floor coverings (source: Hardwood Floors Mag). The wood used by PG Flooring comes exclusively from certified sources, working in compliance with best forest management practices. Our prefinished solid hardwood products hold FSC® and GREENGUARD GOLD certifications. Our finishes are VOC-free (volatile organic compounds) and formaldehyde-free, and the surface of the floors does not retain dust or allergens. (Find more information about our ecological certifications here.)
Engineered wood floors are also a good eco-friendly choice, although slightly more polluting than solid hardwood. Indeed, their composition includes, among other things, various adhesive products to stick the layers together, and their main component, plywood, is generally imported from foreign countries, such as Russia. Nevertheless, like solid hardwood, engineered wood does not retain dust or allergens, and thus provides better air quality in homes.
Price and Residual Value
The price of solid and engineered hardwood floors varies greatly. The wood species, grade and width are some criteria that have a major impact on the final cost. However, for equal quality, solid hardwood is generally less expensive than engineered wood. This is partly due to the complex manufacturing process of engineered wood, unlike that of solid hardwood.
It’s also interesting to note that solid hardwood floors add value to a property, which is why they're generally listed in the description of the house. A recent report from the National Association of Realtors indicates that installing hardwood flooring yields a return on investment of 118% (source: National Association of Realtor).
Stability
Wood is a living material that interacts with its environment, even after it has been transformed. Too great a difference in temperature and humidity will cause a solid hardwood floor to contract or expand (see our article on wood floor cupping for more details). It is therefore important to maintain a constant ambient temperature and humidity throughout the year in order to minimize this effect. Remember that controlling the temperature and humidity in your home will be just as beneficial for the health of your family as it is for your floors.
The biggest advantage of engineered wood floors lies in their better resistance to temperature and humidity variations. This is why we regularly find them in parts of the house that tend to hold more humidity, such as the basement and bathrooms. Although it offers greater stability than solid hardwood, it’s important to remember that engineered wood is not waterproof. It’s thus important not to expose it to too much humidity, which could cause delamination of its boards. This type of damage would be irreversible.
In conclusion, whether it’s solid hardwood, engineered wood, or even a combination of both, it’s undeniable that a real wood flooring adds a unique character to a home.
If you have any questions about our products, or if you’re still hesitating about the right type of flooring for your home, we invite you to contact one of our retailers near you.
