Wooden flooring can add character and ambience to any home. However, when embarking through the world of wooden flooring, it can often be quite confusing what type of flooring is best suited to your needs. In this piece we will compare solid wood and engineered wood flooring to help you make the best decision for your home.
While solid wood flooring has long been celebrated as the true wooden flooring, the truth is that both types are made from 100% wood, differing only in their structure. Solid wood flooring is made from a single lumber of wood and shaped into wooden planks. On the other hand, engineered wooden flooring is constructed from layers of plywood or solid wood, with a ‘wear layer’ placed on top.
Below we will look at some of the pros and cons of both types.
Solid Wood Flooring
Pros
- It is a durable
- It can be sanded down to give it a new finish
- It will retain its value for years to come
- If maintained well, it will last much longer than engineered wood
Cons
- It is not suitable for moisture prone areas and will change structure and appearance if exposed to flooding
- Too much sanding down will make it lose its structure
- Not suitable for basements
Engineered Wood Flooring
Pros
- The thickness of the flooring can be adapted to suit your needs, since you can decide how many layers you want
- The layers mean it is more resilient to moisture and so can be used in the basement and all areas of the house
Cons
- It cannot be sanded down multiple times to create new finishes
- It’s not as valuable when selling to new home owners as solid wood since its not possible to refinish multiple times
It is clear from the above that both types of wood have positives and negatives. It is difficult to generalise in the case of solid wood, since different types of wood will have different hardness levels and durability. However, generally speaking, solid wood, when looked after and maintained, is going to last longer and add more value to your home. It allows multiple refinishes and thus means that your flooring can be given a makeover as and when needed. Engineered wood is also durable and long lasting, however, will not withstand multiple finishes. Nonetheless, it is suited to more areas of the home, including the basement.