On Engineered Wood Floors: Are They Better Than Solid Hardwoods?

Comparing engineered wood flooring to traditional Denver hardwood floors is problematic since there are many factors involved that are exclusive to one option or the other. Making the comparison even more difficult, the quality of engineered products has increased substantially through the years. Deciding which option is most suitable for your home can only be done after taking into account your budget, desired style, and many other variables.

Below, we'll describe engineered wood boards, and explain how they are constructed. We'll also present several details that will help you to decide whether this type of flooring poses a better option than solid hardwoods.

As opposed to a single layer of wood, these boards are comprised of several layers of ply that are cross-laid, and glued together. The manner in which the layers are laid on top of each other provides additional strength and stability to the boards.

While solid wood floors are often prepared on-site, engineered products are purchased in prefinished form. By the time the boards arrive at the installation site, they are already sanded and sealed with a finish.

The top layer of an engineered wood board is known as the wear layer. This is the part of the board that is walked upon. Its thickness is usually 1/8" or 3/16", which is much thinner than a solid hardwood. This is relevant because the wear layer can only be sanded a few times before the plywood underneath is reached. By contrast, a solid wood product is usually 1/4" thick, and thus can be sanded and refinished many more times.

This is a question of longevity. If you want your wood flooring to last for several decades, solid boards are a good option. Engineered wood floors can be expected to last for approximately thirty years, though the amount of traffic they encounter will play a large role. Once the wear layer has been worn or sanded away, the boards can only be treated with another coat of finish.

An area in which engineered wood flooring has a clear advantage over solid hardwoods is in its flexibility with regard to environment. The product handles moisture more effectively; it is more resistant to it. This carries a few important implications.

First, the boards can be installed over concrete, which tends to emit a higher level of moisture than other subfloor materials. As a result, they are better able to accommodate basements and other sites that are below ground level.

Second, because engineered products are moisture-resistant, they can be installed in damp or humid environments (within reason). They are less limited in scope than solid hardwoods.

A third benefit stemming from increased moisture resistance is that the planks are less susceptible to gapping, cupping, and crowning. Each of these problems result from changes in an environment's humidity level.

Engineered boards are usually more expensive than solid planks and strips. Moreover, the cost increases with the number of plies. The higher cost of the boards can be mitigated by choosing a common - and thus, less expensive - wood specie, such as oak. It can be found practically anywhere, and is usually available off-the-shelf.

Solid hardwoods are nailed or stapled to a wood subfloor. While some professional installers are willing to perform a glue-down installation (typically, on concrete), doing so invites problems down the road. Floating floor installations are rarely done with solid wood floors since the boards usually lack a stable locking mechanism. That said, a few manufacturers have produced solid planks that can be locked.

Engineered products are more flexible. They can be installed via nail-down, glue-down, or floating floor methods. It's worth noting that the installation method used will depend, in part, on the thickness of the boards.

We mentioned earlier that comparing engineered and solid wood products is difficult due to the numerous variables involved. Realize that each offers advantages as well as drawbacks. The best method for choosing between them is to determine what you want out of your hardwood floors, and select a construction that fulfills the need.