Solid Hardwood vs Engineered Hardwood

Solid Hardwood vs Engineered Hardwood

We’ve mentioned the differences between engineered and real hardwood flooring before. The fact of the matter is that they’re both high-quality flooring materials and it’s really a matter of personal preference to see which works best in your Allen home. That being said, one might end up having an advantage over the other…

Engineered hardwood can’t be refinished an unlimited amount of times

Engineered hardwood is known for its moisture-resistant properties. Its layered composition makes it tougher liquid to seep into the core and cause damage. This is different from real hardwood, which is 100% real hardwood. Unfortunately, it’s easier for moisture to soak through a real hardwood plank.

The issue with the layered composition of engineered wood, though, is that it’s limited in the number of times it can be sanded and refinished. Engineered hardwood is topped with a hardwood layer. This layer is a piece of real hardwood—that’s what gives engineered hardwood its realistic appearance. Unfortunately, this layer of real wood is quite thin.

Engineered hardwood veneers are typically thin enough to where the floor surface can be refinished up to three or four times at most. The general rule to follow is to refinish a hardwood floor once every six years or so. Thus, the lifespan of engineered hardwood flooring is shorter than that of real hardwood flooring.

You’ll get your money’s worth as long as you maintain your engineered hardwood flooring. But, if you don’t, refinishing will become necessary more often and the lifespan of your engineered hardwood flooring will get shorter faster.

Solid hardwood can be refinished multiple times

That’s the true beauty of solid hardwood, aside from its appearance …it can be sanded and refinished many times. Sure, it’s more susceptible to wear than engineered hardwood, but refinishing will make it as good as new. If these scratches start to add up, refinish your flooring! You can continue to do this many times. It’s a constant cycle that provides a safety net to homeowners with hardwood flooring.

Keep in mind that while hardwood flooring can be refinished, you can’t ignore spills and stains. Significant water damage can cause serious issues to your flooring, like cupping and curling. Cupping and/or curling make the floor surface uneven, and refinishing an uneven floor can be difficult, if possible at all.

Always guard your solid hardwood flooring against moisture!

Weigh the pros and cons of each – Solid Hardwood VS Engineered Hardwood

So, on one hand you, have flooring that is superior in its ability to guard against wear and tear (engineered hardwood), and on the other hand, you have flooring that can essentially be remade whenever it experiences major wear and tear. Your decision should be made based on your home and lifestyle.

Solid hardwood vs engineered hardwood? No matter which type of flooring you decide on, trust Nadine Floor Company to provide you with the best flooring materials and quality installation. Our experts can answers to all of your flooring questions and our goal is to turn your dreams into reality when it comes to flooring!

Call us at 469-666-4530, or visit our website—nadinefloors.com—and check out our blog to learn more about flooring and general home remodeling.