Choosing Engineered Hardwood Flooring v. Solid Hardwood
Hardwood floors are easy to maintain, are durable, and have a beautiful appearance. However, solid hardwood floors might be beyond your budget, both to buy and to install.
A good alternative may be engineered hardwood flooring. This type of flooring is a hardwood veneer glued to a plywood or HDF core. (Remember, engineered hardwood flooring is made of real wood, and is not to be confused with laminate flooring.)
There are a number of advantages in choosing Engineered hardwood floor over a Solid besides the cost, however. Here are a few:
- Comes in almost any type of hardwood species. This gives you great latitude in decorating your home.
- More resistant to heat and water damage. The stability comes from the many layers that are used to produce it. The plywood is laid in a cross-way pattern, thereby providing support to the top and enhancing durability.
- Many engineered hardwood floors can be sanded a few times in case scratches or stains develop on it. (Since engineered flooring has a lower tolerance for any mistakes during sanding, it is recommended you hire a pro to do it.)
- More readily installed in low-to-moderate moisture areas. This makes engineered hardwood a better choice for areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
- Eco-Friendly. From a resource-conservation perspective, engineered wood flooring makes more sense than solid: the slow-growing and rarer hardwoods are used in smaller quantities for the veneer, while the bulk of the material comes from fast-growing plantation trees.
Once an engineered floor is installed, it is indistinguishable from a solid floor. A fine choice for ANY home!
