On the surface level, engineered and solid hardwood floors look the same.
The differences between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood begin just below the surface.
The core is the main difference between engineered wood and solid hardwood flooring, which affects water resistance.
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
Engineered Wood Flooring vs.
The surface is a thin layer of hardwood, a veneer bonded with adhesives to the plywood core.
This means there’s less tendency for the floor to swell, split, or cup if wet.
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
Engineered wood flooring is a DIY-friendly installation that lasts 20 to 30 years.
Finished solid wood flooring, though, resists moisture well.
Engineered hardwood floorboards tend to be wider than solid hardwood.
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
Some prefinished engineered hardwood flooring has slightly beveled edges, which creates subtle grooves between boards.
Solid hardwood is available in both prefinished and unfinished boards.
Cost
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring is slightly less expensive than solid hardwood flooring.
Margot Cavin / The Spruce
The typical range of engineered hardwood flooring is $4.50 to $16 per square foot.
Tip
Lower-cost engineered hardwood flooring may have HDF (high-density fiberboard) cores instead of premium-grade plywood.
Lifespan
Engineered hardwood flooring generally lasts 20 to 30 years.
Solid hardwood flooring does need to be kept dry, though.
Solid hardwood flooring lasts considerably longer than engineered hardwood flooring, as long as it remains well-maintained.
Engineered hardwood doesnt absorb sounds as well as its solid hardwood counterpart when installed as a floating floor.
In addition, the plywood base is less dense than solid hardwood.
Solid hardwood floors are not as noisy as engineered hardwood floors.
Solid hardwood has better acoustic properties than engineered hardwood.
Its density absorbs reverberation while its hardness evenly distributes the sound around the room.
Hardwood flooring is attached to the subfloor which keeps it stable.
When hardwood floors are installed, they will creak and squeak as the boards settle.
Water Resistance
Engineered hardwood flooring is more water resistant than solid hardwood flooring but is not waterproof.
It performs better in humid locations since its plywood construction makes it more stable and less susceptible to warping.
Engineered hardwood flooring will begin to delaminate if exposed to water long enough.
Engineered hardwood flooring’s delamination rate is tested against ANSI/HPVA standards.
A solid hardwood floor is not recommended for installation inwet locationslike full bathrooms.
Care and Cleaning
Clean engineered hardwood flooringby sweeping or vacuuming daily.
Clean solid hardwood flooringby sweeping, dry-mopping, or vacuuming it.
Damp mop only when necessary, and use only an approved wood cleaner.
Do notsteam-clean wood floors.
Durability
Engineered hardwood can be refinished once or twice before the surface hardwood layer is exhausted.
In no case should the plywood or HDF core be reached.
Solid hardwood flooring is more durable than engineered hardwood flooring.
It can be sanded down andrefinished several timesover its lifespan.
The key in of sanding equipment, the floor’s flatness, and sanding skills are all factors.
Prefinished hardwood or engineered wood floors are extremely durable since they receive a hard, factory-applied aluminum oxide finish.
However, site-finished solid hardwood floors are less durable.
Engineered wood flooring can be glued down against a concrete subfloor.
Sizes
Solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring are available in similar sizes.
However, engineered hardwood is available in wider planks at lower prices because of reduced manufacturing costs.
Engineered hardwood boards are often thinner, with 3/8- to 9/16-inch-thick boards common.
Veneer is stripped off from logs in a continuous peel, like peeling a potato.
So, it’s easier and less expensive to produce wide planks.
More veneer is applied to wider strips of plywood.
Standard solid hardwood flooring planks are 3/4 inch thick and 2-1/4 to 4 inches wide.
They are sold in various lengths from 12 to 84 inches.
Resale Value
Engineered hardwood floors are well-regarded by real estate professionals and homebuyers.
Both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood are premium flooring materials that add excellent value to your home.
It uses the byproducts and waste from other wood manufacturing processes to make its boards.
However, it’s also made with glues and resins that may off-gas or contain volatile organic compounds.
Engineered hardwood is not biodegradable, has a limited lifespan, and ends up in landfills.
Solid hardwood requires more trees to be harvested than its engineered counterpart.
However, solid hardwood can be reclaimed, reused, or recycled to make other products.
Hardwood flooring should come from a responsible supplier.
Hardwoods sourced sustainably are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Which is Better: Engineered Hardwood Flooring or Solid Hardwood Flooring?
Factory-finished engineered hardwood and hardwood flooring resist scratches equally well.
Severe scratches, though, may gouge through engineered hardwood flooring’s top veneer.
Hardwood flooring does not have this issue since it does not have a top veneer layer.
Bothengineered hardwood and LVP flooringhave pros and cons.
LVP is less expensive and more water resistant than engineered hardwood flooring but won’t last as long.
Grades of Hardwood Flooring and What it’s crucial that you Know.Angi.
Wood flooring sand and finish guidelines.National Wood Flooring Association.
