It’s important to decide on solid or engineered wood flooring before you buy your hardwood flooring

So you’re ready to install lustrous hardwood flooring into your home, but before you jump in, it’s important to consider some factors that may determine whether you want solid hardwood or engineered wood flooring. First, let’s go over the basic differences in the two:

Solid hardwood flooring

Solid hardwood is basically a single piece of hardwood, usually 3/4" thick. Since it is think, it can be sanded and refinished several times, and because of this, is likely to last for generations. And since it is a single piece of wood, it’s more susceptible to natural changes, it will contract and expand based on the moisture level of a given room. When experts install your solid flooring, they should add a little space between boards for this reason.

Engineered flooring

Engineered flooring actually consists of three to five layers of wood that are bonded together under pressure and heat. Because of the way they are layered and bonded, they are less susceptible to moisture changes.

The most important thing to consider when purchasing your wood flooring is where the floor will be installed. Does the room have a lot of moisture? If so you might want engineered flooring. Also, if you are installing over concrete you must use engineered flooring to maintain its structural integrity.

The moisture level of the room and the subfloor are the two most important things to consider, so choose wisely so that your beautiful new floor will last a lifetime!

For more information about engineered wood flooring or related products, choose from one of the following links:

Wood Flooring | Hardwood Flooring | Bamboo Flooring