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Solid vs Engineered Hardwood

Is Engineered or Solid Hardwood Better?

 

Hardwood flooring continues to be one of the most highly sought-after flooring options on the market. It’s beautiful, hypoallergenic, durable, and long-lasting. It also adds value to your property. At Carpet One Floor & Home in Jacksonville, & Saint Augustine, Florida, we have one of the area's best selections of hardwood flooring, including solid and engineered products. Let our hardwood experts help you learn more about the differences between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood.

 

What is Solid Hardwood?

 

Solid hardwood is the traditional choice and has been used in architecture for centuries. It is made using a simple and uniform construction. Each plank is a single strip of real wood and nothing else. The planks, which are typically 3/4" thick, are usually treated and finished for extra durability. Since they’re thick, you can refinish your solid wood floors multiple times over the years. This involves sanding down the surface to remove blemishes and wear, and then reapplying a finish so your floors look brand new. For the most part, solid hardwood is only suitable for on-ground or above rooms that don’t have significant moisture. When installed in high-moisture settings or humid climates without climate control, this type of hardwood can warp.

 

What is Engineered Hardwood?

 

Engineered hardwood is a more modern option. Unlike solid wood, engineered planks feature a special layered construction. They are made by cross-directly laminating 3-7 layers of composite wood together. As such, the wood grains run in different directions, and this counteracts wood's natural tendency to expand and contract in humid and dry conditions. Engineered hardwood is therefore more dimensionally stable than solid wood flooring. At the surface, engineered planks have a real hardwood veneer, so from overhead, they are identical to solid wood.



Engineered hardwood offers more versatility in terms of installation, as it can be installed below, on, or above ground. Also, engineered hardwood is suitable for areas where there is some, but not a lot, of moisture or humidity. This includes basements, laundry rooms, hallways, foyers, and light-use kitchens.



We recommend choosing engineered hardwood if you’re worried about how our humid climate will impact the floor. You can use indoor climate control to mitigate this problem, in addition to picking the right wood flooring option for your space. To learn more, visit one of our showrooms to browse our selection and talk with our friendly experts.

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