Applying the best flooring type is the most essential element that transforms the entire look of your floor. It is such a decision that can make or break the interior decor of your home as the floor is the largest surface area that defines the whole structure and design of a home.
There are different types of solid wood vs engineered wood flooring, like hardwood, vinyl, laminate, bamboo, etc. Just like solid wood and engineered wood, which are both types of flooring. Most people didn’t make the right decision about choosing between these Solid Wood vs. Engineered Wood Flooring types of flooring.
To help you in this regard, we brought you this helpful guide in which we will discuss two types flooring. We will give you all the information for every perspective so that you will get a clear-cut difference between them and choose the right one.
Let’s Look At Solid Wood vs Engineered Wood Flooring
Let’s start the battle of solid wood vs engineered wood flooring, and find out which one would be the best choice for you.
Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is made up of solid wood material that is known to be used in the best flooring options. It is manufactured with pieces of hardwood like walnut, oak, and maple.
You can also say it is the best flooring type as it is made up of using natural wood. It is more durable and can last for many years without getting any damage. It also adds amazing decor to your home’s interior.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring looks like hardwood flooring, but it is made up of layers of plywood core with hardwood flooring on top. Engineered wood flooring is easy to afford as compared to pros and cons hardwood flooring.
But the drawback is that you can’t refinish it to extend its durability as compared to hardwood.
Key Differences Between Solid Wood & Engineered Wood Flooring.
1. Maintenance
Solid wood flooring is easy to clean and maintain, even though most of the floors only need to be wiped with a cloth around the surface. You need to mop and vacuum only occasionally, and use the special wood cleaner for removing stains. It can also be refinished many times as compared to engineered wood.
Engineered wood also requires seeping around the floor for cleaning. These floors didn’t have thick surfaces, so they can be refinished only once.
2. Appearance
Solid wood planks usually come in a standard width of 8 to 12 inches. Once you install these planks, they get stuck to the surface tightly. It can be available in many colors and design patterns that give an amazing look to your interior.
Engineered wood flooring offers great flexibility and comes in a wide range of widths as compared to solid ones. It comes in very few colors and design patterns as compared to solid wood.
3. Durability
Solid wood flooring offers great durability and can last for many years as compared to other types of flooring. Even so, they can last for 30 to 100 years after their installation. It is the most traditional method of flooring that has been used since the 1850s.
Engineered wood flooring is less durable as compared to solid wood. It can last a maximum of 30 years and can be refinished only for one time.
4. Cost
Solid wood is considered the most expensive flooring type as its cost per square foot is $8. Solid flooring prices range from $8 to $15 per square foot as per the quality it offers.
Engineered wood flooring is less expensive than solid wood flooring, with prices ranging from $2.50 to $10 per square foot depending on quality.
5. Installation
The planks of the solid wood stick to the surface and can also be installed by using the method of tongue-and-groove that is used to join the planks together.
Whereas the engineered wood flooring is installed in such a way that nails the planks to the subfloor. They can also be installed by using the click and lock method.
6. Moisturization
Solid wood flooring is prone to water and sensitive to wet areas. The water remaining on the floor for a long time can do big damage to the floor.
Engineered wood flooring is also not good for wet surfaces, but its composite layer keeps it protected from getting severe damage from water.
7. Temperature
Solid wood is not recommended to be installed in humid areas because it can cause swelling and wrapping. While engineered wood can be installed in humid areas and won’t get damaged.
8. Environment
From an environmental perspective, solid wood is more sensitive as compared to engineered wood flooring. While the engineered wood flooring can withstand harsh environments like humid and moisture-prone areas, it doesn’t get too much damage.
9. Resale Value
When it comes to selling your home, solid wood is considered to increase the resale value of your home. The high quality of this flooring makes it an excellent addition to the home. Engineered wood flooring looks like solid wood, but it doesn’t increase the resale value of your home.
Final Verdict!
By discussing all the perspectives of solid wood vs. engineered wood flooring, we reach the following two conclusions for two different conditions:
In many aspects, both the flooring types can be used interchangeably and have many similarities too, as compared to the differences. Engineered wood flooring could be the best option for high-moisturized areas as compared to solid wood, and it would be a better choice for basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. Choose this if you didn’t have any concerns about the durability.
Solid wood offers a great life span of 30 years to 100 years. Although it is not better for wet and humid places like the kitchen and bathroom, you can install it throughout the home except for these areas. This is our perspective, and we leave the final decision to you as per your personal choices.
