Solid Wood Floor or Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
For many decades the popular choice for flooring was wall to wall carpeting, however, in recent years the trend has swung to installing engineered hardwood flooring or the traditional solid wood floor.
Whether you choose a solid hardwood flooring installation or select the engineered option, There are advantages and drawbacks you should be aware of.
Pros and Cons of The Solid Wood Floor
Solid wood flooring comes in many styles and varieties.Generally the planks do not exceed 5 inches in width and 3/4 inch in thickness. Any larger and the structural integrity of your hardwood flooring could become compromised. Solid wood flooring is susceptible to swelling and contraction due to the moisture levels in the air and room temperatures.
Solid wood floors will often contract during the winter months due to the cold and dry air caused by indoor heating. This will cause gaps to appear between the planks. The opposite occurs during the summer months and as the wood expands the gaps will disappear.
Hardwood floors such as pine wood flooring can be very unforgiving when it comes to scuffs and scratches that mar the finish. If maintaining a shiny and polished appearance on your solid wood floor is a priority, it’s best to install it only in low traffic areas like the bedroom or dining room, however, the Brazilian cherry wood floor has proven to stand up to abuse.
Due to the great popularity of hardwood flooring, a quality solid wood floor can be quite expensive. Fortunately, or engineered hardwood floors are a more economical and durable choice for the cost-conscious consumer.
A solid wood floor is not the best choice under the following conditions:
Will it be installed in the basement?
Is dampness a problem?
Will your wood flooring be “floated” or installed directly on concrete?
Will there be radiant floor heating?
Engineered Hardwood Floor-The Newest Solid Wood Floor
In the past, if a homeowner wanted wood flooring the only option available was the hardwood plank floor. However, modern techniques have generated a tougher and less expensive alternative with engineered wood flooring.
Each plank of an engineered hardwood floor is composed of two or more layers of wood. The top layer which is visible is the lamella and layers underneath are known as substrate. The layers are bonded under high pressure which provides a stability not found in solid wood floors.
Engineered wood flooring should not be confused with vinyl, laminate or veneer floors.Vinyl floors are merely images of wood, whereas laminate and veneer are thin outer coatings of wood covering cheap fiber board.
Aside from resistance to environmental conditions engineered wood planks come in a variety of sizes, are a breeze to install and can be used on floating floors.
Engineered wood is the most common type of wood flooring used globally. North America is the only continent that has a larger solid wood market than engineered, although engineered wood is quickly catching up in market share. Whether you decide to go with engineered flooring or a solid wood floor, make sure you have all the facts so you can make the appropriate choice.