Hello World! Welcome Friends! Hardwood flooring is one of the most common types of flooring and is composed of solid wood. Hardwood species like maple, oak, or walnut are used to make it. Although engineered wood flooring seems almost identical to actual hardwood, it is composed of a premium plywood core with a thin layer of real hardwood flooring on top rather than a single wood board. Although engineered wood flooring is less expensive than other options, its lifespan cannot be increased by refinishing it. Since the benefits of both surfaces are nearly the same and they may get utilized wherever in the house, the decision is entirely subjective and you can choose Eko Flooring for the installation.

Compare the Two Hardwood Flooring Types

Selecting a gorgeous and long-lasting hardwood for your project is thrilling but gets problematic. Solid and engineered hardwood floors differ vastly from one another. Engineered hardwood, an affordable and water-resistant substitute for conventional hardwood, is made of a plywood core with a thin hardwood top coating. It is impossible to refinish the flooring as frequently as solid hardwood. To compare the two, you must take your budget and flooring location.

Style and Species

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is available in the hardest and most wear-resistant species like oak, maple, and hickory. You’ll find various ways to add a unique design to your home with a wide range of widths up to 5′′ and a group of colors and textures.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood provides many of the same design choices as solid wood. Furthermore, you could come across concepts like softer exotic species, unique textures, specific surface treatments, color effects, and extra-wide planks that are only achievable with engineered wood.

Appearances

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Compared to engineered hardwood flooring, solid hardwood flooring often has tighter seams between boards and a wider variety of colors and species. Both pre-finished and untreated solid hardwood planks are offered.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood flooring is offered-pre-finished. There is less selection of colors and species than solid hardwood. With engineered hardwood flooring, the floorboards are broader. Specific pre-finished engineered hardwood floors have edges get beveled, leaving tiny grooves in between the boards.

Installation Location

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood flooring is ideally suited to above-ground areas such as living and dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. Because of the potential for issues with moisture and humidity, we do not advise placing solids in laundry rooms or bathrooms.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood flooring may get used in the same spaces as solid hardwood, but its engineered composition makes it ideal for basements, radiant heating, and concrete floors. (Always stay away from restrooms and laundry areas.) For situations where your hardwood floor needs to match the height of an adjacent floor or accommodate a tiny area beneath kitchen equipment, engineered hardwood may be a wise choice because it is somewhat thinner than conventional solid hardwood.

Durability

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood durability is determined by the product’s species and quality of protective treatment. Select dent-resistant woods like oak, hickory, and goods with our lifetime finish for improved scratch resistance. Typically, solid hardwood floors hold up well over many years, even after several sanding and refinishing cycles.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood may get sanded and refinished multiple times if the top layer is thick enough, but not as frequently as solid hardwood. The best products to resist scratches are those with a Lifetime Finish that can be installed by hiring Eko Flooring. You should always go for engineered hardwood flooring over solid hardwood if temperature, moisture, or humidity are an issue—such as in basement installations.

Cost

Solid Hardwood

Although there are many factors to consider, solid hardwood flooring is often more expensive than engineered hardwood flooring. The overall cost might increase with a lifetime guarantee, a high-grade protective finish, a unique texture, or an artistic staining method.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is frequently inexpensive until you approach luxury collections, which are better comparable to real hardwood flooring. Better longevity, a thicker top layer that permits more sanding and refinishing, or distinctive shapes might be features of them.

Care and Maintenance

Hardwood Flooring

Both types of flooring need regular cleaning and maintenance to preserve their finest looks, whether they get hardwood or engineered wood. However, because hardwood flooring is more prone to dents and scratches, it requires more regular refinishing over time. Consistent humidity is necessary for solid hardwood; most manufacturers recommend maintaining a humidity level between 35 and 45% at all times.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood, which is more stable, does not have this requirement of humidity recommended. Use natural cleaning products like Murphy Oil soaps and slightly moist mop-gets advised when cleaning in both situations. We have a whole website devoted to wood floor maintenance and cleaning.

Most Common Hardwood Types

Oak

Oak Since the Viking longboats, oak has been the cornerstone of Europe’s great men of battle. Because of its longevity, hardness, and strength, it was selected. Attractive grain enhances the appropriateness of furniture. For less money, it is possible to polish and treat hardwood flooring to look and feel like the prevalence of other hardwoods.

Walnut

Walnut is an excellent open-grained timber. After a few days, it changes from its original rich mustard hue to a deep chocolate-brown or black. Its exquisite brilliance and sap seam with a cat’s eye look give it an almost mystical appearance.

The Merbau

China made substantial use of Merbau in the 2008 Olympic Stadium. It is hardy and becomes brown or orange when cut, becoming darker with time. Its distinctive yellow mineral specks, which are small and soluble in water, distinguish it from other species.

Beech

Oak and beech are closely related. While they get both hardwoods, beech has a more uniform texture and a characteristic fleck in its grain. The color is pinkish-brown, ranging from fawn to brown, and becomes a lovely reddish brown when steam-cooked.

Mahogany

Mahogany has got favored by cabinetmakers due to its robustness, beauty, and color. Moreover, a glossy patina can be applied to simulate tarnished gold. This reddish-brown wood with straight grains is native to Central and South America. Because of the drastic decline in supplies, much of the harvesting that occurs now is prohibited.

Maple

Maple is a native of Canada. Its color is so even-toned that you can hardly see its faint, delicate grain. It will gradually fade to a warm golden color. Due to its toughness, color, and texture, it’s the best option for residential buildings and gets utilized as an indoor sports surface.

Cherry

Cherry has a pleasant warmth to it-hue is much affected by lighting. After a period, sections exposed to light began to turn auburn, while areas that got shaded remained a paler hue.

Conclusion

Hardwood and engineered wood floors are similar enough to be utilized in most homes in many ways. The choice between the two flooring alternatives is subjective because there are more similarities than differences. The interchangeability of hardwood and engineered wood is subject to the exception of water damage.

Engineered wood flooring performs better in high-moisture situations than solid hardwood, making it an excellent choice for kitchens, baths, and basements. However, both flooring types provide a massive selection of styles for whole-house installs. Ultimately, it comes down to your choices for design and budget (hardwood flooring is more expensive).

©2024 The Dedicated House. All rights reserved.  No part of this blog post may be used or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner.

Click the links below for any posts you have missed:

Evaluating Hot Water Systems: Find the Perfect Match for Your Home

Ultimate Moving Checklist: What to Prepare Week by Week

Modern Methods of Education: How Essay Help Services Save Students’ Day

Revamping Your Home: Top Renovation Tips and How to Secure the Right Funding

Understanding Real Estate Listings: A Guide For First-Time Home Buyers

How Vera Iconica Integrates Wellness into Architectural Design

I’d love for you to join my email list!  You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts!  Simply enter your address below.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world!  Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!

Toodles,