What is the difference between engineered and solid hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors are a great choice if you are looking for suitable flooring. They are very traditional and last for decades. Nothing says elegance like a hardwood floor. In addition, it adds to the overall value of your home.

Solid or engineered?

There are two types of hardwood floors: solid and engineered. Know that solid floors are ones with planks that are the same thickness throughout. Engineered wood has a veneer of the desired wood on top and then wood pieces underneath it. So on the top, you have the species with all of its whirls and grains, and then usually three pieces attached by resin. Engineered wood can handle a higher level of moisture than solid hardwood. So it can go in places that solid would not, such as basements. In a basement, a solid hardwood would warp and ripple, whereas an engineered floor would not. Engineered floors, like hardwood, can be refinished, and they add the same value to the property as solid hardwood.

Solid wood can be sanded, sealed, stained, and finished at either the job site or at the factory during installation. Engineered wood can also be sanded, sealed, stained, and finished at the factory. Know that there is less time with engineered wood floors because of how the pieces all fit together.

Appearance

Wood floors have a stunning look. They come in various species, colors, and styles, with the most popular species being cherry, hickory, oak, maple, and walnut. Each one of these species has its particular grain and whirls and burls. There are also exotic woods to choose from and woods from Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Give us a call

If you are in the market for a hardwood floor, then give On the Level Flooring a call. We would love for you to visit our showroom in Larson, SC, where we serve Summerville, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Isle of Palms, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island, Goose Creek, Johns Island, and Folly Beach. We are a hardwood flooring company that offers both solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. So, if wood flooring is your next floor, then see us.