Engineered and solid hardwood are two of the most prominent hardwood flooring options available today. Although they are quite different, these two options offer similar benefits. Therefore, when choosing hardwood flooring in Peterborough, many individuals usually compare both options. To help you decide which flooring would better suit your needs, read below to find out more!

Construction

Solid hardwood, like the name suggests, is constructed solely out of solid wood and can be used for flooring different parts of a building. When made by experienced craftsmen, solid hardwood is known to be durable, stable, and aesthetic.

On the other hand, engineered hardwood is made of several layers of different types of materials. The topmost layer is made with 100% natural wood bonded with plywood underneath. The varying layers of engineered hardwood ensure it can withstand temperature changes.

Lifespan

When going for hardwood flooring, you will likely be concerned about its lifespan. Comparatively, solid hardwood lasts longer than engineering hardwood. While the lifespan of solid hardwood is projected to be around 30 to 80 years, engineered hardwood only lasts for about 20 to 40 years. However, in order for both types of hardwood to last their expected lifespan, they must be properly maintained.

Heat and water resistance

Generally, both solid and engineered hardwoods are heat resistant. However, they are not good for wet areas. Due to its material, solid hardwood can warp and swell when installed in humid, damp locations. In addition, engineered hardwood is slightly better than solid hardwood in terms of water resistance. The layers of plywood inside its middle layer give it more stability, making it less likely to warp when exposed to moisture. Nonetheless, you should avoid installing either in a wet area.

Cost

Cost is a vital factor that everyone considers when installing new flooring. Solid hardwood costs around $8 to $16/square foot whereas engineered hardwood is about $3 to $12/square foot. The cost of installation depends on the contractor’s rate. However, solid hardwood will likely cost more to install than engineered hardwood.

Cleaning and maintenance

To keep your hardwood flooring in optimal condition, you need to clean and maintain the floor regularly. Both engineered and solid hardwoods don’t require any special skills to clean. You only need to sweep and vacuum the floor from time to time. Occasionally, you can also damp-mop your hardwood flooring. For maintenance, you need to sand and refinish the floors. Over their lifetime, you may need to refinish solid hardwood two or three times, whereas engineered hardwood only needs to be refinished once.

Which of these two hardwood options is better?

There is no clear-cut winner among these two flooring types as each hardwood option has some advantages over the other. In case your budget is low and you prefer a more environmentally friendly hardwood, go for engineered hardwood. But if durability, lifespan, and quality are important to you, solid hardwood is a better option.