Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood?

Considering adding wood flooring to your existing home or choosing hardwood for new construction? With so many design choices solely in the realm of hardwood flooring and engineered flooring, the prospect can be daunting. In Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood, I’m sharing what I have learned about engineered and hardwood flooring as a real life renovator and homeowner, explaining how we decided on flooring and directing you to a few shopping options.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
White oak hardwood floor in our DIY whole house renovation. Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? Interior Design Inspiration: White Oak Hardwood in Our Home…certainly lovely indeed. In case you need help with how to choose between engineered and hardwood flooring!

Hardwood is wonderful to live with and a smart choice if you’re looking to add value to your home. Why? Buyers value it as a longwearing design element and love its natural warmth, strength, ease for keeping clean. It is a neutral backdrop that also accommodates a multitude of design styles.

Why is engineered hardwood flooring a viable option for wood flooring, and what are the advantages? I asked a luxury floor expert and snagged a bunch of tips.

Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood?

Deciding on a Wood Flooring Product

I was unwavering in my desire to add wood flooring to as many rooms as our renovation budget would allow in the fixer upper we renovated DIY style by ourselves.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio

Since we lived happily with white oak hardwoods in our prior home, I was sold on incorporating the same material to keep enjoying the warmth, beauty, comfort, and durability of the material.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
White Oak Hardwood in Our Home…certainly lovely indeed. In case you need help deciding how to choose between engineered and hardwood flooring!

Choosing a Flooring Expert

I also knew I wanted to hire the same artisan who did an exceptional job installing and finishing on site the wood floors in our previous project. If you’re looking for a top notch professional, here’s a tip.

Don’t have a reference from someone you trust? Look locally at the best new homes under construction in your neck of the woods and try to sneak a peek at the hardwood flooring inside. Don’t be put off by the scale or expense of the project…you’re looking for top quality and expert installation, yes? Get in touch with the contractor to learn the name of the subcontractor/flooring firm and go from there.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio

Choosing a Design Style

I knew I wanted white oak. However, for this project, we were after a slightly different look for the wood flooring. Specifically, we wanted a less gold, raw look for the white oak to keep with a European country inspired overall mood and style.

In our prior French country home, we opted to stain the white oak hardwood flooring with a fruitwood stain for a warm, relatively light tone.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio

A Scrubbed, Bleached Oak Look for Hardwood Floors

Getting a bleached or grey-look is not as simple as you might imagine with oak hardwoods. So our flooring artisan brought me a varied selection of options for achieving the look of natural, raw, scrubbed and matte white oak. Some of the options were prefinished flooring products. I’ll discuss the benefits of prefinished flooring in a separate post as this can be the perfect option for controlling the exact color and finish you want!

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio

You’ll also find shopping options to consider for prefinished hardwood flooring later in this post, along with engineered product options.

Wide Selection of Wood Flooring Options

A few of those options were engineered flooring products, and I was shocked! Since I totally trust the expertise of our installer, I was surprised he was so enthusiastic about products which I regarded as not “all natural” or “pure” or even “traditional.”

So our flooring selection process and mulling over of products led to an education of sorts, and I’m happy to share a bit of it with you today.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio

What White Oak Flooring We Chose

We opted for traditional solid unfinished 5″ white oak solid hardwood flooring planks. After experimenting with finishes and stains (very labor intensive when you’re after a very specific and hard-to-get tone using natural wood!), we opted for no stain at all.

Even though I was determined to get away from any amber-tone that is so natural for white oak after it’s sealed, I decided in the end it would work well with the balance of so many cool toned design elements (bright white painted walls, pale neutrals, cool grey-blues, etc.).

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio

Natural With No Stain White Oak Hardwoods

One of the primary reasons I chose solid hardwood over an engineered product? I was thinking about eventual resale. This isn’t a flip project, but we live in a very conservative region of the country where the typical buyer not only wants a traditional product like solid wood, but is willing to pay top dollar for it.

Our white oak hardwood floors were meticulously installed and finished on site. I can’t tell you how many emails I receive asking about the stain on them. No stain – we went for a natural look – finished on site with layers of a matte poly.

Viatera Minuet quartz countertop in my classic white kitchen (with Modern French influence) paired with polished marble subway tile backsplash - Hello Lovely Studio. #whitequartz #quartzcountertops #minuet

Help With Hardwood Flooring Decisions

If you’re in the throes of deciding on hardwood flooring for your home to replace, upgrade, or renovate, I hope this post and my experience helps. If you are building a new home, this may also be beneficial since I’m aware of the hundreds of decisions with which you are faced! And if you are selling your home or shopping for a new home, then you already know that hardwood flooring is still a SMOKIN HOT design feature for buyers.

Serene tranquil white kitchen with farm sink, marble subway tile, Viatera Minuet quartz counters, white Shaker cabinets, and white oak flooring. Design and photo: Hello Lovely Studio. #kitchendesign #whitekitchen #minuet #whitequartz #benjaminmoorewhite
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Interview With a Luxury Flooring Expert

Here’s the thing. If you’re under the impression there is only solid hardwood and then a bunch of inferior wood products, THINK AGAIN. I learned from my flooring expert, for example, that engineered products are highly stable over time and an excellent choice to consider!

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
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Hardwood Flooring Vs. Engineered Flooring

Is engineered hardwood better than solid hardwood for floors?

It is a personal decision; however engineered flooring is becoming more and more popular because it is a lot more versatile than solid wood flooring. Due to the construction of engineered wood flooring using a plywood or HDF core, it is able to naturally expand and contract in rooms where the levels of moisture or temperature may change. Whereas solid wood flooring will easily expand and cause the flooring to bow or buckle. Therefore, engineered flooring can be used in rooms where underfloor heating is used, unlike solid wood flooring.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
Hello Lovely Studio. Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? Interior Design Inspiration: White Oak Hardwood in Our Home…certainly lovely indeed. In case you need help deciding how to choose between engineered and hardwood flooring!

What About the Durability of Engineered Flooring Vs. Hardwood?

Is engineered hardwood as durable as hardwood?

Yes, engineered wood flooring is just as durable, if not more durable due to its versatility as explained above. The only benefit of solid wood flooring is that it may increase your house price due to the attractiveness it has to buyers. 

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
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Which Wood Flooring is More Expensive?

Is engineered flooring more expensive than hardwood?

No. It is common that engineered flooring is cheaper than solid wood flooring due to the fact that during the manufacturing process cheaper raw materials such as plywood and HDF are used. In contrast, real wood is more expensive to import and manufacture. However, you have to compare similar products when comparing the price. So if you compared a 20mm thick, 200mm wide engineered floor to a 14mm thick, 90mm wide solid wood flooring, then it may appear that the engineered product is more expensive. However this is purely due to the larger dimensions.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
Hello Lovely Studio. Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? Interior Design Inspiration: White Oak Hardwood in Our Home…certainly lovely indeed. In case you need help deciding how to choose between engineered and hardwood flooring!

Is Engineered Flooring Like Laminate Flooring?

How is engineered hardwood different than laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is manufactured using a HDF (high density fibreboard) core and topped with a plastic laminated photograph that acts as the surface layer. There will be multiple photographs taken in order to create variety and ensure the laminate looks realistic. Most engineered flooring products have a core created from multiple layers of plywood and then topped with a lamella of real solid wood. Due to real wood being used, engineered flooring can be available in larger thicknesses than laminate flooring. Furthermore, laminate flooring has a click joining method, whereas engineered flooring can have either a tongue and groove or click joining method.

before of master bedroom in Hello Lovely Studio's fixer upper
A peek at our white oak hardwood flooring being installed.

Off-Gassing Issues & Toxins

For more information to help you choose between solid or engineered hardwoods, this article from Mike Holmes, who covers issues like off-gassing may help.

More Design Details in Our Master Bedroom

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
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This post contains affiliate links which I hope you will use since they won’t cost you a penny extra yet may earn this blog a small commission.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
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Hardwood & Engineered Wood Flooring Shopping Options

7″ Wide Plank Engineered Wood Flooring Options

I think it goes without saying, ORDER SAMPLES so you can examine them side by side for color, finish, and their impact in your particular space.

Coastal Allure 7" Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring
Coastal Allure 7″ Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring by Mohawk: FIND IT HERE!
Coastal Allure 7" Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring
Mohawk Coastal Allure 7″ Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND IT HERE!
Scottsmoor Oak 7-1/2" Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Scottsmoor Oak 7-1/2″ Engineered Hardwood Flooring by Shaw: FIND HERE!
American Traditions 7" Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring
American Traditions 7″ Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND HERE!

5″ Wide Plank Engineered Flooring Shopping Options

City Escape 5" Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring in Aspen White
City Escape 5″ Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring in Aspen White: FIND HERE!
American Loft 5" Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring
American Loft 5″ Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND HERE!
American Loft 5" Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring
Mohawk American Loft 5″ Engineered Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND HERE!

Click here for more ENGINEERED FLOORING OPTIONS FOR WHITE OAK and also CLICK HERE FOR OPTIONS.

Solid Hardwood Wood Flooring Shopping Options

6″ Wide Solid Hardwood Flooring Options

Brady French 6" Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring
Solid Hardwood 6″ Brady French Oak Flooring: FIND HERE!
Brady French 6" Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring
Brady French 6″ Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND HERE!

5″ Wide Solid Hardwood Flooring Options

Prime Harvest 5" Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring
Prime Harvest 5″ Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND HERE!
Prime Harvest 5" Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring
Armstrong Prime Harvest 5″ Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND HERE!
Travatta 5" Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring
Travatta 5″ Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND HERE!
Travatta 5" Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring
Mohawk Travatta 5″ Solid Oak Hardwood Flooring: FIND IT HERE!

Find more options for SOLID OAK HARDWOOD FLOORING RIGHT HERE and ALSO HERE.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
Hello Lovely Studio. Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? Interior Design Inspiration: White Oak Hardwood in Our Home…certainly lovely indeed. In case you need help deciding how to choose between engineered and hardwood flooring!

More Design Info About Hardwood & Mixing Wood

Lots of folks write me to ask about what finish we used on our knotty alder doors and hardwood flooring, and I’m aware how choosing colors and mixing woods completely freaks people the H out!

Here’s the secret designers know: you don’t need to overthink or worry about the mix. When you start with an empty shell and begin layering in the design elements like floors and doors, you’re seeing the space in an unfinished state. You may be tempted to panic about how the wood on floors, doors, and furniture varies and whether it looks harmonious as a whole.

Le Matchy Matchy is Not Your Friend

But matching everything perfectly is often impossible and even undesirable! My doors are natural alder (no stain, just a poly finish), the floors are natural white oak, so they don’t match in species or color. Because my style is country, laid back, and unfussy, that works beautifully.

It’s actually a very good reason you should get an interior designer or talented friend involved to help. When all the pieces are in place, your eye will not be constantly discerning how close this matches that or whether you made a terrible decision–when you stick with natural materials, the final overall result and mix will feel natural.

White oak hardwood flooring in a European inspired neutral home with spare interiors by Hello Lovely Studio. Learn more in this story about Wood Flooring Options: Engineered or Hardwood? #woodfloors #whiteoak #hellolovelystudio
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Hope this helps if you’re working on a home improvement, renovation, or new construction project, friends! Let me know if you have questions.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

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12 Comments

  1. Lisa D.
    February 16, 2019 / 10:36 am

    What do you use under your furniture feet to protect the wood floor from scratches and dents?

    • michele
      Author
      February 16, 2019 / 11:40 am

      Hey there. I use those little round felt stickers from Home Depot. And our floors have lots of scratches – which is okay when you’re after vintage style!

  2. Joanna
    February 16, 2019 / 1:34 pm

    I opted for engineered hardwood because of our damp climate in the Pacific Northwest. The option
    I picked is waxed so there is no off gassing from the finish. Plus when scratched it doesn’t show bare wood as the wax is through the top layers. I also like that there are no groves to catch bits of dust or dirt. It took some convincing from the contractor and designer to convince me though. My heart was set on hardwood through and through. Whichever you choose will increase the look of your home and therefore the value.
    Blessings,
    ~Joanna

    • michele
      Author
      February 16, 2019 / 5:23 pm

      Great info and help with this post’s topic, Joanna! Thank you! Love the idea of waxed!

  3. February 25, 2019 / 2:39 pm

    Such great info, Michele! Your floors are beautiful! Several years ago, in our previous house, we chose solid wood because at that time, the engineered wood floors had more formaldehyde in them, and I am extremely sensitive to formaldehyde. That may have changed now though! Thanks for sharing this at Thursday Favorite Things! Have a wonderful week!

    • michele
      Author
      February 25, 2019 / 6:49 pm

      I am allergic to formaldehyde so this is an important consideration! Thank you so much for sharing this, Pam. I will dig deeper into toxins and chemicals involved in solid hardwood alternatives.

  4. ridebiler
    March 10, 2021 / 6:16 am

    Kudos for the inspiring website you’ve created at topctlimo.com. Your enthusiasm is definitely inspiring. Thanks again!

    • Michele
      Author
      March 10, 2021 / 12:11 pm

      You bet – so happy to welcome you here to be inspired!

  5. ridebiler
    March 22, 2021 / 5:28 am

    Thanks for sharing this great information.
    Useful information. Keep sharing!!!

    • Michele
      Author
      March 22, 2021 / 10:21 am

      Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

  6. Loft and Insulation
    October 14, 2021 / 12:48 am

    Thank you for sharing your blog. Keep on posting.

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White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
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Trees White Wallpaper Mural
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Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing