Curious about whether engineered or traditional hardwood makes more sense for your project? With so many options now in the marketplace, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. How to Decide Between Engineered Floors & Hardwood Floors shares a bit of what I have learned as a real life renovator.
How to Decide Between Engineered Floors or Hardwood?
Bias for Natural Hardwoods Over Engineered Floors Like Me?
Hardwood is a dreamy and smart choice. Buyers value it as a timeless design element, appreciate the warmth and coziness, admire its strength, and consider it easy to maintain.
We were unwavering in our desire for wood floors in as many rooms our renovation budget allowed in the fixer upper we renovated DIY style by ourselves.
Since we lived happily with white oak hardwoods in the previous house, I wanted to incorporate this material to enjoy its warmth, beauty, comfort, and durability.
Choose a Flooring Pro
We hired the same artisan who crafted the floors in our previous home. Don’t have a reference for an installer? Peek at new construction locally and any hardwood floors inside. Don’t worry about the scale or expense of the project; investigate quality and craftsmanship, yes? You may be able to contact the contractor for the flooring expert.
Choose the Right Look for Hardwood Floors
Achieving the bleached, limed, Old World look I had in mind was complicated. Our flooring artisan brought me a varied selection of options to achieve the look of natural, raw, scrubbed and matte white oak.
Some options were also prefinished flooring and engineered wood products.
Why is engineered hardwood flooring a viable option for wood flooring? I consulted a luxury floor expert and snagged a few tips.
Why We Chose White Oak Hardwood
We opted for traditional, solid, unfinished 5″ white oak solid hardwood flooring planks which were finished on site. After experimentation with finishes and stains (labor intensive when seeking a specific tone with natural wood!), we opted for no stain at all.
Even though I was determined to avoid any amber-tone which is so natural for the white oak species, I decided the warmth would work with the balance of so many other cool toned design elements (bright white painted walls, pale neutrals, cool grey-blues, etc.).
Natural With No Stain White Oak Hardwoods
I chose solid hardwood over an engineered product because I was mindful of resale in our area. While it wasn’t a flip project, this is a very conservative region of the country where typical buyers want traditional solid wood and are willing to pay top dollar for it.
Our white oak hardwood floors were meticulously installed and finished on site. I receive a ton of emails asking about the stain No stain as they were left natural and then finished on site with layers of a matte poly.
Under the impression solid hardwood is king and every other wood product is inferior, THINK AGAIN. Engineered products are highly stable over time and also an excellent choice to consider!
Hardwood Flooring Vs. Engineered Flooring
Is engineered hardwood better than solid hardwood for floors?
It is a personal decision. Engineered wood flooring has a plywood or HDF core and naturally expands and contracts in rooms where the levels of moisture or temperature may change. In certain regions with extreme temperature or humidity, it is a wiser option than hardwood which may expand, bow, or buckle. Further, engineered flooring can sometimes be an option where underfloor heating will be installed (solid wood flooring is not an option).
Durability: Engineered Flooring vs. Hardwood
Is engineered hardwood as durable as hardwood?
Yes, engineered wood flooring is as durable, if not more durable due to its versatility as explained above.
Which Wood Floor Option is More Expensive?
Is engineered flooring more expensive than hardwood?
Not typically. Engineered flooring tends to be cheaper than solid wood flooring due to the manufacturing process which utilizes less expensive raw materials such as plywood and HDF. In contrast, real wood can be expensive to import and mill. Make sure you compare similar products when calculating cost. If you compare a 20mm thick, 200mm wide engineered floor to a 14mm thick, 90mm wide solid wood flooring, then the engineered product may appear to be more expensive due to its greater dimensions.
How Is Engineered Flooring Different From 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. Multiple photographs are taken in order to create variety and ensure the laminate looks realistic.
Most engineered floors have a core created from multiple layers of plywood and are topped with a lamella of real solid wood. Due to its inclusion of solid natural wood, 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.
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.
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.
Hardwood & Engineered Wood Flooring Shopping Options
7″ Wide Plank Engineered Wood Flooring Options
ORDER SAMPLES so you can examine all of them side by side for color, finish, undertones, and their impact in your particular space.
5″ Wide Plank Engineered Flooring Shopping Options
Check here for more ENGINEERED FLOORING OPTIONS FOR WHITE OAK and also Check THIS FOR OPTIONS.
Solid Hardwood Wood Floor Resources
6″ Wide Solid Hardwood Flooring Options
5″ Solid Hardwood Flooring Options
Find more options for SOLID OAK HARDWOOD FLOORING RIGHT HERE and ALSO HERE.
Hope this helps if you’re working on a home improvement, renovation, or new construction project, friends! Let me know if you have questions.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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