Engineered vs Solid Wood Flooring: Understanding the Differences Between Two Premium Options

When deciding on hardwood flooring for your project, you'll likely choose between engineered and solid wood.
Both are top-quality options, but each has its own advantages depending on your needs. With premium engineered wood now offering wear layers as thick as (or even thicker than) solid wood, it's time to clear up some misconceptions. Let's dive into the key differences and help you make the best choice for your home or project.

Solid Wood Flooring: Timeless and Durable
Solid wood flooring is made from a single piece of hardwood, typically ¾ of an inch thick. It's been a long-standing favorite due to its classic appeal and durability.

Advantages of Solid Wood Flooring:

1. Exceptional Longevity: Solid wood can last a lifetime—or several—if maintained properly. Its thickness allows for refinishing over the years, making it an enduring choice.
2. Authentic Character: Because it's a single piece of natural wood, the grain and character of each plank are unique, providing warmth and beauty that deepens over time.
3. Custom Finishes: Solid wood gives you endless options for finishing. Whether you're after a distressed look, a smooth satin finish, or a custom stain, solid wood can be sanded and restyled multiple times over its life.
4. Eco-Friendly Sourcing: Many premium solid woods, like our sustainably harvested French and European Oak, come from responsibly managed forests. Solid wood flooring can be an environmentally conscious choice when sourced properly.

Disadvantages of Solid Wood Flooring:

1. Moisture Sensitivity: Solid wood is more susceptible to warping and expansion due to humidity and moisture, making it less suitable for moisture-prone areas like kitchens or basements.
2. Installation Limitations: Solid wood flooring typically requires nailing down to a wood subfloor. It's unsuitable for installation over concrete or radiant heating systems due to the potential for movement caused by temperature changes.

Engineered Wood Flooring: Stability Meets Luxury
Engineered wood flooring is a modern, high-performance option that has evolved significantly in recent years. With premium engineered wood now offering wear layers as thick as—or even thicker than—solid wood, it rivals or surpasses solid wood in both durability and appearance.

​Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring:

1. Superior Stability: Engineered wood is built with a core of layered plywood or a single-core, high-grade hardwood core topped with a thick wear layer of real hardwood. This structure provides greater resistance to changes in humidity and temperature, making it ideal for basements, kitchens, or homes with radiant heating systems.
2. Same Look, More Versatility: Thanks to its real wood wear layer, engineered flooring looks identical to solid wood once installed. And with advanced construction methods, it can be made in wide planks and intricate finishes that rival any solid wood floor.
3. Refinishing Potential: Premium-engineered wood floors often come with wear layers as thick as those on solid wood floors. This means they can be sanded and refinished as many times as solid wood, offering the same level of longevity.
4. Flexible Installation: Engineered wood can be installed over various surfaces, including concrete, and is compatible with radiant heating systems. Depending on the subfloor, it can be floated, glued, or stapled, offering more flexibility than solid wood.

Disadvantages of Engineered Wood Flooring:

1. Perceived Longevity Misconception: Some homeowners assume that engineered wood doesn't last as long as solid wood. However, with a thick wear layer and proper maintenance, engineered wood can easily last just as long as solid wood, especially in areas where stability is crucial.
2. Fewer Refinishes for Some Lower-End Products: Although this is becoming less common in premium ranges, some lower-quality engineered floors may have thinner wear layers, limiting refinishing potential. Always choose a high-quality product with a thick wear layer to avoid this issue.

Myth-Busting Common Misunderstandings

1. Myth: Solid Wood is Always Superior
2. Fact: Both solid and engineered wood have advantages, but engineered wood offers superior stability in environments with fluctuating moisture or temperature. And with a thick wear layer, engineered wood can match the longevity and beauty of solid wood.
3. Myth: Engineered Wood Looks Artificial
4. Fact: Premium-engineered wood has a real hardwood wear layer, which looks identical to solid wood once installed. The top layer can be made from the same high-quality hardwoods used in solid wood flooring, such as oak, walnut, or hickory.
5. Myth: Engineered Wood Can't Be Refinished
6. Fact: High-quality engineered floors often have wear layers thick enough for multiple refinishes, just like solid wood floors. Be sure to choose an engineered floor with a wear layer that matches your expectations for refinishing over time.

Which Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your specific project needs. For rooms with stable humidity and temperature, such as living rooms, bedrooms, or dining areas, solid wood provides a timeless aesthetic and can be refinished many times. But if you're working in an environment where moisture and temperature changes are a concern—like a kitchen, basement, or over concrete—engineered wood offers the durability and stability needed to perform in those conditions without sacrificing style.

At Black's Farmwood, we carry high-quality engineered and solid hardwood flooring, offering thick wear layers, custom finishes, and a range of sustainably sourced species. Most of our reclaimed wood flooring is available in engineered and solid options. Additionally, you'll find that the cost for engineered and solid wood is typically the same, so the decision often comes down to installation needs and environmental conditions.

If you're still unsure which flooring is right for your project, we'd love to help. Contact us or stop by our showroom, and we'll guide you through the process to ensure you get a floor that suits your design and performs for years to come.

Remember: Always consult with your installer and follow the guidelines set forth by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) to ensure a successful installation and long-lasting performance of your hardwood floors.

​Visit us at www.blacksfarmwood.com