Solid or Engineered, That is the Question

  To be or not to be, that is the question. So starts one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Hamlet. Now while I am not writing to question the nature of action, or life and death, I am writing to discuss one of wood floorings most prominent quandaries. I will assume that since you are reading this you have already chosen to be, as Hamlet put it and are now shopping for new flooring. There are several things to consider when deciding between solid or engineered wood, let’s talk about some facts and fictions of hardwood flooring:

FICTION: THICKER IS BETTER

   While bigger and thicker are often signs of a product being of better quality in the world we live in, this is fiction when dealing with hardwood flooring. While solid woods are usually ¾” thick, being much thicker than most engineered woods, that has no bearing on how your wood floor will perform. The thickness really offers only one benefit; it can be sanded and refinished up to three times. Most engineered wood can only be sanded down one time, but with the hand scraped and distressed looks that are on the market today why would you want to? Yes you do lose any special finish or texture if you decide to sand your floor.

FACT: ENGINEERED WOOD WILL NOT CUP

   This is one of the big plusses to getting engineered wood. Have you ever walked into some ones home and noticed that their floor isn’t smooth anymore? That the strips of wood have actually begun to curl up on the sides, forming a U shape? This is what we in the industry call cupping; it is caused by moisture which is very bad here in the south. Your floor will expand and contract, and when it does those solid pieces of wood have nowhere to go, so over time they eventually cup leaving you unhappy with your floor.

  

   Why does engineered wood not do this you may ask? Well the answer is simple, instead of being a solid piece of wood; engineered wood is made in plies, or layers, each one turned in the opposite direction. You probably know how plywood is constructed; well engineered wood is basically the same except that it has a real wood veneer on top. With this product installed, when your floor decides to expand and contract, those layers push against each other causing the wood to remain in the same position, therefore no cupping and you a satisfied customer.

FICTION: ENGINEERED COST TOO MUCH

   While it is true that engineered wood can be a high priced item, so can solid wood. Just like anything in the world we live in you can find low and high price points on any item. With the price of solid wood steadily rising, you can find engineered wood for the same price as solid if not cheaper.

FACT: ENGINEERED CAN BE INSTALLED OVER CONCRETE

   Many people have been disappointed when they find out that they can’t install the solid wood they want because their subfloor is concrete. Well engineered wood solved that problem. It can easily be glued down over concrete with a proper wood flooring adhesive. In fact all engineered wood can be stapled or glued, and most can be floated provided that you run a bead of glue down the tongue and groove.

   So while your home’s subfloor may make the choice of solid or engineered for you, the decision is entirely up to you. Both will add value to your home and make you a beautiful floor. I’m not writing to tell you to pick one over the other; I just want to provide you with enough information so that you can make an educated decision.

  

   Shakespeare was a phenomenal poet, a true professional of the written word but when it comes to floor covering I think I might have the upper hand. So solid or engineered, that is the question. The answer will be different for every home and every individual, which one is right for you?