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Solid Hardwood Flooring versus Engineered
Harwood Flooring
The Differences between Solid Hardwood
Flooring and Engineered Hardwood Floors
By Mark J. Donovan
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When contemplating installing a new
hardwood floor inevitably a homeowner is faced with comparing the pros and cons
of solid hardwood flooring versus engineered hardwood flooring. Each type of
wood flooring product has its unique advantages and disadvantages so the
decision can be tough.
Solid Hardwood
Flooring
Solid hardwood flooring vs engineered
hardwood flooring, for example, comes in many types of wood species including
exotic ones, and is much more accommodating for refinishing many times.
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Consequently solid hardwood flooring
can last for many decades with proper installation and maintenance, and can even
be argued for this reason to be more of a green product than engineered hardwood
flooring. Solid wood flooring, versus hardwood flooring, as a result is often
better for high traffic areas and for homes where there are children and pets.
Solid hardwood flooring, however is typically more expensive than engineered
hardwood flooring. In addition, solid wood flooring, versus engineered wood
flooring, is highly sensitive to moisture. As a result, in many cases homeowners
shy away from installing solid hardwood flooring in bathrooms, kitchens and
basements. This said, with the proper installation of a vapor barrier over the
subfloor and attention to regular maintenance, solid hardwood flooring can be
used in bathrooms and kitchens.
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The installation of solid hardwood
floors should typically be left to the pros unless the homeowner has had
previous experience installing solid hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood floor
installation often requires special tools for blind nailing and fine cutting. In
addition, the floor needs to be installed so that it can expand and contract
freely. If not installed properly solid hardwood flooring can buckle and ripple.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood flooring has its
unique benefits as well.
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First, it is usually less expensive
than solid hardwood flooring, both in material and labor costs. In addition,
engineered hardwood flooring can often be installed by do it yourself
homeowners.
Engineered hardwood flooring, due to its construction is also considered to be
more eco-friendly than solid hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring is
constructed out of several wood layers, with the top layer consisting of a high
quality finished wood material. The lower sub-layers, however, are constructed
out of lower quality scrap wood materials. As a result of reusing lower quality
scrap wood products, engineered hardwood floors are considered to be “green”
flooring products.
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Due the construction type of engineered hardwood flooring, e.g. many layers,
they are more resistant to moisture and thus can be used virtually anywhere in
the home, including the basement. Engineered hardwood flooring, versus solid
hardwood flooring, will not buckle or ripple with exposure to low and even
moderate moisture levels.
Though there are many positives with engineered hardwood flooring, particularly
from a cost perspective, it is however limited to the number of times it can be
refinished. Most engineered hardwood flooring can only be refinished three or
four times maximum before the floor has to be replaced. This said, engineered
hardwood flooring lasts a reasonably long time compared to the average time the
typical homeowner lives in a home.
So when you are contemplating the pros and cons of solid hardwood flooring
versus engineered hardwood flooring consider all of these factors carefully
before making your decision.
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