SOLID or ENGINEERED hardwood? Which is best for your home?
Solid Hardwood
Like
it sounds, solid hardwood flooring is milled from a single 3/4" thick
piece of hardwood. Because of its thickness, a solid hardwood floor can
be sanded and refinished over several generations of use. One of the
characteristics of solid wood flooring is that it expands and contracts
with changes in your home's relative humidity. Normally, installers
compensate for this movement by leaving an expansion gap between the
floor and the wall. Base molding or quarter round is traditionally used
to hide the extra space.
Engineered Hardwood
- Engineered
hardwood flooring is actually produced with three to five layers of
wood. Each layer is stacked in a cross-grain configuration and bonded
together under heat and pressure. As a result, engineered wood flooring
is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity and can be
installed at all levels of the home.
Before deciding on Solid or Engineered hardwood flooring, consider these factors:
Location, Location, Location
The location of your hardwood flooring basically falls into three categories:
- On Grade - at ground level
- Above Grade - any second level or higher
- Below Grade - any floor below ground level, including basements or sunken living rooms.
Traditional
solid hardwood flooring is not well suited for high moisture areas such
as bathrooms or below-grade installations. The construction of an
engineered hardwood gives it enhanced structural stability and moisture
resistance that allows it to be installed at any grade level.
What type of subfloor do you have?
If
you plan to install over concrete, you must use an engineered product
to ensure structural integrity. Solid wood flooring or Engineered
flooring may be used over plywood, wood, or OSB subfloors.
Will there be moisture in the room?
If so, you'll want to select an Engineered hardwood. The moisture resistance of an engineered
hardwood makes it suitable for rooms where moisture is a possibility, such as bathrooms.
In
general, engineered products can be installed in any room in the home,
whether on-grade, below-grade or above-grade. Engineered products can
be nailed down, glued-down or stapled down, or "floated" over most
subfloors without the use of nails or adhesives, making it ideal for
remodeling. Solid products are not recommended for below grade
installations and must be nailed down or glued down.