Hardwood Floors: Engineered or Solid Wood?
Hardwood floors have lasting durability and natural beauty. The appeal of hardwood is the timeless look and the added value it gives to the home. Bell's Carpets & Floors offers choices in finishes, styles, and installation options that fit your budget, lifestyle, and taste. There is more to consider than the wood species and color. Bell's Carpets & Floors design consultants take the guesswork out of selecting hardwood by explaining important considerations before you buy hardwood. They will help you find the perfect match for your home.
Choosing the right hardwood floor
Nothing adds beauty and warmth to a home like natural hardwood floors. Solid and engineered hardwood are both 100% wood. The difference is in the way they are constructed. Engineered and solid hardwood also behave differently. Engineered hardwood is the easier and less expensive of the two choices. The types and species of wood also have an impact on the behavior of hardwood. Understanding the differences is helpful in choosing the right hardwood for you.
Durability: Solid hardwood floors are known for their longevity and ability to withstand wear and tear over time.
Refinishing Potential: Unlike engineered wood, hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times, extending their lifespan and maintaining their appearance.
Suitable Environments: Hardwood flooring is best suited for areas with moderate moisture levels, such as living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms.
Investment Value: While hardwood flooring may come with a higher upfront cost, it is considered a long-term investment that can increase the value of your home.
Stability: With its multiple layers of wood veneer and plywood or HDF core, engineered wood offers greater stability, reducing the risk of warping or cupping.
Installation Options: Engineered wood can be installed as a floating floor, allowing for easier DIY installation without the need for glue or nails.
Aesthetic Appeal: Engineered wood flooring features a top layer of real hardwood, providing the same beautiful appearance as solid hardwood with added durability.
Cost-Effectiveness: While engineered wood may have a lower upfront cost compared to solid hardwood, it still offers the aesthetic appeal and longevity of real wood at a more budget-friendly price point.
Hardwood Flooring:
Timeless Beauty: Hardwood flooring offers a classic, authentic look that adds warmth and elegance to any space.Durability: Solid hardwood floors are known for their longevity and ability to withstand wear and tear over time.
Refinishing Potential: Unlike engineered wood, hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times, extending their lifespan and maintaining their appearance.
Suitable Environments: Hardwood flooring is best suited for areas with moderate moisture levels, such as living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms.
Investment Value: While hardwood flooring may come with a higher upfront cost, it is considered a long-term investment that can increase the value of your home.
Engineered Wood Flooring:
Moisture Resistance: Engineered wood flooring is more resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations than solid hardwood, making it suitable for humid climates or below-grade installations.Stability: With its multiple layers of wood veneer and plywood or HDF core, engineered wood offers greater stability, reducing the risk of warping or cupping.
Installation Options: Engineered wood can be installed as a floating floor, allowing for easier DIY installation without the need for glue or nails.
Aesthetic Appeal: Engineered wood flooring features a top layer of real hardwood, providing the same beautiful appearance as solid hardwood with added durability.
Cost-Effectiveness: While engineered wood may have a lower upfront cost compared to solid hardwood, it still offers the aesthetic appeal and longevity of real wood at a more budget-friendly price point.
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Comparing engineered and solid hardwood
Each solid hardwood board is approximately a ¾-in piece of wood. The thickness of solid hardwood allows it to be sanded and refinished over and over as long as it remains in the home. Engineered hardwood is also made from genuine wood. It gives a home an updated feel and look. A hardwood veneer is affixed to the core of engineered hardwood. The base is made of plywood or hardwood. It is more heat and moisture resistant than solid hardwood. As temperature and humidity levels in the home change, solid hardwood reacts by expanding and contracting. Solid hardwood is recommended only for rooms at or above ground level. The engineered hardwood construction is less likely to react, gap, or buckle as temperature and humidity fluctuate. It can be used in any room of the home.
Bell's Carpets & Floors discusses the benefits of solid and engineered hardwood with customers from Clayton, Zebulon, Wake Forest, Durham, Chapel Hill, Garner, Cary, and Raleigh when they visit our Raleigh, NC showroom. We know our customers want and deserve the hardwood that fits their lifestyle, taste, and budget. Contact us today and lets make your hardwood flooring dreams come true!