Which Is Right for Your Home Remodel? Solid or Engineered Hardwoods?

Installing new flooring is a big decision. If you’re on the fence between solid and engineered hardwood floors for your Zionsville home, the experts at Claghorn Custom Flooring are here to help. With years of experience in the flooring industry, our team will help you find the perfect solution to meet your needs, style, and budget. 

What’s the Difference?

Both solid and engineered hardwood flooring are made from 100% real wood. Engineered wood flooring is comprised of layers of hardwood and plywood with a hardwood veneer on top. Alternatively, solid hardwood floors are cut from a single piece of wood. The appearance of both types of flooring varies, depending upon the species of wood.

Which Is Better?

Regardless of which type of flooring you choose, hardwood floors are beautiful, unique, and add value to your home. 

• Durability – Solid hardwood floors tend to be more durable than engineered floors because they are cut from a single piece of wood. As such, solid floors can be sanded and refinished many times over. Engineered flooring, on the other hand, may chip and show signs of wear more quickly than solid floors; the veneer may only be sanded once or twice (at most) depending upon its thickness.
• Moisture and Temperature Resistance – Engineered flooring tends to be a bit more water-resistant than solid flooring. Because of its composition, engineered floors do not swell and contract in response to heat and humidity. Solid floors, on the other hand, tend to warp and swell in response to moisture.
• Care and Maintenance – Both types of flooring benefit from regular sweeping and occasional mopping with an approved hardwood cleaner. Maintenance is your best friend either way; keeping grit and debris off the floor will keep it looking better for longer.
• Self-Installation – Solid floors are difficult to install and should be left to the professionals. Great precautions must be taken during installation to account for proper board spacing, subfloor prep, moisture monitoring, etc. Engineered hardwoods, however, are more flexible and resistant to temperature fluctuation. Engineered floors can be nailed, stapled, glued, or installed as floating floor, whereas solid hardwood floors must be nailed down.

Request a Free Quote

As you can see, solid and engineered hardwood flooring offer a variety of benefits to homeowners. For a free quote on your new hardwood floors, contact Claghorn today at (317) 873-6202. Our experts will help you find the perfect flooring for your project. 

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