Classic vs. Engineered Hardwood Floors

June 06, 2021 2 min read

Classic vs. Engineered Hardwood Floors

The long debate of whether classic or engineered hardwood floors reigns supreme has been going on for decades now. Each has its own specific positives as well as negatives. 

You’re getting your money’s worth with solid wood floors. They’re stunning to look at and last for an extremely long time. On the other hand, engineered floors are better for dealing with moisture, which makes it available to install in more rooms in your house. This article will compare the two so you can see which works best for your home.

Classic Hardwood Floors

Solid hardwood floors are cut from one piece of wood and include many options to choose from. These are just a few of the ways that classic hardwood floors are best for your home.

Installation

Solid wood floors are often nailed or stapled to ensure that they are secure. They will never be installed as floating floors as it could damage the integrity of the wood. 

Resale Value

If the floors are in good condition, classic hardwood floors will increase your home’s value. For the most part, they will often need some sort of restoration work, making the resale value equal to that of engineered wood.

Durability

Solid hardwood floors can last for decades at a time. The only problem that classic wood flooring will face is moisture. Other than that, the strength of these floors is unbeatable.

Moisture

As previously mentioned, moisture is not a great friend of solid hardwood. This is why you never see solid wood in bathrooms, basements, and other areas that contain a lot of moisture.

Engineered Hardwood Floors

Engineered hardwood floors are a thin slice of hardwood placed on top of a piece of plywood. The wood selection is rather slim compared to solid wood floors, but these are much easier to install. This list contains a few reasons why engineered hardwood floors are best for your home.

Installation

There are numerous ways that you can install engineered hardwood floors. These include stapling, nailing, glue, or fold-and-lock. Each is much easier to complete compared to installing solid wood.

Resale Value

Engineered wood still technically is real wood, which means it can be advertised that way when selling a home. They are more attractive to buyers in that respect. 

Durability

Do not mistake engineered floors for not being durable. These floors are still very solid, but they can’t compete with classic hardwood. The surface is very thin, meaning it can be much easier to chip.

Moisture

Engineered wood is much better dealing with moisture than solid wood. This is because it’s less likely to warp to wet conditions, making it perfect for the rooms in the house that tend to have more moisture in the air.



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