The Differences Between Engineered Flooring and Solid Hardwood Flooring
Contents |
Introduction
Engineered and solid hardwood flooring are very similar - when on the floor, engineered boards look identical to solid wood. However, although they look the same, they can act and react very differently. Engineered floors are tougher, but solid wood flooring can last longer.
Properties of engineered flooring
Engineered flooring is made up of core boards and timber that are effectively layer after layer of ply that are bonded together. These boards are topped off with a lamella or top layer of solid wood, which is what makes engineered wood flooring look just like solid wood.
Engineered flooring can be installed as a floating floor, meaning if you moved home, you could take the floor with you as it does not stick to the subfloor. Wood is a natural product meaning it can be affected by humidity and temperature, but the construction of engineered wood makes it less reactive to these changes. This makes it structurally solid and much less likely to damage or warp.
Engineered timber is now the most common type of wood flooring used globally, and the technology has enabled the production of much wider boards.
Properties of solid hardwood flooring
Hardwood flooring is made from solid wood of almost any hardwood species or grade. Solid wood flooring is made of 100% natural wood, and the solid wood boards are refined from one piece of hardwood, then treated with a protective coating.
Solid wood provides the authenticity of a classic wooden floor, and usually thick boards mean they can be re-sanded and refinished numerous times without any damage – giving a quality floor which will last a lifetime.
Solid hardwood is for purists considering long-term prospects and who do not mind installing different types of flooring in different parts of the house.
Popular uses
Engineered wood is more suitable for higher moisture areas and rooms with environments with varying humidity levels such as kitchens and conservatories. This also makes it suitable for use over concrete floors. Engineered wood has a greater range of installation methods, such as stapling, nailing, click or glue.
As solid wood is one piece of hardwood from top to bottom, it needs to be nailed or stapled down to a permanent floor, meaning a concrete base is a problem, and it can never be installed on a floating basis.
Solid hardwood is best used in living areas, bedrooms, hallways, and dining rooms. Also, it is wise to avoid solid wood in kitchens, only installing if waterproof mats are placed near sinks and dishwashers.
Wood species
There are fewer choices with engineered wood. Red oak, hickory, and Brazilian Cherry are the most popular wood species for engineered flooring.
There are far more choices of wood species for solid hardwood. Red and white oak, maple, hickory, and pine are the most popular choices.
--G&S Specialist Timber 09:01, 16 May 2017 (BST)
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 11 things you didn't know about wood.
- Bamboo flooring.
- Click and lock flooring.
- Cross-laminated timber.
- Engineered bamboo.
- Floating floor.
- Hardwood.
- Physical Properties of Wood.
- Plywood.
- Softwood.
- Subfloor.
- The differences between hardwood and softwood.
- Types of flooring.
- Types of timber.
- Best Woods for Wood Carving
- Oak wood properties
- Pine wood
- The Uses of Wood in Construction
Featured articles and news
Designing sustainability and performance into buildings
Specifying and selecting sustainable resilient timber products.
Modifying wood to improve resistance to decay and movement.
A last minute, long look for built environment professionals.
The architecture of creative reuse. Book review.
Installing solar panels on listed structures.
Sustainable development global goals, history in progress?
"Unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for a world that might have been."
Mike Kagioglou FCIOB named CIOB President
'Sustainable Development Goals must be focus for construction'
BSRIA training; a look at what's on offer
From energy management to compliance training.
TESP video warns to beware of rogue trainers.
Highlighting the slippery tactics of non-approved providers.
New Building Safety Wiki launched
Boosting awareness and understanding of the new fire safety regime.
New playbook on AI in construction published by CIOB
How to get to grips with, and the best from AI.
Digital Construction Report NBS
BIM, cloud, off-site, immersive tech, AI, twins and sustainability.
ECA learning zone and industry focus video series
From updates and amendments to circular economy, emergency lighting and much more.
The Building People Communities Network
Celebrating and amplifying voices of the under-represented, this refugee week and pride month.
Pride of Place: queer heritage
Acknowledging and taking pride in LGBTQ histories.
Comments