Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood

Solid hardwood flooring is aspired by homeowners for its authenticity, timelessness, and durability.

Solid hardwood flooring is constructed of 100% hardwood from top to bottom. So, each plank is a solid piece of wood, typically 3/4 of an inch thick. It’s milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed. You always nail solid hardwood to a stable subfloor generally constructed of 3/4-inch plywood when installed.

However, there is one consideration with solid wood flooring. It’s susceptible to moisture because wood is porous. So, if water seeps into your floors, you can experience warping and cupping. As a result, you need to be careful where you use solid hardwood flooring.

Apart from that one concern, solid hardwood flooring is durable and reliable. It presents an excellent investment that will enhance the value of your home and provide beauty for a lifetime.

Engineered hardwood looks exactly like solid hardwood flooring. However, it consists of layers. Each plank’s top and bottom layers are 100% natural hardwood veneer from various species like oak, walnut, maple, and hickory. Planks typically come in two thicknesses, 3/8 and 9/16 inches.

A core resides between those two outer layers. More importantly, those core layers crisscross in different directions to add stability and water resistance to the flooring. 

That highly stable core creates a hardwood floor that is less likely to expand, contract or shift when exposed to moisture, humidity, and temperature. As a result, engineered hardwood flooring is a great option in rooms subject to water concerns (like basements or kitchens) or over concrete slab and radiant heating systems.

Some manufacturers, like Hartco, warrant their engineered hardwood flooring for 50 years. So, you’ll enjoy nearly the same longevity as you would versus solid hardwood.

Solid Hardwood Flooring: You’ll find a huge selection of solid hardwood flooring to bring to life your personal style and décor, from traditional hardwood to on-trend colors to hand-scraped wood. The widest solid flooring available is 5″, a moderate width that strikes a balance between the extra wide-plank trend and classic looks.

Engineered Hardwood: With a few exceptions, engineered hardwood flooring is available in a wide range of styles, ranging from traditional to specialty designs with features like multi-tonal colors and handcrafted tool markings. Certain looks, such as extra-wide planks, may only be possible with engineered hardwood.

Solid Hardwood Flooring: Solid wood flooring is a great choice for the first and second floors, enhancing living spaces such as living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.

Engineered Hardwood: Engineered hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for areas where solid hardwood cannot be installed, like in basements, over concrete floors or over radiant heating systems.

Solid Hardwood: We offer solid hardwood flooring in our three hardest and most wear-resistant species: Oak, Maple and Hickory.

Engineered Hardwood: Engineered hardwood flooring has multiple species to choose from: Oak, Maple and Hickory, plus softer species like Birch, Cherry and Walnut, and exotic woods like African Mahogany, Acacia and Tigerwood.

Solid Hardwood: Solid hardwood flooring is traditionally 3/4″ thick, except for parquet-style floors which are thinner.

Engineered Hardwood: At 3/8” to 1/2″, engineered hardwood is slightly thinner than solid hardwood. Thicker woods are usually available in premium collections. Engineered hardwood floors can be a good choice if you need a thinner wood for an existing space — for example, to match the height of an adjoining floor or fit kitchen appliances into tight spaces between countertops and floors.