Hardwood flooring is made of solid wood, and it’s one of the most popular flooring options. It is usually made of hardwood species like maple, oak or walnut. And it has a significantly longer lifespan that allows for sanding and refinishing over and over.
Engineered wood flooring looks almost identical to the hardwood on the surface, but instead of a single wood plank, it’s made of a high-quality plywood core with a thin layer of hardwood flooring on top. Engineered wood flooring is a more affordable option, but it can’t be refinished to extend its lifespan. Both surfaces are used across the home and they are almost identical in terms of benefits, leaving the choice to be a very personal one.
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Key Differences
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring, also referred to as solid wood flooring, is often made of a hardwood species. Popular species include maple, walnut, oak and cherry. Solid flooring comes from a solid piece of milled wood, hence the name. Hardwood flooring installation involves nailing the wood planks to the subfloor, a project that requires some skills. Because it is solid wood, it can easily be sanded and refinished several times over its lifespan to maintain its appearance.
Engineered Wood Flooring
On the surface, engineered wood flooring is made to look and feel identical to hardwood flooring. But, its construction only uses a thin layer of hardwood to achieve its appearance and has a plywood core. Engineered flooring installation is DIY-friendly and is available in glued or interlocking planks that make it easier to install. Because its top layer is just a thin layer of hardwood, it can’t be refinished as often as solid flooring, but it can still last up to 30 years and more with proper maintenance.
Key Differences
| Hardwood Flooring | Engineered Wood Flooring | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Between$8 and $15 per square foot | Between $4 to $7 per square foot |
| Lifespan | Between 30 to 100 years | Up to 30 years or more |
| Materials | 100% Hardwood | Plywood core bonded to a thin hardwood layer |
| Moisture | Water-resistant, but not waterproof | More water-resistant than hardwood, but not waterproof |
| Core | Hardwood | Plywood |
| Cleaning | Do not use a wet mop | Wet mop allowed |
| Sizes | Thickness: about 3/4 inch, width: 2 1/4 to 4 inches, length: 12 to 84 inches | Thickness: 3/8 to 9/16 inch, width: 2 1/4 to 7 inches, length: 12 to 60 inches |
Which Flooring Is Best?
Appearance and Comfort
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring planks vary in width, ranging from 8 inches to 12 inches wide. Once installed, solid flooring tends to have tighter seams between boards. It is available in a wide range of colors and species in pre-finished and unfinished panels for more personalization.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Looking almost exactly like hardwood, engineered wood flooring offers more flexibility in terms of width. Because of the veneer layer, engineered wood flooring could easily be mistaken for solid wood once installed. Engineered wood flooring is almost always sold prefinished and there are fewer options for colors and styles than hardwood.
Maintenance and Care
Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwood is relatively easy to clean and maintain. Most floors only need sweeping and vacuuming, with the occasional mopping with a special wood cleaner to treat stains. Just avoid using water or steam to clean wood floors.
However, hardwood flooring is better for long-term maintenance because it can be sanded down and refinished several times over its lifespan to look as good as new.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Like hardwood, engineered wood flooring only needs sweeping and vacuuming to stay clean. Occasionally mopping it with wood cleaner can help prevent stains and revitalize the top layer.
Most engineered wood floors don’t have a thick enough top hardwood layer to be sanded and refinished overtime. In most cases, they can be refinished once or twice before the hardwood layer is exhausted and you need to repair the planks.
Lifespan
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring has a significantly longer lifespan than most types of floorings available. Hardwood flooring can last anywhere between 30 to 100 years with the proper maintenance and care. This is why we still see some houses with hardwood floors from the 1850s.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Although engineered wood flooring can’t be refinished as often as solid hardwood, it can still last up to 30 years or more with proper maintenance. While the entire floor can’t be sanded down and refinished, one of the benefits of engineered wood flooring planks is that they can be easily replaced, especially those installed with the click-and-lock method.
Sizes
Hardwood Flooring
The standard size for hardwood flooring planks is 3/4 inch thick, 2 1/4 inches wide and can vary in length from 12 to 84 inches. There are some other widths and thickness available, however, hardwood flooring plans are usually never more than four inches wide.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring planks are typically thinner than hardwood flooring planks, at about 3/8- to 9/16 inches thick. However, it’s usually sold in planks that are much wider, reaching up to seven inches in width, and they can range in length from 12 to 60 inches.
Cost
Hardwood Flooring
Out of the many types of flooring in the market, hardwood is among the most expensive ones. Prefinished hardwood flooring can cost $8 per square foot. On average, you can find hardwood flooring going for prices between $8 and $15 per square foot.
Engineered Wood Flooring
On the other hand, engineered wood flooring is a more budget-friendly flooring option. Engineered wood floors range between $2.50 and $10 per square foot. But, most styles are available at $4 to $7 per square foot.
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Installation
Hardwood Flooring
The majority of hardwood floors are nailed down to the sub-floor. Another common installation method is using tongue-and-groove planks to join the planks together. Hardwood flooring needs to be attached to a subfloor, usually plywood. Then, planks are nailed to the subfloor through the tongue, so the nails don’t show when the floor is completed.
Engineered Wood Flooring
While some engineered wood floors are also nailed to the sub-floor, in most cases, it’s done using the click-and-lock system. This installation method uses tongue-and-groove boards that lock together like Legos to create a tight seam. The system floats over the sub-floor, often made of foam or cork.
Water, Heat and Environment
Hardwood Flooring
When it comes to water and the environment, hardwood flooring is more sensitive than other flooring options. Hardwood is not recommended for installations where humidity or moisture can go through because it causes swelling and warping.
Engineered Wood Flooring
While engineered wood flooring isn’t waterproof, it has better performance in humid locations compared to hardwood. Because plywood construction is more stable, this flooring is less susceptible to warping and swelling. However, some engineered wood flooring can include a protective layer over the hardwood veneer to protect even more against water spills and water damage.
Overall, both hardwood and engineered wood flooring have the same resistance to heat. Although, neither material is recommended for wet locations such as bathrooms and basements.
Resale Value
Hardwood Flooring
When it comes to selling your house, hardwood flooring is often considered a premium add-on that can increase the resale value. The longevity benefit of hardwood flooring and the premium quality are often a selling point for potential homebuyers. On average, installing hardwood floorings can boost the price of your home by as much as 2.5%.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Because engineered wood flooring looks almost precisely like solid hardwood, it’s rarely a turn-off for potential buyers. However, it might not increase the value of a property as hardwood flooring would. No data is supporting the idea that engineered wood flooring provides higher resale value to a house.
Top Brands
Hardwood Flooring
- Bruce Hardwood Flooring
- Mohawk Industries
- Shaw Floors
- Armstrong Flooring
- Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
Engineered Wood Flooring
- Somerset Hardwood Flooring
- From the Forest
- Harris Wood Floors
- Bruce Hardwood Flooring
- Mohawk Industries
Bottom Line
In many aspects, hardwood and engineered wood floors can be used interchangeably in most homes. Both flooring options have more similarities than differences, making it a personal decision. The exception to hardwood and engineered wood’s interchangeability comes down to water damage.
Engineered wood flooring is a better choice in high-moisture environments than solid hardwood, making it a better option for kitchens, bathrooms and basements. But, for whole-house installations, both flooring options offer a wide range of style choices. It boils down to your budget (hardwood flooring is more expensive) and style preferences.
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FAQs
What are the disadvantages of engineered wood flooring? ›
Disadvantages of engineered wood flooring
Some manufacturers use cheap or weak materials to build their engineered hardwood flooring. Make sure you buy from reputable manufacturers to ensure you get a long lifespan out of your new flooring. Some engineered hardwood products can't be refinished.
The simplest way to tell the difference between the two types of wood is to pick up a loose plank. Look at the side of the plank. If it is one solid piece of wood with a continuous grain, it's solid hardwood. If you see different layers of wood, it's engineered hardwood.
Do engineered wood floors look cheap? ›Engineered wood floors are “fake” and “cheap” compared to solid wood floors. For some of the very inexpensive engineered floors, this might be true. But a quality engineered floor will look and feel exactly like a high-quality solid hardwood floor.
Is solid hardwood better than engineered? ›Because its solid wood construction allows it to be sanded and refinished several times, solid hardwood flooring comes out on top when it comes to longevity. If you're basing your decision solely on lifespan, longevity is one of the disadvantages of engineered wood. Although, 30 years is still a decent span of time.
Does water damage engineered hardwood floors? ›Engineered hardwood flooring is more water-resistant than solid hardwood, but excessive moisture can still cause stains or warping.
What is the most scratch resistant hardwood flooring? ›Selecting a floor such as Hickory, Hard Maple or White Oak can protect your floor from damage, as these hardwoods are less susceptible to scratches than softer woods like Pine, Cherry or Black Walnut. Hardwoods with more dramatic grain patterns can help to hide scratches more easily.
Do engineered wood floors scratch easily? ›Scratches, Dents and Other Small Marks
Due to the fact that engineered flooring has a top layer of solid wood it is actually susceptible to the same drawbacks of having solid hardwood floors such as easily being scratched and dented.
High Level of Maintenance
Since the surface layer of an engineered wood floor is made of hardwood, you will need to actively maintain your floor in order to retain its quality—exactly like you would for a solid wood floor.
vinyl. If you're looking for the look and feel of natural hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood is your better choice. After all, it's made from natural wood. If you're looking for the warmth of a solid hardwood floor, engineered hardwood accomplishes that.
Which is better laminate or engineered hardwood? ›Bottom Line. For a floor covering that looks exactly like solid hardwood, but is easier to maintain, engineered flooring is your best choice. If you are looking to save money on your floor covering, laminate flooring is a better choice than engineered hardwood flooring, especially when coupled with self-installation.
How long will an engineered wood floor last? ›
Thanks to the composition of engineered flooring, which consists of multiple core pieces of plywood, HDF, or softwood, topped off with a beautiful layer of hardwood, it means that engineered flooring can last for up to 30 years in the right conditions.
Does engineered wood flooring need maintenance? ›Cleaning and maintenance
Dry cleaning is the best way to clean engineered wood floors, rather than wet cleaning. Vacuum and brush regularly and occasionally use a damp, well wrung-out cloth/mop. For best results, use Kährs Cleaner diluted in water or ready-mixed Kährs Spray Cleaner.