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Hardwood is a popular flooring option for many homeowners because of its timeless beauty and long-lasting durability. But if you decide to install hardwood flooring in your home, you’ll have two types to choose from — solid and engineered. While both look the same and are made from lumber, their similarities end there. To help you pick which is right for your home, here’s a look at the difference between the two.

How They Differ

  • Solid: Made entirely of wood, this type of flooring comes in various plank widths and lengths. It’s sourced from different tree species, such as maple, oak, cherry, walnut, and hickory — each of which provides varying degrees of hardness. Because each wood type has characteristic grains and distinct colors, you’ll have many options to match your decor. Most solid planks are a quarter of an inch thick, three to five inches wide, and up to seven inches long.    

  • Engineered: An engineered hardwood is also made from lumber, but comprised of multiple layers, unlike solid types. Its top is real wood veneer mounted over several sheets of stacked thinner plywood in cross-grain configuration. The more layers of wood in between, the more expensive each piece costs. Pricing also depends on the wood variety used. For instance, engineered flooring made with cherry and acacia veneers cost less than ones made from heart pine and white ash. Unlike solid hardwoods, engineered flooring can be made into extra-wide planks. 

What Are Their Advantages? 

hardwood flooringBecause solid hardwood flooring is made of one type of wood through and through, it can withstand more refinishing and sanding than engineered hardwood,  which has a thin veneer. They are also harder and more resistant to dents, scratches, and daily wear and tear, particularly flooring made from oak, maple, and hickory. Their rigid construction — not to mention their classic beauty — also holds up for a longer period than engineered flooring.

Engineered hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is more stable and resistant to moisture compared to solid planks. As such, they’re less prone to warping. Unlike solid wood which can only be nailed or stapled for installation, you’ll also have the option to glue or lock-and-fold an engineered floor into place. 

 

Whether it’s solid or engineered, hardwood flooring looks great in any room. For top-notch floor installation, trust the experts at Lakeside Floor Coverings in Minneapolis, MN. Serving communities across the Twin Cities area, they offer a wide variety of flooring options — from carpets to laminate — at the best rates. Call (763) 503-0100 to speak to a friendly representative or look at a gallery of their flooring installations online.

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