When fitted, Engineered and Solid Wood Boards look identical therefore, It can be pretty confusing to people who don’t know the difference between them. Whilst engineered and solid wood floors look the same, they can act and react very differently. In simple terms, engineered floors are tougher and solid wood floors last longer but to give you more of a comparison..
Solid Wood
Construction:
Solid wood floor boards are cut from single pieces of timber. Making them the simplest of floors in terms of construction.
Moisture:
Due to the nature of solid wood, these floors could become damaged by moisture from above and below. Hot rooms could make them dry out and shrink, whereas a cold room could cause them to absorb moisture and expand. Meaning solid wood floors shouldn’t be laid in conservatories, basements, bathrooms or rooms with underfloor heating.
Scratches:
If they gather too many dents or scratches over the years, solid wood floors can be sanded down and re-finished many times. This means they can last a lifetime.
Engineered Wood
Construction:
Engineered floors are made from several layers of wood pressed together. The top layer is always a veneer of solid wood, like regular solid wood flooring. Although, under the top layer is the core which can be made from HDF, plywood or a soft wood.
Moisture:
The layers of engineered wood run in different directions, making engineered very stable, with a high resistance to changes in moisture. This means engineered flooring can be laid in rooms where a solid wood flooring could be damaged such as; Conservatories, basements and rooms with underfloor heating.
Scratches:
If they gather too many dents or scratches over the years, most engineered floors can be sanded down and refinished. However, the process can’t be carried out as many times as with solid wood floors. The amount it can be sanded is dependent on the size of the wear layer on the boards.
Summary:
If you are looking for a wood floor to go in a room with underfloor heating and that is likely to be exposed to a lot of heat, sun or moisture then, Engineered is the best choice for you. If you are looking for a long lasting wood floor to go in a room that doesn’t get loads of sunlight, doesn’t get too hot or cold and hasn’t got underfloor heating then, Solid Wood is the best choice for you.