Engineered Hardwood vs Solid Hardwood: What's the Difference?
Aesthetically speaking, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood floors are virtually indistinguishable from each other. That's because both have a surface made of natural hardwood. But below the surface, big differences in how each material is constructed mean these flooring materials are far from identical.
Whether one material or the other is better is a matter of preference that spans multiple dimensions. In this article, we will help you explore the most notable differences between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood floors so you can decide for yourself which material is best for your project.
How They're Made
The distinction between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood is in how each one is constructed. While both flooring options look generally the same when installed, their makeup under the surface is very different.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood flooring planks are made by milling a single piece of lumber. The process begins with logs being cut into rough planks, which are then kiln-dried to remove excess moisture and prevent warping. Once dried, the planks are planed and sanded to achieve a uniform thickness and smooth surface. They are then cut to size, usually at random lengths, and tongue-and-groove edges may be added for easier installation.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring planks start with a top veneer layer of real hardwood, which is carefully cut from hardwood timber. This veneer can vary in thickness, with thinner layers running between 1.2 and 3 millimeters, and thicker layers between 4 and 6 millimeters. This veneer is bonded on top of a core layer made of high-density fiberboard (HDF) or high-quality plywood. Finally, a backing is applied to the bottom of the plank, adding to its moisture resistance and stability.
Environmental Considerations
Sustainability-conscious buyers may want to consider the environmental impact of their flooring choice. While both options are considered very environmentally friendly, digging beneath the surface will reveal a few distinctions.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is made from wood, which is a renewable resource, especially when sourced from responsibly managed forests. However, the manufacturing process requires a significant amount of wood per plank. This requires more resources to cultivate the trees, which requires more energy and can produce more waste.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood is often considered more eco-friendly because its top layer is so thin and the core layers are composite materials made from wood byproducts, which reduces waste from other projects. Taken together, this means fewer trees are required to produce the same amount of flooring.
Durability & Lifespan
Durability and lifespan are hallmarks of both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring. However, the particulars of each flooring option differ in a few key ways.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is remarkably durable when faced with day-to-day wear, especially in light- to moderate-traffic areas. But solid hardwood is not impervious to damage and can be especially susceptible to dents and scratches in high-traffic areas, or homes with pets or heavy furniture. To avoid deep scratches in your solid hardwood, place rugs or pads under heavy furniture and in high-traffic areas.
This resilience is a main reason why it is still so common to find original hardwood floors in homes and other buildings that are 100 years old or older. The other reason is that solid hardwood flooring can be sanded down and refinished as many as 8 to 10 times (or more), depending on the thickness of the planks and the amount sanded down in each refinishing. The typical lifespan of solid hardwood floors is generally considered to be 100 years, but with proper care they can last even longer.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood floors have a top layer made from natural hardwood, so they are just as resistant to light and medium traffic as solid hardwood flooring, especially when they are properly cared for.
Engineered hardwood floors have a shorter lifespan than solid hardwood, typically between 30 to 60 years (depending on the thickness of the top veneer). High-quality engineered wood with a thicker wear layer can be sanded and refinished once or twice, potentially extending the lifespan of the flooring even further.
Installation Methods
There are notable differences between installing solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring in terms of required techniques, subfloor compatibility, and the experience level needed.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood planks are made with a tongue-and-groove design, which are fitted together and blind-nailed to the subfloor. This involves specialized tools and techniques, which means professional installation is typically necessary except for the most advanced DIY enthusiasts. And because solid hardwood needs to be nailed rather than glued or floated, it requires a wooden subfloor and cannot be installed over concrete.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood offers more flexibility in installation. Depending on the project, it can be nailed, glued, or installed as a floating floor over an existing flooring using a click-lock system. This versatility makes engineered hardwood a more DIY-friendly option and suitable for a wider variety of environments, including installing over concrete subfloors or radiant heating systems.
Maintenance & Cleaning
Both solid and engineered hardwood require regular upkeep to ensure they look their best. Dirt and debris that are left to accumulate will eventually start to scratch the natural wood surface, so keeping up with your cleaning routine is a must.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood requires weekly sweeping or vacuuming with a hardwood floor attachment to remove dirt and debris. If the floor needs more thorough cleaning, a damp mop with a wood-safe cleaner can be used, but excessive moisture should be avoided. Spills should be wiped up immediately to prevent water damage. For longer-term care, consider refinishing your hardwood floor every 10 years in high-traffic areas and every 20 years in low- and medium-traffic areas.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood follows a similar cleaning regimen to solid hardwood but is generally more resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations. However, since the top veneer is thinner than solid hardwood, deep scratches and dents are more challenging to address. Using area rugs in high-traffic areas and furniture pads under sofa, table and chair legs can help prolong its lifespan.
Moisture & Temperature
Environmental factors such as heat and humidity can seriously affect both types of wood flooring. It is important to be sure you are able to provide the right conditions for your flooring.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood floors do not deal well with exposure to wide swings in temperature and humidity. Since wood naturally expands and contracts, improper humidity levels can cause warping, cupping or gapping between planks. This makes it less suitable for environments with fluctuating humidity, such as basements or bathrooms. That said, finished solid hardwood is significantly more moisture resistant than unfinished solid hardwood. It is also never recommended to install solid hardwood over any sort of radiant heating system, as this can also cause the wood to warp.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring has superior resistance to moisture and temperature fluctuations compared to solid hardwood. Its plywood or HDF core provides greater dimensional stability, reducing the likelihood of warping, cupping or gapping. This makes engineered hardwood ideal for more humid climates, wide swings in temperature, and rooms with radiant in-floor heating. However, it is also important to ensure the humidity level does not drop too low, because an excessively dry environment may cause some splitting on the veneer layer.
Sound
While very old hardwood floors may have a reputation for being creaky, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood are actually both known for sound-dampening properties. Still, there are a few important differences in how each material responds to sound.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is a single, dense piece of wood, which helps absorb and dampen sound. The fact that solid hardwood is nailed directly to the subfloor further reduces noise from shifting planks. If your solid hardwood floors are creaking or squeaking, it is likely a problem with loose planks that can easily be fixed without calling a professional.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood is made from a less dense core, which offers many benefits, but does allow sound to travel through it more freely compared to solid hardwood. This can make engineered hardwood floors sound hollower as well as transmit sound, making a space slightly more echoey. This can be exacerbated if the engineered hardwood is placed directly over another flooring material, such as tile or vinyl. You can use a high-quality underlayment, such as foam or cork, or add area rugs to keep noise to a minimum.
Cost
When calculating the cost of solid hardwood versus engineered hardwood floors, there is more to consider than simply the sticker price of each material. Other factors, such as installation and replacement, and your own preferences should also be factored in to determine overall value.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood flooring has a wider price range, averaging between $5 and $25 per square foot depending on tree species, finish and other factors. It is also usually more expensive to install, because proper installation requires professional know-how. However, the typical lifespan of solid hardwood means that you will almost certainly never have to install another floor for as long as you own your house. This longevity could also make selling your home easier, as buyers are often more enthusiastic about solid hardwood flooring than other flooring types.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood costs less in terms of material, running between $3 and $7 per square foot. Installation costs vary more widely than with solid hardwood, because some methods of installation require hiring a professional, while other methods can be done by moderately or highly skilled DIYers, which drastically reduces the installation cost. Still, engineered hardwood will not last as many years as solid hardwood, and may not capture the hearts of buyers quite as readily when it’s time to sell your home.
Which is Right for You?
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood floors are best if you are looking for a flooring material that lasts for multiple generations, provides a quiet environment, and appeals to potential homebuyers. Solid hardwood is a timeless classic that is easy to maintain and is generally considered a wise investment in your home.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood floors are the right choice if you prefer a lower up-front cost, the option to install flooring yourself, a material that has a lighter environmental impact, and floors that are sturdier in the face of fluctuating heat and humidity. With its highly stable core and natural wood veneer, engineered hardwood provides a classic look while delivering modern durability. And though they may not last as many decades as solid hardwood, it is very unlikely that you will need to replace engineered hardwood floors more than once, if ever