Hardwood Flooring

What is the difference between solid and engineered hardwood flooring?

There are two versions of hardwood flooring, solid and engineered. They look similar in appearance. However, their construction is different, making for another performance in humid conditions. Engineered wood is becoming more popular because it appeals to beauty and practicality.

Differences between solid and engineered

Solid hardwood flooring is a single layer of wood through the plank. Engineered comes in a layered format. At the top layer is the species of your choice, be it ash, oak, walnut, or cherry. This gives it the same look as solid. The planks are a little wider and shorter, but manufacturers can offer different plank sizes. Underneath the top layer is usually three layers of genuine wood placed by resin in a crosswise pattern. This crosswise pattern gives it a little more stability, and it can handle water and be set in higher-than-normal moisture areas that you wouldn’t want solid hardwood to go. Because the floor won’t shrink, there is no need for acclimation. Like a solid floor, an engineered floor can add to the property value and be refinished if needed. Most are finished in the factory.

Installation differences

In a solid installation, the system is tongue and groove. Engineered offers a different approach: a floating floor. This is a faster method, is uncomplicated, and less expensive than solid. It has a locking method that secures it. The pieces click together and hover over the subfloor without nails or glue. Subfloor preparation is easy, as it just needs to be clean, dry, and level. Engineered can go over anything, including concrete.

Let us help!

At Eagle Flooring Outlet, we have over 30 years of experience that we bring to the table. We are a full-service hardwood flooring company doing sales and installation, and we value hard work, quality materials, and customer service. Our showroom is in Swansea, IL. We serve the areas of Fairview Heights, Belleville, Shiloh, O’Fallon, Granite City, Alton, Freiburg, Waterloo, and Edwardsville. We want to help you with your wood flooring project, be it big or small. Let us be your hardwood store.