engineered vs. hardwood flooring

Engineered wood flooring involves a real top layer of hardwood, making it a good compromise between solid hardwood and laminate (laminate flooring top looks like real wood, but it isn’t).

The hardwood top layer of engineered wood flooring is about 1/16" to 1/8" (around 1,5mm - 3mm) thickness. The core of the other layers is basically plywood, or more exactly, thin sheets of wood glued together in a way very similar to plywood. Those layers represent around 80%, or slightly more, of the strip.

Engineered flooring structure The fact that the core of engineered wood isn’t real wood doesn’t diminish its overall strength and quality. On the contrary. It strengths the product and confers it the advantages of engineered wood….

The hardwood layer

Engineered hardwood flooring layers come in a wide variety of wood species, colors and widths. Red oak, white oak, maple and ash are common, but the offer is now much wider.

Engineered wood layers

Engineered wood floorings involve a top finish layer, incorporating several coats of lacquer or oil. Under it there is the hardwood layer, and under the hardwood layer the core layer made from spruce, plywood, HDF… This layer gives engineered flooring a superior stability.

Engineered wood flooring and environment

Engineered lumber (and engineered wood flooring) is a good way of saving wood resources – a positive environmental feature.

Advantages

The idea of small fragments of wood at the heart of engineered woods may cause some distrust. But the reality of engineered wood dismisses it. Engineered wood is a strong, stable and long-lasting product, with a wide range of applications. Engineered wood never split or warp, and is far more resistant to water and moisture than solid wood.

Like laminated flooring, engineered wood flooring stands up very well in rooms – basements, bathrooms - with light moisture. It’s an advantage relatively to solid hardwood.

Engineered wood flooring has a higher dimensional strength and offers a wider range of installation options.

Disadvantages of engineered woods relatively to hardwoods

Very deep scratches and dents can be sanded out in hardwood, but it may not be possible in engineered wood.

Disadvantages of engineered wood floorings relatively to laminate floorings

Engineered wood floors are more expensive than laminates.

Prices

Engineered wood flooring prices vary a lot. Products with thicker hardwood layers have prices very similar to those of solid hardwood.

In spite of very similar prices, engineered wood has a significant advantage over hardwood flooring in a do-it-yourself perspective and final flooring price: most engineered wood flooring is easy to install on our own (contrarily to what happens with hardwood flooring).

See: Laminate and hardwood flooring.

Finished or pre-finished

Engineered wood flooring has a top finish layer, which means that the hardwood layer is sanded and sealed, while many solid hardwood floorings are unfinished. Take this feature into account, when assessing the price issue.

Engineered Wood Flooring Installation

Though some engineered wood flooring require nailing or gluing in order to enhance stability, many of them (the 5/8’’ thick) can be merely assembled as floating floor, making installation a do-it-yourself job (like laminate flooring installation).

Just pay attention to the thickness and to the manufacturer's instructions.

For details on hardwood floor installation, see: Hardwood and laminate floor installation.