Choosing hardwood floors is a good decision if you want to create a natural look and feel for your home, especially in newer homes that can lack warmth. No matter what style of home you have, hardwood flooring is usually very adaptable.
What Is the Difference between Solid Hardwood and Engineered Wood Flooring?
Hardwood floor is made from a single 3/4” piece of timber while laminate or engineered flooring is made from particleboard. Particleboard is made from compressed wood chips and resin with a veneer coating, and then topped with a photo layer that looks like wood.
It’s important to consider all hardwood flooring types as each one offers advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of Solid Hardwood Floors
There are many reasons people opt for solid hardwood flooring in their homes. First and foremost, solid hardwood flooring is durable and hypoallergenic. As far as maintenance goes, it’s easy to refinish solid hardwood floors to get them looking like new again.
Solid hardwood is more aesthetically pleasing than laminate flooring: the grain on the solid hardwood planks is unique and not something you’ll see in synthetic laminate materials.
When selling your home, a house with solid hardwood flooring that has been maintained is a more attractive feature than laminate flooring and thus, adds more to the resale value of your home.
Cons of Solid Hardwood Floors
Solid hardwood flooring is not ideal if you have pets as it is more prone to staining.
Solid hardwood flooring is more prone to scratches and can get damaged from excessive water so it definitely should not be used in bathrooms.
Pros of Engineered (Laminate) Wood Flooring
Laminate flooring is a less expensive option than solid hardwood floors.
Laminate flooring is more durable and resists scratches more than solid hardwood. It’s also more water-resistant than solid hardwood.
If you have pets, laminate flooring is easier to clean as a result of pet messes.
Cons of Engineered (Laminate) Wood Flooring
While laminate flooring is less expensive initially, it typically lasts only 10 years and cannot be refinished.
Engineered planks with thin top layers can’t be sanded.
Whether you choose solid hardwood or engineered planks, wider planks are better since they offer better depth and width.
If you can afford solid hardwood flooring, it will be a great investment for your home.
