When planning to renovate your home, there is a lot of work to do. Everything needs to be perfectly managed and well-balanced, starting from walls, roofs, floors, and the interior. This means that you will have to make a lot of important decisions. The most difficult and time-consuming task for most homeowners is deciding on the type of flooring to install. With a number of options available to choose from, diverse designs, and a range of colors, you need to find an option that perfectly fits your style and taste and meets your individual requirements.
When you start researching the types of floors available, you will probably come across many options, like vinyl floors, solid wood floors, engineered wood flooring, timber flooring, and so on. In this article, we will keep our focus on the two main types and let you know in detail the main dissimilarities between engineered and solid wood flooring.
Solid Wood Floors
As suggested by the name, this type of floor is made from solid wood and is extensively used in building homes. Because of its significant advantages like thickness, toughness, and versatility, it is also preferred by thousands of people for flooring.
Engineered Wood Floors
The next type of flooring is engineered wood floors, which appear similar to solid wood floors but have a thin surface layer of wood. To this day, it is one of the most reasonable flooring options that you can pick for your home or office flooring.
Both types of floors have their own merits and demerits. The following differences can help you decide the kind of floor you need.
Engineered Wood Flooring vs. Solid Wood Flooring Differences
Appearance
The first and principal difference between the two types is their appearance. Speaking precisely about solid wood floors, they are obtained from hardwood species and come in the shape of long planks that are ultimately attached to the floors by experts. With a range of colour options available, you can easily select the one that suits your taste.
Moving on, engineered wood floors are made up of a layer of hardwood combined with a layer of plywood to increase the durability and stability of the floor. One thing these floors lack is an extensive range of colours.
Lifespan
The next main difference that can be a significant deciding factor between the two types is the average lifespan. When we talk about solid wood flooring, evidence shows that it has a longer life expectancy than engineered wood flooring. The reason behind this is that solid wood floors can be refinished as many times as you need. This means that if you encounter any dullness or colour fading, you can contact a flooring service company, and they will come up with a refinishing plan for you. But, you cannot avail yourself of this opportunity if you have engineered wood floors. Though they can easily last you for about 30 years, their longevity is less than that of solid hardwood floors. They have an average lifespan of 40 to 100 years.
Comfortability
The next point on the list is the comfortability of the product. If you are investing in a product, you need to ensure that it is comfortable in addition to being attractive. When we talk about solid wood floors, they are known for their hardness and stability, which ultimately gives them a plus point for better acoustic properties. This means that you won’t have to deal with the issue of squeaky sounds around the room. This is also a significant drawback of engineered wood floors. This means that when you walk on them, you can easily hear squeaky sounds coming out from underneath the sheets because of their floating nature.
Heat and Water Resistance
The next point is heat and water resistance. Both types of floors are equally good and have great heat-tolerance capacities. But engineered wood floors are a better option when we talk about water resistance. Especially if you face moisture issues and opt for wooden floors, nothing can work out better than engineered wooden floors. This type is less susceptible to warping by humidity because of its plywood base, which is not present in solid wood floors.
Durability and Maintenance
Another point that again puts the spotlight on the solid wood floor is its durability and ease of maintenance. As mentioned earlier, this type of floor can be easily refinished several times, making care more effortless. This is also the reason that they can last longer than engineered floors.
Conclusion
Well, both types of floors are suitable and have pros and cons. If you are someone who is tight on the budget or wants quick installation of a floor, engineered floors will work out best for you; however, if you wish for a better appearance and longevity, then you can opt for solid wood floors. However, it is still advisable to do proper research, talk to an expert, seek a referral from your family and friends, and then finalise the decision.