Solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring are different from one another in terms of the composition of individual wood planks. Solid wood is milled from a single piece of timber – it's cut to size into the dimensions of a flooring panel. On the other hand, engineered wood flooring consists of two or more layers of wood which are bonded together under pressure to achieve the proper thickness and, subsequently, cut to appropriate dimensions.
Solid wood is manufactured from a single piece of wood. Its most common thickness is between 18 and 20 mm. Solid wood floors are durable and improve the look and the value of your property. They come in a variety of plank lengths, widths and finishes. Moreover, you can sand this type of floor multiple times in order to renew the appearance of your floor.
Solid wood flooring is available in various floor finishes: it can be lacquered, oiled or unfinished.
In the case of solid wood, the most common profile is tongue-and-groove. It is highly recommended that floors of this type be fitted by professionals who have the required knowledge and experience. In general, solid wood floors are durable, comfortable and warm to walk on. However, if you want to install your floor over underfloor heating, solid wood is not the right choice. Solid wood flooring comes in various types of maple, oak and walnut.
If properly cared for, high-quality solid wood floor, can last long and have a unique identity that matures over time.
PROS AND CONS OF BOTH FLOORING TYPES
Engineered wood floors differ in terms of durability and performance. In this case, top layer is as durable as solid wood. However, engineered wood has better protection and can be prefinished. In addition, the edges of such boards are bevelled, thus looking great. Engineered boards are larger in terms of length and width than solid wood planks. In most cases, engineered wood can be fitted more tightly. Moreover, fitting is less costly as compared to solid wood installation.
But, in spite of several disadvantages, solid wood also has some considerable advantages that are worth mentioning at this point. In general, solid timber is thicker as compared to engineered floors. This makes it possible to sand the floor again to smooth the surface, which sometimes becomes uneven over time. However, engineered flooring does not allow for much sanding in the future, as the boards are thin. Solid timber is also more affordable as compared to engineered wood.
WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE?
Engineered wood flooring is more popular among homeowners due to practical reasons. It easily adapts to different conditions and is not so easily affected by external factors – for instance, solid wood is not very suitable for concrete subfloors. Thanks to engineered wood your floor can look naturally and you can spare yourself all the problematic flaws. A further benefit related to the purchase of engineered floor is the fact that its installation is fast and cost-effective, which cannot be said about solid wood floor fitting.
Nevertheless, if you want to install flooring in a high-traffic area, we would strongly recommend that you go for real wood, because solid wood panels are thicker and longer-lasting. You can sand and refinish them if need be. Should you have any doubts, consult a professional.
