When To Install Engineered Wood Instead Of Solid Wood Floors

Hardwood may be most homeowners’ dream flooring, but it isn’t always right for your space. If you’ve ever wondered when you should opt for engineered over hardwood flooring, this article is for you!

As experienced flooring installers with over 20 years of experience serving the GTA and surrounding area, we not only hear this question often, but we can also do one better and answer it! We’ll also briefly touch on the differences between engineered and hardwood flooring and surprising benefits of engineered hardwood, so when you’re ready to Google “floor contractors near me” to help you with installation you already know which material you’re using!

The Difference Between Engineered And Hardwood Floors

Before we discuss when to use engineered versus hardwood flooring, let’s briefly cover the difference between the two options. 

• Hardwood Flooring: Hardwood is a piece of wood milled into planks, and its hardness rating—the Janka scale toughness rating—depends on the tree species it comes from.
• Engineered Hardwood Flooring: Whereas engineered hardwood is comprised of layers of plywood or wood that are glued together with a top layer of real hardwood (hence the realistic look).

When To Use Engineered Hardwood

As much as most homeowners would love hardwood in every room, it isn’t always practical. Firstly, hardwood is more costly than engineered hardwood, so there’s that. More importantly, you can get the functionality of hardwood with the added benefits of water resistance and durability that comes from the bonded core of engineered hardwood. 

All of which to say that the best time to use engineered hardwood is in spaces that experience higher traffic or are more at greater risk to water or wear and tear, like in your hallway, kitchen, bathroom, basement, dining room, office, living space, or bedroom.

Not to mention engineered wood’s top layer is a hardwood veneer, so aesthetically, homeowners still get the look and feel of hardwood!

Surprising Benefits Of Engineered Hardwood

Yes, you can use engineered hardwood just about anywhere in your house, just ask any floor contractor near you! However, there are some interesting facts about engineered wood that every homeowner should know before choosing between engineered and hardwood flooring.

• Environmentally Friendly: Engineered wood is sustainable as it uses less wood than hardwood.
• Wide Plank Options: If you love the look of wide plank flooring, look no further than engineered hardwood as it comes in wider sizes like 7/16-inches or 3/4 -inches.
• Affordable: Engineered wood runs anywhere from $4-8 sq/ft while hardwood starts at $8 and scales up depending on the species you buy.
• Radiant Heating: If you want to heat your floors to keep your feet warm during the cold Canadian winter, engineered wood is the perfect candidate for radiant heating.
• Moisture Resistance: Lastly, engineered wood may not be waterproof, but it handles moisture or humidity better than real wood, so it is the better choice in below-grade spaces (basement) or in moisture-rich areas (kitchen).

Final Thoughts On Engineered Hardwood

If you’re lucky enough to choose between two beautiful flooring choices like engineered and hardwood flooring, there technically isn’t a wrong choice. Not to mention engineered hardwood uses a real wood veneer, so it has the look and feel of hardwood.

But, there are some instances when you may want to use engineered wood, such as in moisture-rich rooms, if you’re environmentally conscious, or if you want to install wide plank flooring.

If all this sounds great but you still have questions or are considering using engineered hardwood for your next project, call us the Brothers Flooring, today for a free consultation! We’re always happy to help you with your flooring-related concerns, so give us a call and let us provide you with more reasons why engineered hardwood is an excellent flooring material that everyone should consider!