What Is The Difference Between Solid & Engineered Wooden Flooring?

When they're on the floor, engineered boards look identical to solid wood. This can be pretty confusing to people who wonder what the difference between them is. Well, the fact is, whilst engineered and solid wood floors look the same, they can act (and react) very differently. In the simplest terms, engineered floors are tougher, but solid wood floors can last longer. For a more in-depth explanation, see our comparison table below:

  Solid Wood Flooring Engineered Flooring

Construstion

Solid wood floor boards are cut from single pieces of timber. This makes them the simplest of all our floors in terms of construction. Engineered floors are made from several layers of wood pressed together. The top layer is always a veneer of solid wood - exactly like regular solid wood flooring. However, under this top layer is the core which can be made from HDF, plywood or a soft wood.

 Moisture

Due to the nature of solid wood, these floors could become damaged by moisture from above and below. A hot room could make them dry out and shrink, whereas a cold room could cause them to absorb moisture and expand. This means solid wood floors can't be laid in conservatories, basements and bathrooms. With the exception of Junckers floors, solid wood floors are also not recommended for use with underfloor heating. All the layers of engineered wood run in different directions, which makes engineered floors very stable, with a high resistance to changes in moisture. This means you can lay engineered flooring in rooms where solid wood flooring could be damaged, such as conservatories, basements and rooms with underfloor heating.

 

Scratches

If they gather too many dents or scratches over the years, solid wood floors can be sanded down and re-finished many times. This means they can last a lifetime, and is why they come with such generous warranties. If they gather too many dents or scratches over the years, most engineered floors can be sanded down and refinished. However, the process can't usually be carried out as many times as with solid floors.