Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Wood Flooring

The choice between engineered wood vs. solid hardwood flooring defines your interior space’s durability, aesthetics, and functionality. Top considerations when choosing between hardwood and engineered wood include material composition, installation, costs, and maintenance.

Choosing between both flooring options should also align with your practical needs and design preferences.

What Is Solid Hardwood Flooring?

Solid hardwood flooring is entirely made from natural wood. Flooring manufacturers mill solid hardwood planks from a single piece of wood. Most solid wood planks are from hardwood species like oak, maple, cherry, or walnut.

Pros:

Durable and can be refinished many times
Available in various finishes, colors, hardness, and grain patterns
Easy to clean
Increases your home’s value

Cons:

Prone to damage from water and excessive moisture
Susceptible to scratches, scuffing, and dents
More expensive compared to other flooring options

What Is Engineered Wood Flooring?

Unlike solid hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring has several wood layers. The veneer top layer consists of genuine hardwood. It’s finished with a coating to protect the wood from scratches, wear, and stains. Beneath the veneer are layers of high-quality plywood or fiberboard.

Pros:

Engineered wood’s layered construction makes it resistant to temperature and humidity changes.
Engineered wood flooring is more affordable than solid hardwood.
The top veneer layer gives engineered wood flooring an authentic look and feel.
It has different installation methods, including staple-down, floating, and glue-down.
It’s suitable for high-moisture rooms like bathrooms and basements.

Cons:

Engineered wood’s top layer is thinner than solid hardwood. It can only be sanded and refinished a few times.
Like solid hardwood, engineered wood flooring needs regular maintenance to keep its appearance.
The quality of engineered wood flooring varies depending on the materials used.

Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Wood: Key Differences


	Solid Hardwood Flooring	Engineered Wood Flooring
Construction	One solid piece of hardwood milled into planks	Top veneer layer of natural hardwood and layers of plywood or fiberboard underneath
Stability	Susceptible to expansion and contraction	Stable due to layered construction
Durability	Very durable, can last for 30-100 years	Can last for 20-40 years, with stability advantages
Installation	Often requires professional installation due to the nailing or stapling process	Floating, glue-down, and staple-down
Refinishing	Can be sanded and refinished 4-10 times	Once or twice
Cost	$8 - $15 per sq. ft	$4 - $12 per sq. ft.
Moisture Resistance	Susceptible to moisture damage	More resistant to moisture

Composition and Construction

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is made from a single piece of wood milled into individual planks. Hardwood species for flooring include maple, oak, cherry, walnut, hickory, and ash.

The planks are usually between 3/4” and 5/16” thick. Thicker planks allow more rounds of sanding. The length and width vary, ranging from 2.25” to 8” wide and 12” to 84” long.

Flooring manufacturers mill each plank with a tongue (a protruding edge) on one side and a groove (a slot) on the opposite side. The planks interlock during installation, providing stability and a finished look.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood has a top veneer layer. The core has layers of plywood, high-density fiberboard (HDF), or other composite materials.

Veneer’s quality varies depending on color, texture, grain patterns, thickness, grading, and ability to absorb finish and stain treatments.

The quality of the plywood core depends on these factors:

Number of layers: A higher number of layers offers more stability. Three or more layers are preferable.
Wood species: Plywood cores from hardwood or sturdy softwood species are more durable.
Cross-grain construction: Alternating the direction of wood grains in each layer makes it sturdy and durable.
Plywood grade: Higher-grade plywood is more uniform and free of defects.
Adhesive quality: High-quality adhesive that’s resistant to moisture and temperature changes makes the engineered wood durable.

Top Pick: Solid hardwood

Cost Comparison

Solid Hardwood

Prefinished hardwood costs an average of $6 to $18 per sq. ft. Materials range from $3 to $10 per sq. ft. Long-term cleaning, maintenance, refinishing, and repair costs are inexpensive.

Engineered Wood

The average cost of engineered wood flooring is $5 to $8 per sq. ft. Installation and long-term maintenance costs are similar.

Top Pick: Engineered wood

Maintenance and Care

Solid Hardwood

Hardwood floor maintenance is easy with sweeping, vacuuming, and occasional cleaning using a wood cleaner. Solid hardwood is prone to scratches and dents from pets, dragging furniture, dirt, and sand grains.

Regular maintenance includes repairing scratches and dents, resealing, and refinishing every 3 to 5 years.

Engineered Wood

Care involves regular cleaning by sweeping, vacuuming, and damp-mopping with a wood cleaner. Engineered wood is also susceptible to scratches. Unlike solid hardwood, it can only be refinished a few times.

Top Pick: Tie

Aesthetics and Appearance

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood has an authentic and timeless appeal. Synthetic materials cannot replicate the unique grain patterns, texture, and color.

Every plank has a unique variation of color and grain. The color spectrum ranges from light to dark, and the grain patterns can be subtle or bold.

As solid hardwood ages, it develops a patina—a rich, mellowing effect that comes with exposure to light and air. The wood’s color deepens and becomes more nuanced.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood replicates the visual authenticity of solid wood. Unlike solid hardwood with natural variations in color and grain, engineered wood has a uniform look. Its appearance evolves with time due to exposure to light and the surrounding environment.

Top Pick: Solid hardwood

Longevity

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood, with its thick single-piece construction, lasts for generations. It can be sanded and refinished up to 10 times.

Engineered Wood

While still durable, engineered wood has a shorter lifespan. The veneer top layer can only be sanded and refinished a few times. Regardless, its layered construction and resistance to humidity make it stable.

Top Pick: Solid hardwood

Environmental Considerations

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is a natural and renewable resource. It lasts for generations, reducing the need for replacement. Irresponsible harvesting of solid hardwood leads to deforestation and habitat disruption. More trees are harvested compared to engineered wood.