While installing hardwood is an easy way to provide an improvement to your home, choosing the right type of hardwood can be difficult. One of the most common questions we get at East Texas Floors is, “What’s the difference between solid and engineered hardwood?” While the two types may look similar, there are specific differences that you should take into consideration when choosing flooring for your home.
Solid hardwood is exactly how it sounds, a single piece of wood milled at ¾” thick. Because it is made out of a single piece, it will expand and contract with humidity. There are ways to combat this expansion and contraction, such as an expansion gap with base molding to hide the extra space.
Engineered hardwood is made by bonding around three to five layers of wood through heat and pressure. This allows your flooring to stay rigid when in contact with high humidity. There are several types of engineered hardwood that can meet your needs, from recycled wood fiber to a denser core for high-traffic areas.
Which of the two you should choose really comes down to two factors, traffic level and moisture contact. Higher traffic areas must have engineered hardwood, the same as more humidity prone areas. Any floor below ground level also should have engineered hardwood. Solid wood may be more cost-effective, so your budget should be considered when choosing between the two.
If you’re having difficulty making a decision between engineered or solid hardwood, contact East Texas Floors in Tyler, Texas. As a family-owned and operated flooring company, you can trust our broad spectrum of flooring choices. For more information, visit our location or call our team at (903) 894-8453 today!
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