It is common to think that one type of hardwood flooring exists. After all, wood is wood, right? Well, there are two different types of hardwood flooring: engineered hardwood flooring and solid hardwood flooring. If you were to look at them after they’re installed, they would look almost identical. But there is a difference between them. What is it?
The difference between engineered hardwood flooring and solid hardwood flooring relates to how their planks are constructed. The planks of engineered hardwood flooring contain several wood layers, while the planks of solid hardwood flooring are just whole solid hardwood pieces.
The wear layer represents the surface of the engineered hardwood flooring. This is the layer which everyone sees, and people walk on. It is made of either walnut or oak wood and is anywhere from 2.5 to 6 millimeters thick. The other layers of the flooring are base layers which provide it with durability, stability, and strength. You can expect the base layers to be made from eucalyptus or plywood rather than hardwood.
When the planks of the solid hardwood flooring are first prepared, the wood is taken directly from the trunk of a tree. A chainsaw is the preferred tool of choice for this task. Once the wood is taken, it is cut, sanded, and sized appropriately as planks for the flooring. A finish is also added onto the top of it too, although you can choose unfinished hardwood flooring if you want.
Which is Better?
Now you’re probably wondering, which type of flooring is better? The answer depends on where the flooring is being installed in your home or building. Basically, any room or environment with fluctuating temperatures and regular humidity would be better off with engineered hardwood flooring. After all, this type of flooring is designed and manufactured to adapt to moisture or changing temperatures in the air. Kitchens and conservatories would be good examples of rooms which should have this flooring in it.
As for solid hardwood flooring, that might be better for living areas and hallway entrances. Any area with a lot of people walking back and forth each day would be better with solid hardwood flooring. The wood must be sanded and finished repeatedly, though. If you don’t mind the extra maintenance, then solid hardwood flooring is the more durable choice.
For more information on the differences between Engineered Hardwood Flooring and Solid Hardwood Flooring get in touch with the TimberZone team today.
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