in Flooring
Solid or Engineered Hardwood: Which Costs More?
Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood Floors
Both solid and engineered hardwood floors are made from 100% real wood, though there are several differences between the two that you want to know about which will affect the performance and the new hardwood floors cost.
Engineered hardwood floors are more expensive because they are more flexible in terms of installation. They can be nailed down, glowed down, or assembled, which is in stark comparison to solid hardwood that can be only installed with a nail down installation method on wooden subfloors. Different planks sizes result in different prices.
Solid hardwood floors
Solid hardwood floors are made from solid wood, meaning that each plank of hardwood flooring is made from a single piece of hardwood that´s about 3/4 of an inch thick. In terms of performance, this thickness allows you to refresh, sand and refinish the solid hardwood floor again and over again the lifetime of the floor. In terms of installation, solid hardwood floors are attached to the subfloor, but because of how the solid wood reacts to changes in temperature, installers will have to pay attention to maintaining the proper gap distance between the planks. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you hire a professional hardwood floor contractor for the installation and install these floors above ground level in the house. In terms of price, solid hardwood floors are more expensive, due to the higher manufacturing costs compared to engineered hardwood floors.
Engineered hardwood floor
Engineered hardwood floors are a versatile and resilient flooring option that can be installed in most areas of your home. Made of genuine wood, this flooring gives your home an updated look and feel. Engineered hardwood is made of a core of hardwood or plywood with a layer of hardwood veneer affixed to the top surface. It´s more resistant to moisture and heat than solid hardwood, but more expensive to purchase. The stronger structure of the engineered hardwood floor increases its durability and allows it to be installed over multiple subfloor types, even concrete. Engineered wood floors tend to be easier to install, although the cost of engineered hardwood flooring is higher than solid hardwood.
Engineered Hardwood Strength: Engineered hardwood floors are composed of three layers: play wood, crossed play wood, and wood veneer. These three layers and the cross technology generate a stronger hardwood structure that increases the durability of engineered hardwood floors.
Given the same type of wood, solid floors are more expensive to purchase and install, yet will have more natural look and feel with endless refinishing opportunities. Engineered hardwood floors are cheaper, easier to install, and more durable. Figuring out your exact needs will allow you to choose the right type of wood, and potentially save money on the cost of hardwood floor installation.
Where Homeowners Can Buy Materials
A good place to start to find your materials is an online research. You will instantly see most available options in your area, as well as online shops which might have what you´re looking for at much lower prices. If you´re unsure what you need, a good option is to visit one of your local hardwood flooring retailers.
While it is possible to find pragmatic solutions for hardwood flooring, it is also possible to search for exotic and exclusive types of wood, which are not necessarily expensive as you might think. For example, special projects where wood houses that are hundreds of years old are disassembled and converted to hardwood planks can be an excellent source of unique, interesting flooring. The internet is full of great options, and buying the right materials is just a matter of searching and price comparisons.
One thing you must check is the safety of the hardwood floors you are planning to install in your house. In some cases, low quality floors from shady origins might cause not only premature damage to the floor, but can negatively affect your health as well. Be aware and buy safe!
Lastly, if you are planning to hire a hardwood floor installation contractor, you will want to consult with them prior to purchasing materials, because contractors can both consult you about the right floor for your project and help get the hardwood planks at a discounted price.
Comments
Leave a Comment