Hardwood Flooring
Looking to add value and beauty to your home? Nothing compares to the beauty of genuine hardwood. Both engineered and solid wood are real hardwood. In this business I hear people say " I don't want fake wood" In reference to engineered wood. That is simply not true. Engineered hardwood is made from real wood that is milled in different layer's glued together called plies. A solid hardwood is milled directly from the tree into one solid piece of wood. In order to choose the right hardwood for you, you have to look at the different properties and traits of each style of hardwood.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood floors are just what the names means. They are made from a solid piece of wood, not compiled in plies. They are milled into a single piece of wood that is usually 3/4" thick. Because of its thickness and the fact that its once piece of wood, it can be refinished multiple times. Refinish means to remove the old color and finish from the hardwood down to bare wood. The benefit is that you can take a solid hardwood floor that is 100 years old and make it look close to brand new!Solid hardwood expands and contracts in reaction to temperature and moisture. Because of this Solid hardwood is only recommended for rooms that are at ground level or above. It is important that during the installation process that proper expansion gaps are left around the edges. If its too tight this will cause the hardwood to buckle. If too large a gap is left, it will cause the wood to gap in the winter.
Engineered hardwood
Engineered Hardwood is a very versatile flooring option that is resilient and can be installed in almost any area of your home. Engineered hardwood is made up of a core of ply's with a hardwood veneer as the top finish layer. Because of its construction it is more resistant to heat and moisture compared to solid hardwood.The Construction of engineered hardwood makes for a wood that is less likely to buckle, gap, or react to changes in humidity and temperature. This allows engineered wood to be installed on any level of your home. including below ground. Some engineered hardwoods can be refinished, usually only a couple times though. Be sure to check manufactures recommendations before refinishing engineered wood.
