If you are trying to decided between engineered wood vs solid wood flooring, check out our samples in our showroom, in the meantime…read our blog!
Why would you choose an engineered wood vs solid wood floor? Engineered wood is comprised of layers of hardwood which are pressed together on to the top of plywood. With this process it will add extra strength. One of the reasons an engineered floor is a good choice is that most of them these days come with a lock system which is the same as the laminated flooring, which gives a quicker installation and is less expensive to install – which importantly will keep costs down. If you have concrete flooring, then engineered wood can be installed on top, unlike a solid wood floor which needs to nailed to an existing wooden floor. Now, if you are thinking of investing in underfloor heating, then engineered will be the choice for you. Solid wood floors are just not suitable for this type of heating, whereas engineered boards are perfect for this. If you have ever had a wooden floor, you may have noticed that gaps can sometimes appear. What I mean by this is the gaps between the boards. Solid wood can warp if it is in humid conditions unlike the engineered board which is less likely to do so, because of the layers in an engineered board, it is much more stable than a solid wood floor. An engineered board would also be recommended for flooring in basements, where damp can occur and conservatories where temperatures and humidity can change causing rot. In truth, a solid wood floor can be sanded as many times as you would want in a lifetime, whereas an engineered board can be sanded around five times in its life, which is more than enough. This depends on the thickness of the top layer of real wood. If you are going to do this, we would recommend that a professional as you do not want to go in too far and show the plywood which is underneath the real wood layer. When installing a solid wood floor we would use nails, whereas an engineered floor will float, by this we mean it is not nailed down to the existing wooden floor. This means if any damage occurs or a board needs replacing, then it is much easier to fix the problem unlike a solid wood floor which, when down, is pretty permanent. The cost of an engineered floor is another reason as it tends to be less expensive. For more information on engineered wood vs solid wood, contact First Floors at david@first-floors.co.uk You can also view samples (which are extra large to allow you to walk on them) in our showroom at 176 Fenwick Road, Giffnock G46 6YD.