What’s the difference between hardwood and engineered wood flooring?

Natural wooden floors provide a certain aesthetic that can really elevate a home, creating a luxurious look and feel that other hard flooring types often try to mimic. Still, nothing is quite as elegant as the real deal.

The two main types of natural wooden flooring materials are hardwood and engineered wood. But what is the difference between the two? Which is better, and which should you choose for your next home renovation project? Let’s look at the pros, cons, and main differentiating factors between hardwood and engineered wood.

Hardwood flooring

Hardwood floors are made entirely from the trunks and branches of dicot trees, most commonly oak, beech, maple, or walnut, creating solid planks of strong wood. In fact, hardwood floors are so strong they can last anywhere from 30-100 years, with the option to sand and refinish the surface multiple times to remove any imperfections caused by general wear and tear.

Due to its fully natural composition, hardwood flooring is fairly susceptible to moisture and other atmospheric conditions, and exposure to such may cause the planks to expand, contract, or warp. This makes hardwood floors less suitable for moisture-rich applications, such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.

Being a natural material with a relatively short manufacturing process, hardwood flooring can be considered fairly environmentally friendly, assuming the wood has been sourced in a sustainable manner.

Engineered wood

Engineered wood flooring is made up of layers, with a veneer base and a core commonly composed of either plywood or softwood. Its uppermost layer is made of solid wood, making its visual appearance almost indistinguishable from hardwood. Its layers mean that engineered wood is more stable than hardwood, so it’s often available in longer and wider plank sizes, offering a slightly different finished look than hardwood. Despite their visual similarities, the features of engineered wood floors differ from hardwood.

Engineered wood has an average lifespan of around 20-40 years. While shorter than hardwood, this is still a more than respectable lifespan for a flooring material, with alternative hard flooring options offering around 20 years maximum. Engineered wood can also be sanded and refinished to remove scratches, scuffs, and small dents, however due to its solid wood content being much thinner than hardwood, it cannot be sanded as many times before the solid wood layer becomes too weak.

The water resistance of engineered wood is not particularly strong, however, it is better at resisting temperature changes than hardwood. It does not offer good sound reduction, and can be noisy to walk on depending on the chosen installation method. On the topic of installation methods, it’s worth noting that engineered wood can be installed in a variety of ways, whereas hardwood must be nailed to the subfloor. The flexibility of engineered wood installation can make it a more suitable choice for many homes.

Despite having a more intensive manufacturing process, engineered wood uses less natural wood per plank than hardwood, meaning its sustainability is somewhat comparable. Engineered wood is also suitable for use with underfloor heating, so this is the better choice out of the two if this is desired.

What’s the cost difference?

If you’re on a strict budget for your renovation, it’s understandable that the price of each material may be a large factor in your decision. Generally, hardwood flooring will come at a slightly higher price point than engineered wood, but the difference is small. It’s often more beneficial to choose between the two based on their features and suitability for your home.

Whichever flooring you choose, always have it installed by a professional. This will ensure maximum safety, increase the longevity, and result in the best final appearance.

Powerhouse is a full-service home and commercial services company based in Texas, specializing in flooring installation.