Samson Floor Design

Wood flooring is beautiful and can last for many years. However, there are some big differences between solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring. They are not the same, despite involving wood in some way. 

Solid Wood Flooring

Solid wood flooring are planks of wood cut directly from trees. The planks might be something more common like pine, cedar, maple, or oak, or more exotic like bamboo or tiger wood. People prefer solid wood as it is much more durable than some other flooring products.

However, solid wood flooring is a little more difficult to care for, even if it is sealed and heat-treated against moisture and rot. Solid wood planks are a half-inch to one inch in thickness and require nails and glue to install. The very natural patterns in solid wood consistently creates a unique look for every floor in your home.

Engineered Wood Flooring

As the name suggests, this is not your typical wood flooring. It is usually compressed wood pieces made into planks, or particle board made to look like other types of wood. It is significantly less expensive than solid wood and does not require anything extra beyond a few nails to install. While it is supposed to resist moisture better than solid wood, engineered wood that stays submerged in flood waters for too long may end up completely ruined. The major plus to engineered wood is that you can get it to look like almost any kind of wood in the entire world.

Engineered wood planks are often a half-inch or less in thickness. They have dadoed and rabbeted edges that slide and snap together for the purpose of installation, securing them without any glue and rarely requiring nails. If a plank is damaged, it is easier to pop out and replace than solid wood flooring.