Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood: Which One Is Right For You?

Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood: Which One Is Right for You?

What's the difference between solid and engineered hardwood? Let's dive into it and break down each so you can figure out which type of hardwood is right for you!

It is one of the most common questions we get in the showroom, and it is a good one. On the surface, solid and engineered hardwood can look nearly identical. But under the surface, they are built differently, and those differences matter depending on where the floor is going and how your home is set up.

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood is exactly what the name suggests. Each plank is milled from a single piece of wood, all the way through. It is the traditional choice and the one most people picture when they think of hardwood floors.

The biggest advantage of solid hardwood is its longevity. Because the plank is solid wood from top to bottom, it can be sanded down and refinished multiple times over its lifetime. That means a solid hardwood floor installed today could still be looking great fifty years from now with the right care. It is a genuine, long-term investment in your home.

The tradeoff is that solid hardwood is more sensitive to moisture and humidity. Wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in its environment, and solid planks can be more prone to warping or gapping in spaces with high moisture levels. For that reason, it is generally not recommended for basements or rooms with a lot of humidity.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is built with a real wood veneer on top, bonded to multiple layers of plywood underneath. The result is a floor that looks and feels like real hardwood because the top layer genuinely is, but with a construction that handles moisture and temperature changes much better than solid wood.

This makes engineered hardwood a smart choice for areas where solid hardwood might struggle, like basements, kitchens, or homes with radiant heat systems. It is also a good fit for Western NC homes where humidity can fluctuate significantly between seasons.

Engineered hardwood can typically be refinished as well, though not as many times as solid, depending on the thickness of the top veneer. It tends to be a bit more forgiving all around without sacrificing the look and warmth of real wood.

So Which One Should You Choose?

If you are installing on an above-grade level in a home with stable humidity and you want a floor that will last for generations, solid hardwood is hard to beat. If you need something more versatile, or you are working with a space that sees more moisture or temperature variation, engineered hardwood is likely the better call.

The honest answer is that both are great options. It really comes down to where the floor is going and what your home demands of it.

At Nantahala, we carry both solid and engineered hardwood in our Franklin, NC showroom and we are happy to help you figure out which direction makes the most sense for your project. Come see us at 301 Depot St, Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4:30PM, or give us a call at (828) 369-1200.