subject: Distinguishing Between Solid Floors And Engineered Floors [print this page] When considering the hard wood floors Plano has to offer you, you may have noticed there is a difference in the prices between solid and engineered wood floors. Why is that? What is the difference between solid and engineered floors, and what are the advantages of each? Let us have a look at that in this article.
Solid Floors
A solid hard wood floor is made of solid planks of whatever wood you choose. No ply construction here where the entire board is one piece of wood, all cut and shaped from the same timber. The biggest advantage to this type of flooring is in its durability and the ability to refinish it many times over throughout the course of its life. A solid hardwood floor, if cared for correctly, will outlast generations of owners. Many older houses that are still standing still have their original hardwood floors. Many of the original buildings in St. Augustine, FL, which is the oldest city in America that still contain their original solid wood floors, just to give you an idea of the durability of solid wood.
Solid wood floors require special care to maintain their appearance. Because they are single pieces of solid wood, they are highly susceptible to flexing and bowing from moisture and temperature changes. You will have to condition the wood regularly to keep it in its best shape, and when it bows you may need to sand it level and refinish it. While this does seem like a drawback, keep in mind that solid planks can be refinished more times than engineered floors. The process can, however, be fairly expensive.
Engineered Floors
Engineered floors are manufactured to be stronger and last as long as possible. They are also made from materials that are much cheaper than solid wood floor planks. If you were to take a sample of an engineered floor and a sample of a solid floor and look at them from the side, you would see one major difference. Where the solid floor is one single piece of wood, the engineered floor is made up of layers of wood glued together in ply fashion. The top or wear layer is a real wood veneer, made of the hardwood that you are going for. The ply fashion makes it cheaper to manufacture, but also stronger and more resistant to bowing and warping.
The only disadvantage to an engineered floor is that the number of times it can be refinished is directly related to the depth of the wear layer. Thicker wear layers are more expensive, but they can be refinished more than thinner wear layers. If you tend to change your mind a lot you might consider the thickest wear layer available or solid wood. If you will remain content with the finish for a long time, engineered floors are probably the best option for you. If you are planning to install in a basement or where moisture is unavoidable, they are generally your only option.
Installing hard wood floors in a Plano home is an excellent choice for adding value and beauty to your home. Now, you can make an educated choice between the two types of hard wood flooring available to you.
