Engineered Hardwood Flooring over Solid Hardwood Flooring: Advantages

Engineered products not only differ in how the planks are manufactured but also in the various installation options that can be applied to engineered wood flooring. Solid hardwood flooring typically has to be nailed down or glued down and cannot be used in any room of the house.

Engineered hardwood flooring can be installed in any room of the house as it is not as susceptible to expanding and shrinkage that happens with humidity and moisture changes. In fact, for bathrooms, laundry rooms or any room that is below ground level, or residences that do not have a climate controlled environment year round, engineered hardwood should always be used for the best results. Installation options for engineered hardwood flooring include gluing, nailing, stapling and floating.

Engineered hardwood flooring is lighter in weight which can save you on cost, especially if you find yourself paying for shipping. Engineered wood is still the original wood in its top layers, offering a real wood product but since you’re using less of the original tree in the manufacturing process, actual cost may also be cheaper than solid hardwood flooring.

Do-it-yourself folks prefer to use engineered hardwood flooring because of some of the tongue in groove, click together features that do not require glue. Although some solid woods also will “click” together, these solid hardwood flooring varieties usually will involve glue and other types of limitations found in solid hardwood flooring. Using a click together type of engineered hardwood flooring that you simply floated above flat secure flooring already in place means that you may be able to take the flooring with you when you move.