Solid Wood VS Engineered Wood Flooring. Which Should You Choose?

With timeless elegance and an abundance of natural beauty, timber floors perfectly complement both contemporary and traditional interiors. WOODCUT is Australia’s leading supplier of premium engineered wood flooring solutions. Let’s take a look at differences between the two to help you decide which might be the better choice for your home.

Solid Wood Flooring

Typically crafted from a hardwood species, such as oak, maple, or walnut, solid wood flooring, as the name suggests, is made completely from a single, solid piece of wood. Solid wood flooring can be sanded and refinished several times over its life, however it is prone to warping in humid or damp conditions.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Similar in appearance to solid wood, the construction of these boards features multiple sheets of thin hardwood bonded together over a premium base material. This construction provides excellent resistance to warping and a long lifespan of around 25 to 30 years with proper care and maintenance.

Expanding and Contracting

Wood naturally expands during warm weather and shrinks or contracts in cooler temperatures. As engineered wood floors aren’t prone to damage from moisture and heat, they are suitable for installation throughout your entire home.

Which is Easier to Clean and Maintain?

Engineered timber flooring is still made from timber, so it requires similar cleaning methods to other solid wood flooring to prolong its life and keep it looking its best. To clean your timber flooring:

• Use a dry, soft dust mop to pick up dirt and debris from the floor.
• Use either a soft bristled broom or a vacuum cleaner with a soft flooring attachment. A standard vacuum cleaner attachment can cause scratches and damage.
• Use only a pH neutral cleaner specific for wooden floors
• Never wet-mop your timber floors.

Which is Easier to Install?

Solid hardwood flooring is installed with a tongue-and-groove system, in which each board is blind-nailed to the subfloor through tongues at the edges of the boards. Engineered wood flooring is also installed via the same method; however, it can also be glued down against a concrete subfloor. Solid wooden boards must be carefully spaced to accommodate expansion and contractions so engineered floors are often considered quicker and easier to install.

Which is Better for Resale Value?

Both solid wood and engineered wood flooring are premium materials that can add significant value to your property. Engineered wood is visually stunning, won’t warp or crack over time and as it uses less hardwood, is very appealing to environmentally conscious consumers. When it comes to engineered timber, there are many inferior products currently available in the market, so when choosing an engineered wooden flooring supplier, be sure to choose a reputable manufacturer such as WOODCUT. We take the time to supply the finest quality timber flooring, with less knots, cracks and imperfections and we offer a stunning range of colours to suit any décor.

Engineered timber flooring will make your home look and feel beautiful. At WOODCUT, our range of premium engineered flooring is available to view in our Melbourne and Sydney showrooms. Book a showroom consultation with our experts today and let us help you choose the perfect floors for your new home or renovation. Contact us online now.