Hardwood flooring has timeless charm and durability, and engineered wood is versatile and cost-effective. Each has unique benefits and drawbacks to take into account.
Selecting the appropriate wood flooring Los Angeles for your house may be crucial to attaining practical longevity and visual appeal. Selecting between engineered wood and hardwood when remodeling your flooring might be difficult. Although they have different qualities, both solutions are elegant and long-lasting. We’ll help you choose the ideal option for your house in this guide.
Key Differences:
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring, often known as solid wood flooring, is typically manufactured from a hardwood species. Maple, walnut, oak, and cherry are popular species. The word “solid flooring” originates from a single piece of milled wood. Installing hardwood flooring entails nailing the wood planks to the subfloor, a skill-intensive task. Being made of solid wood, it can be readily sanded and polished several times to keep its beauty throughout time.
Engineered Wood Flooring
From the outside, engineered wood flooring is designed to resemble hardwood flooring exactly. However, its plywood core gives it structure, and its look is due to a thin coating of hardwood used in manufacture. Engineered flooring comes in bonded or interlocking planks, making installation easier for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Although it can’t get refinished as frequently as solid flooring since the top layer is only a thin veneer of hardwood, it may survive for 30 years or more with good care.
Installation
Hardwood installation involves nailing the flooring pieces into the subfloor, often composed of plywood. While engineered hardwood may get placed this way, massive gets designed to fit together over a subfloor thanks to a click-and-lock system. Most individuals who utilize engineered hardwood apply glue down or use cork or foam flooring. Solid hardwood installs seem to go more smoothly in my experience but can get done with a little planning and study.
Look and Feel
Each of these flooring options comes in an assortment of materials and finishes and has the timeless appearance of hardwood. Engineered hardwood, however, offers plenty of variation. You may get engineered hardwood in softer wood kinds and more distinctive treatments since the plywood core adds endurance.
Engineered hardwood provides a more hollow sound underfoot, even though they feel very comparable. A well-installed, premium-manufactured hardwood shouldn’t feel or sound all that different. It sounds most useful, in my opinion, when engineered hardwood gets bonded down. Though amusing, that is indeed the case!
Care and maintenance
Both types of flooring need regular cleaning and maintenance to preserve their finest looks, whether they are hardwood or engineered wood. However, it is more prone to dents and scratches; hardwood flooring eventually has to be refinished more frequently. Consistent humidity is necessary for solid hardwood; most manufacturers recommend maintaining a humidity level between 35 and 45%.
The optimal humidity level is advised for engineered wood, which is more stable and does not require this requirement. It is advised to clean in both situations using natural cleaning products and a slightly moist mop. We have a whole website devoted to wood floor maintenance and cleaning.
The Impact of Water, Heat, and the Environment
Hardwood floors are susceptible to buckling, warping, and other damage when exposed to moisture and humidity. Given its increased resistance to moisture, engineered wood flooring might be a better choice for areas of your house that are more likely to experience high humidity, such as the basement. Extreme temperatures may have a massive influence on some types of flooring, so when choosing your flooring, keep your surroundings and lifestyle in mind.
Expected life span
Both hardwood and engineered wood flooring Los Angeles are resilient and may last for many years when given the proper upkeep and care. It is expected to last up to 50 years when high-quality engineered wood flooring is installed and maintained. The floating approach installation of the less expensive choices should provide 20 to 30 years of service.
Refinishing solid hardwood flooring may help extend its lifespan and preserve its original beauty and character. It is one of its primary benefits. Solid hardwood floors of superior quality can endure for several decades on average. Original hardwood floors that are more than a century old are not unusual to find in the metropolitan region.