Hardwood floors have been around for centuries, and they’re not going away any time soon. Not only do they offer a timeless appearance to homes and apartments of all styles and sizes, but they’re also incredibly durable and long lasting. It’s these benefits among many others that appeal to so many people.
However, not everyone knows that “hardwood flooring” can mean more than one thing. More specifically, it can refer either to engineered hardwood or solid hardwood. In this article, we’ll go over a few of the important differences.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
When you think of hardwood flooring, the image in your mind is likely that of solid hardwood. This type of flooring is made of hardwood species such as oak, walnut, cherry, or maple. Because solid wood flooring is made entirely out of hardwood, it can be sanded and refinished many times to maintain a polished, high-quality appearance. As a result, solid hardwood flooring can last over 100 years with proper maintenance.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring differs from solid wood flooring in that it is not made entirely out of hardwood. Instead, it has a very thin hardwood layer on top of a plywood core. This means it provides the same appearance as solid hardwood flooring, but it’s cheaper. It doesn’t last as long because it can’t be refinished repeatedly, but it still lasts longer than many other flooring materials with a lifespan of about 20 to 30 years.
If you are interested in hardwood flooring, contact us today to ask us your questions.