Hardwood vs. Engineered Harwood

[kcoop35]

The sales people are saying that engineered hardwood is better for Iowa climate but can't be resanded much.

Hardwood is three quarters inch thick a d can be sanded down multiple times. The sales people are saying it does expand and contract with the humidity conditions in your house.

Both products are about the same cost. Any good or bad stories from your experience?

 

[dbq hawk 32]

You are fine with either, and most companies won't be selling 3/4 hardwood in the near future.

 

[moxyfruvous]

If you use a 3/4 quarter-sawn product the expansion is vertical rather than horizontal...you won't see expansion gaps. Good humidity control is important in all solid hardwood perfomance.

Don't be too afraid of pre-finished engineered if you purchase a high quality product. The factory applied finish has improved tremendously. Note: Unless you have large rambunctious dogs

 

[thewop]

Women almost universally hate pre-finished hardwood.

 

[Hawk and Awe]

Great thread - had to deal with this a few weeks ago.

my understanding on wood floors is once u reach the midpoint it doesn't matter what you buy. We're doing engineered hardwood and the sales lady said there is no difference..... (I confirmed with my male builder if that helps)

 

[lucas80]

We put in bamboo four years ago. Love it.

 

[Catfish_ Crazy]

The sales people are saying that engineered hardwood is better for Iowa climate but can't be resanded much.

Hardwood is three quarters inch thick a d can be sanded down multiple times. The sales people are saying it does expand and contract with the humidity conditions in your house.

Both products are about the same cost. Any good or bad stories from your experience?

Your wife is an expert on hardwood.

 

[lucas80]

Your wife is an expert on hardwood.

As is yours. I gave her a wax and buff lesson just the other day.

 

[Catfish_ Crazy]

As is yours. I gave her a wax and buff lesson just the other day.

Hopefully, she returned the favor.

 

[Floyd R.]

Your sales person is more than likely getting a nice kickback from the engineered hardwood manufacturer to push their product so consider the source.

If it was my home I would put in 2 1/4" select grade red oak flooring with a clear finish. This look is timeless and your floors will still look great in 20 years. I think a major issue you will see with engineered hardwood in near future will be that the styles and finish will change and severely date the home... Just a simple man's opinion though. Good luck

 

[22*43*51]

All wood is going to "move" with changes in humidity.

Engineered hardwood will move less because underneath the veneer is idividaul prices of wood fingerjointed, glued and pressed together. The individual pieces will have grain patterns of different sizes and in different directions.

Obviously a solid piece will be uniform like Mother Nature made it. Therefore "move" expand/contract easier.

The reason you cannot sand the engineered product is due to the veneered surface I mentioned. It is not very thick and you could sand through it exposing the fingerjointed substrate.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

Been a while since I shopped for it, but I recall the wear layer varying significantly with engineered flooring. So, the better stuff is thicker, of course, and can be sanded multiple times.

That being said, our engineered flooring is probably 7 years old and hasn't even begun to show significant wear. Just a few inevitable scratches. I play fetch with our little dog and his legs look like the roadrunner's as he paws at the floor trying to gain traction. No damage. The factory applied finish in a controlled environment can make for a very durable finish.

 

[SailorJerryHawk]

I've got 550 sq ft in my downstairs.Mrs Jerry wants some type of wood floor put in.What kinda cost am I looking at for the flooring and installation? Lets say the materials are in the five dollar a square foot range.Double for everything?
I'm not going to do the install myself,and I've been doing my best to sell the wife on new carpet.

 

[kcoop35]

I've got 550 sq ft in my downstairs.Mrs Jerry wants some type of wood floor put in.What kinda cost am I looking at for the flooring and installation? Lets say the materials are in the five dollar a square foot range.Double for everything?
I'm not going to do the install myself,and I've been doing my best to sell the wife on new carpet.

$2.75-$3.00 install per foot for hardwood. Right now we are at $6.97 per foot for wood, and $2.75 to install. There are add-ons to the install we are hoping to avoid. But we are paying an $80 add on to re-stretch the living room carpet inside the wood.

 

[moxyfruvous]

Your sales person is more than likely getting a nice kickback from the engineered hardwood manufacturer to push their product so consider the source.

If it was my home I would put in 2 1/4" select grade red oak flooring with a clear finish. This look is timeless and your floors will still look great in 20 years. I think a major issue you will see with engineered hardwood in near future will be that the styles and finish will change and severely date the home... Just a simple man's opinion though. Good luck

Excellent advice regarding using a "timeless" look....I agree.

 

[ping72]

Hardwood is three quarters inch thick a d can be sanded down multiple times.

1) It's much thicker than that
2) Mine is not going to be sanded even once

 

[HallofFame]

Install a humidifier on your furnace it does wonders for your wood floors. Put in acacia hardwood in my new house that is hand scrapped and absolutely love it.

 

[denmar81]

I have installed both and prefer engineered. It's more scratch resistant and can literally take a beating.Engineered finish lasts much longer. It's not cheap to resand and finish hardwoods either.