Solid or Engineered Wood Flooring ?

What are the pros and cons ?
One of the difficulties facing people trying to make a decision between the two is that some suppliers will recommend the product which they sell. Since the majority stock engineered flooring only, or have a limited range of solid wood flooring (usually imported from China and at the cheaper end of the market), the customer can get biased advice. So what are the facts?

Cost. All things being equal, engineered flooring is more expensive than solid hardwood flooring of similar quality. When you consider the work and processes involved in manufacturing a quality plywood base and then sticking to it a hardwood veneer, there is little wonder that it costs more to produce. Perhaps the oak is only 6 mm thick compared with the 20 mm of a solid hardwood floor, but the reality is that the oak itself is not expensive. With both solid and engineered flooring, the cost is in the manufacturing process, and less in the raw material.

Stability. Again, all things being equal, engineered flooring is more stable than solid hardwood flooring. However in most domestic situations, the difference is so slight that it is hardly noticeable. Where engineered flooring does have advantages is where the environment is challenging, for example in a conservatory or over under-floor heating where the floor is going to be exposed to extreme changes in heat and moisture levels. This is particularly the case where a wide board is required.

Appearance. The main difference between the two options is that engineered flooring almost always has a micro-bevel along the lengths of the boards, which gives a very slight v when they are fitted together, while with solid wood flooring there is usually no bevel (although it can be offered as an option by some manufacturers). What the v bevel does is to accentuate the joint between the boards. Another difference is that most engineered flooring comes pre-finished, while solid hardwood is usually unfinished with pre-finishing as an option. Do check on the finish. It can be very difficult to match up if you were unlucky and got a bad scratch of other surface damage to your floor.

Durability. Really there is nothing to choose between them given a decent thickness of veneer on an engineered floor (e.g. 6 mm.). Given normal use, both will last far longer than you will.

Fitting. Not a lot of difference. Both can be nailed or screwed down. Both can be glued down, although the engineered floor is a slightly safer bet. However only an engineered floor should be floated. It is very risky to try this with solid hardwood.