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Engineered or Solid Wood: Which is Right for Your Home?

Photo of a hardwood flooring installation by SVB Wood Floors.How do you choose the type of wood that is installed in your home? This comes down to the area or room in your house where you want to install it. Both engineered and solid wood floors are environmentally friendly because they are both made out of real wood. So what exactly is the difference? SVB Wood Floors in KC explain the difference.

Engineered Wood Floors in Kansas City Homes

This type of hardwood flooring is manufactured using multiple layers of wood veneers. These veneers are made out of real wood and can be of different or the same wood species; the top layer typically uses the highest quality. Engineered wood floors are considered to be very stable because the grains of each layer of wood run perpendicular to each other. What does this mean? Engineered wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring when the weather and humidity in your area change.

So where can engineered wood floors be installed? They can be used anywhere throughout the house. But because this type of flooring can be nailed, stapled, or glued down it makes for an ideal slab and basement installation. Also, it is less prone to warping so it does better in humid or moist areas like lower levels. Keep in mind that because this flooring has a shallow top layer, it can only be sanded and refinished a few times.

Is Solid Wood Flooring a Better Fit?

What is solid wood flooring? It is exactly as it sounds, a solid piece of wood that can vary in thickness. Unlike engineered wood floors, this type of flooring can only be used in rooms that are above ground. The areas in your home that would be ideal for solid wood flooring are your family or living room, bedrooms, kitchen, and dining room. An added benefit to choosing wood flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished many times.

Give SVB Wood Floors a call today for a free in-home estimate on engineered or solid wood flooring today!