Engineered vs. Real Hardwood Floors: Which Sells More, And Why?!

What is the difference between real hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring?

In this video we look to address why engineered flooring was created, what its pros and cons are vs real hardwood floor, what install options are available, and which of the two is more popular.

Video Contents:

0:00 Introduction
0:17 Solid vs Engineered Hardwood Definitions / Examples
1:32 Problems with Solid Hardwood
2:28 How Does Engineered Hardwood Solve These Problems?
3:07 Which Do Product Sells More and Why?
4:26 Best DIY Options
5:46 Installing Floating Click Hardwoods Over Existing Floor.
6:39 Summary / Introduction to Our Segment!

SUBSCRIBE to @BuildLessons

Thanks so much to Jeff and the crew at Floortrends for your expertise and willingness to help create these videos.

Floortrends operates in several Ontario cities! Find them at:

[jasonkritz]

If you install the solid hardwood properly, it will not buckle. People are just afraid for some reason, but I think solid is superior. My house has original hardwood floors from 1901, even in the kitchen, and they are perfect. Get the right species, leave a bit of space around perimeter, prefer to install in spring, summer or fall, use nail/staple, if the boards are 5" or wider, use glue with nails/staples (unless your install requires a vap barrier) --- you will have no problem.
I've installed many floors in my day and still notice a difference in the way a nailed/stapled solid feels under your feet vs a stapled engineered, even the thick engineered. You won't regret paying the extra $ and getting what they have used in homes for hundreds of years.
Pro tip - if you want a hand scraped finish, avoid engineered. You are extremely limited when it comes to sanding/refinishing.

[maxa]

Man a lot of sound and editing experts in here. Thank you for the free information

[johnchang]

Very informative video, short and sweet without sacrificing content. Thank you so much.

[kirahagan]

The background music is so distracting sorry. Had to stop the video although the content was good.

[Discovery.]

The only thing that you keep in mind is the solid hardwood you can sand it down as much as you can and refinish to make it branch new again.

[lorib]

Informative video but I agree with other comments on the music- it’s just too loud and makes it hard to follow discussion

[patriciacarnie]

I enjoyed the information in your video, however the music in the background was a bit of a distraction for me as far as hearing goes.

[ImaniMichele]

Does the thord option mentioned "click system wood flooring" have a different name when looking it up online? Unfortunately everything say click system nowadays.

I have open concept so this floor would be in the kitchen as well. Which of the three are more waterproof than the others?

I loved the video but i would suggest adding pricing information and durability testing (general or specific)

[davisjugroop]

The total thickness of solid wood floor is around 6cm, and if u have to transition to floor tiles, which is around 3cm, there is a 3 cm height difference.

[bdm]

But how many times can you refinish engineered hardwood floors?

[musicman]

I have the original 2 1/4 width oak-hard wood floors in my house that are 55 years old. I live in New England and it does get humid in the summer. Not once have I ever had any issues or needed any maintenance other than a to refinish one time and normal cleaning. Engineered is nice as long as you get a high-quality product with a decent wear layer.

[kayfiset]

We have hardwood floors everywhere but the bathroom, and they require only minimal maintenance. A European hard oil finish makes it even easier.

[ethersecure]

I believe you forgot to mention that in some applications you NEED engineered wood, like condos, where the floor can't be stapled needs to float over the concrete.

[vickiemazzawi]

Hello Jeff, I have carpet all over except the kitchen which is vinyl planks and bathrooms. I wanted to change it to either hardwood flooring or engineered one but not sure which one to choose we live in London Ontario and I think we have similar weather. Is the engineered little bit cheaper and definitely would need a provincial installer to do it. Thank you

[cliffordmarc]

it would have been nice to cover the wear layer.. i was considering Engineered but the wear layer on most brands is really thin, that its comparable to laminate flooring. Not all Engineered wood is equal, buyers have to be really careful about the quality.

[Home-nb]

@Build Lesson---- when using engineered flooring do you still nail it down at an angle through the tongue, or do you nail it straight down?

[Martinturbo]

I just installed real hardwood for the first time on the entire top level of my condo and the main level in the living room. It's very easy and you can rent or buy the nail gun. I used Canadian Maple Hardwood (Canadian Solid Flooring Natural Maple .75-inch T x 4.25 W x Varying Lengths). Very easy to install. My 2017 home I sold had hardwood on the entire main floor and there are no maintenance issues over 5 years, easy to clean toddler/kid food spills - no idea what this guy is talking about maintenance and moisture issues. Most homes have central air and newer homes have moisture control built into the furnace. If you have the money, always go hardwood. If you have pets then look into scratch resistant engineered products for sure.

[jgreeter]

This video seems to contain disinformation. The idea that a wood fiber sandwich with a thin, stained veneer is more resistant to moisture than real hardwood is ridiculous. Several years ago, I ran an errand in a building in the southeastern US that turned out to have original wood floors which had been in continuous use since before George Washington slept there during the Revolutionary War. I'm pretty sure that the pre-Revolutionary War hardwood floor has seen more humidity and spills in its over 250 years of use than your lakehouse will in your lifetime. Also, they act like the ability to install engineered hardwood over well-laid tile is a special feature. Honestly, you can install just about any floor over well-laid tile, including real hardwood. Sometimes even directly to the tile; you can use this exotic substance called "glue." My neighbor had an oak floor that lasted through decades of renter abuse; meanwhile, my girlfriend's engineered hardwood floor (stained like the "hand scraped" engineered product he's showing off) didn't even survive her roommate's dog without getting huge visible scratches.

[zhli]

I have engineered hardwood floor since upgraded from carpet 4 years ago, and I like it. I don't think you can tell the difference between engineered hardwood vs solid hardwood unless you break it to look at its profile. No, I don't think engineered hardwood is more durable, however floor should be replaced once in 20 years. I had seen some really old townhouses with century old solid hardwood floor -- this really shouldn't be, floor should be replaced more often, who knows what's in the wood cracks. Another thing is, I like the new type Acacia hardwood than other woods, engineered or not, but solid is too costly that I don't want to pay. I don't really need it solid all the way, I just want that wood grain pattern and color and its hardness.

[michellemooresings]

I'm looking at a 6mm top to an engineered hardwood floor. It's going to be in the kitchen and dining areas to replace the maple. Can the installers get away with simply sanding down our current maple floors, making sure everything is level and then put the new floors on top? I think that's what I heard them saying. Also, the mill I bought samples from says it can be glued or nailed. ???