Engineered boards are also made of wood, with the surface being natural wood and the bottom being natural wood as well. In between, there are crisscrossing layers of plywood. 

There may also be a ‘wear layer’ at the top of an engineered floor. Some customers see this and believe that solid floors are a better value. However, keep in mind that both solid and engineered floors typically need to be re-sanded from time to time. Engineered floors only need a fine sanding, but a solid floor will need to be sanded much more heavily.

In addition to this, engineered wooden floors do not expand and contract as much as solid ones do, since they are stuck together when they are laid. This makes the whole floor act like one complete sheet.

Solid boards are made of solid wood. Because of this, they expand and contract far more than engineered boards, even curling slightly across their width. The wider the board, the greater the movement will be.

This is not always a disadvantage. If you own a period property, solid oak flooring can be a great option. The slight gaps can make the property look and feel even more authentic.

If you believe that a little expansion and contraction is part of the nature of wood and you like the look, then opt for solid boards. There’s no reason not to!

Never lay solid boards if you’re planning to use under-floor heating. The heating makes the boards open and distort. Even if someone you know claims to have used solid boards successfully, stay away. For solid boards to actually work with under-floor heating is very rare.

You can still enjoy a wooden floor with under-floor heating; just choose an engineered floor with the same appearance as the solid floor you had it mind. Your engineered floor will be designed to stay stable and flat with no gaps. (However, keep in mind that we will still recommend an expansion gap around the perimeter of the room.) Not only will the engineered floor look better than a solid floor would, you’ll also find that heat transfer is better

Whether you are using a solid or engineered hardwood floor, we do not recommend using a floating floor. We prefer flooring that can be nailed or stuck down.

If you are unsure which is right for you, please call us.