Blog > What is the difference between solid and engineered hardwood flooring?

What is the difference between solid and engineered hardwood flooring?

Tuesday, November 2, 2021 4:33 PM

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You have a wide variety of styles to choose whether you prefer engineered or solid hardwood flooring. Opt for narrow boards or wide planks, dark or light stain colors, a smooth or textured surface, and finishes ranging from matte to glossy. If you live in the Steamboat Springs, Colorado, area, you can find the latest wood flooring styles at The Carpet Shoppe.

Application

Your application may determine which type of wood you can use. That's because manufactured wood differs from solid wood in two fundamental ways: water tolerance and installation method. Most often, engineered wood is designed to float over the subfloor. Since it connects at the edges, it needs no attachment to the material beneath it. Therefore, engineered wood can be installed over cement slabs and existing floors. What's more, the plywood base found beneath the surface layer of hardwood is not damaged by moisture.

Traditional flooring

Both types of solid hardwood flooring, unfinished and prefinished, are nailed to a wood subfloor. Installation can take place only in areas where moisture is not expected. Floors constructed with prefinished solid wood or engineered wood have a beveled look. Floors that are finished in the home, on the other hand, have a flush look. It can take up to two weeks to sand, stain, and seal the floor, but this long-standing installation method is still a wise choice. You can create a one-of-a-kind floor that includes borders, inlays, and other flooring features.

Family-owned, The Carpet Shoppe, installs solid and engineered wood flooring. Each job begins with a free in-home estimate. Our hardwood flooring company has been serving the Yampa Valley, Colorado, area since 1969. Milner, Hayden, Oak Creek, Phippsburg, Craig, Walden, and Kremmling are located in our service area. We invite you to visit our showroom in Steamboat Springs or enjoy the convenience of our mobile showroom.