Traditional Hardwood or Engineered?

Who doesn't love a beautiful hardwood in a home? Woods are warm, inviting, interesting and come in a huge variety of finishes. They are so popular, that almost every home buyer I worked with in the last year has chosen some kind of wood-like finish on the floors of their new home (laminate, engineered or traditional). The question EVERYONE asked was "Which is better? Engineered or Traditional Hardwood?" Well, the answer depends on what you are looking for in your floor, but here are some tips from our Award-Winning Design Studio:

Traditional Hardwood

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When I say "Traditional Hardwood," I  mean the wood comes unfinished and is installed in your home, then stained and finished. Each plank is one solid piece of wood, not layers or veneers. Usually this wood is given a smooth finish, but it can be given a hand-scraped finish on the edges.

• The major key to traditional hardwood is that you can refinish over and over and over again. The process is a little messy, but it can save you tons of money in the long run because you won't have to replace your floors. 
• Sanding and finishing the wood on site means that you can get a nice, tight floor with little to no gaps between boards. This helps keep dirt and water from getting in between the floor and causing problems down the line. I also personally love the look of a smooth, shining wood floor.
• Staining the wood on site means you can get the exact color stain that you want. This is a perk that is not always available in engineered woods.
• One downside of traditional hardwood is that they may be more prone to shifting and warping.  A home humidifier system can minimize some of the shrinking and warping.

Engineered Wood

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Each plank of engineered wood usually has a veneer of more expensive wood on top and then subsequent layers of a more affordable wood below. The layers are laid cross-grain so that on the first layer the grain runs lengthwise, then the next layer is crosswise and so on. The number of layers varies depending on quality and price. Each piece is prefinished and then installed on site, usually as a floating floor.

• Often, you can get a wider plank or more expensive type of wood for less money when you choose engineered over natural hardwood, making it a budget friendly choice.
• The cross-grain layers of engineered wood make it more warp resistant. This can be especially beneficial in climates that have hot summers and cold winters because the climate change may cause wood to shift and expand.
• Most engineered woods have the popular hand-scraped look or some kind of bevel at the edges of the wood. This is done to help hide any flaws in installation. This is a pro for more people, who love the look, but you should keep in mind that those crevices may gather dirt and liquids.
• Engineered woods are prefinished with an aluminum oxide finish. Usually the more expensive the wood, the more layers of finish. This will help minimize scraping and staining, but these woods will show wear especially in high traffic areas. Some homeowners have found that their finish has taken on a scuffed, dirty look over the years. Some engineered woods can be refinished but usually only once. If the wood has the hand-scraped look it can be more difficult to refinish.
• The popularity of engineered woods means that they are now available in a wide range of wood types and stains. However, you will have to choose from the options that are available as you cannot mix and match stains like you could with natural hardwood. 

For more information on wood types and styles, visit our Award-Winning Design Studio and browse the thousands of products available for your new home from McArthur Homes.