Hardwood Flooring Versus Engineered Hardwood Flooring Comparison

Consideration

Hardwood

Engineered Hardwood

Appearance

Elegant - Class

No two floors are ever identical due to variance in wood grains

Numerous installation patterns and designs can be created

Additional information on hardwood flooring patterns and designs.

Numerous board widths

Domestic & exotic woods

Array of stain colors, gloss factors, edge details

Ornamental insets available

Elegant - Class

No two floors are ever identical due to variance in wood grains

Domestic & exotic woods

Array of stain colors, gloss factors, edge details

Typical Warranties

Prefinished:

Structural Integrity - Lifetime

Finish - 3 to 25 years

Unfinished:

Varies dramatically

Prefinished:

Structural Integrity - Lifetime

Finish - 3 to 25 years

Unfinished:

Although available, unfinished engineered hardwood is not common. Warranties are generally very limited.

Life Expectancy

Pending no damage from external sources, the hardwood itself will last for hundred's of years.

Dependent on thickness of hardwood finish layer. Minimum life should be 25 years, pending no damage from external sources.

Child Friendly

Can be scratched

Liquid spills can damage surface and cause boards to warp and rot

Pet Friendly

Can be scratched

Pet urine can damage surface and cause boards to warp and rot

Care & Maintenance

Vacuum & mop using non-wax cleaners

Recoat with polyurethane as needed

Can be refinished - refinishing required every 15 to 25 years

Vacuum & mop using non-wax cleaners

Recoat with polyurethane as needed

Can be refinished, number of refinishing based on thickness of surface layer - refinishing required every 15 to 25 years

Installation

Nails, staples or glue

3/4″ or 5/8″ thick: Nail to wood

5/16″ thick: Staple or glue to wood, concrete or existing floor with the exception of carpet

Glue, staple or floating

Standard construction: Glue, staple or float/glue to sub-floor

Interlocking floating construction (no glue needed): Tongue and groove locking

Both constructions: Over wood, concrete or existing floor with the exception of carpet

Grade Levels

Below grade only in very dry regions

On grade

Above grade

Below grade

On grade

Above grade

Room Installation

All rooms with following exceptions:

Full & half bathrooms - not recommended - hardwood is very sensitive to humidity fluctuations and water

Below grade basements - not recommended - hardwood may buckle or warp with fluctuations in moisture level

Note: As hardwood scratches consideration should be given to installations in foyers as dirt brought into the home can scratch the surface.

All rooms with following exceptions:

Full & half bathrooms - not recommended - hardwood is very sensitive to humidity fluctuations and water.

Note: As hardwood scratches consideration should be given to installations in foyers as dirt brought into the home can scratch the surface.

Budgeting

Material cost $3/sq. ft. to $30/sq. ft. - very dependent on quality and dimensions of hardwood boards, finish and species.

Installation cost (contractor):

Prefinished - $2/sq. ft. to $6/sq. ft.

Unfinished hardwood, finished on site - $6/sq. ft. to $10/sq. ft.

Note: Sq. ft. installation prices do not include the material or installation costs of underlayment, or repairs to sub-floors.

Note: Installing hardwood flooring on steps is not included in the pricing.

Additional information on budgeting for hardwood flooring

Material cost $2.50/sq. ft. to $10/sq. ft. - dependent on quality of hardwood, finish and species.

Installation cost (contractor):

Prefinished - $3/sq. ft. to $5/sq. ft.

Unfinished engineered hardwood, finished on site - $5/sq. ft. to $8/sq. ft.

Note: Sq. ft. installation prices do not include the material or installation costs of underlayment, or repairs to sub-floors.

Note: Installing hardwood flooring on steps is not included in the pricing.

DIY Complexity - Scale 1 to 5 with 1 being the easiest.

3/4″ or 5/8″ thick, with nails - 4

5/16″ thick, with glue or staples - 3

Standard with glue or staples - 3

Standard floating with glue - 4 to 5

Interlocking floating without glue - 2