The Pros and Cons of Different Hardwood Flooring Types

Regardless of how much you love the look and feel of hardwood floors, there are plenty of important decisions that go into the selection process. One of the biggest is choosing between the various hardwood flooring types, which determines the overall look and style you’ll be adding to your home.

Fortunately, that decision can be simplified. With a little help from the experts at Signature Hardwood Floors, we can help you make a confident choice about hardwood flooring types that will add beauty and value to your home.  

Hardwood Flooring Types: Solid Wood vs Engineered Wood

If you want the ultimate look in hardwood flooring, you either want solid wood or engineered wood. For purists, solid wood is the ultimate option. It comes with tongue and groove sides to make it easier to install, but solid wood does come with a fairly well-defined set of pros and cons.

The biggest plus is the appearance and what it says about you and your home. There’s nothing more authentic than the appearance of solid wood—it’s both beautiful and timeless, and it will add warmth to your home compared to other hardwood flooring types.

It will also increase the value of your home as long as you take care of it. There’s a bit more maintenance involved than there is for other hardwood flooring types, but solid wood is also easy to repair if it’s damaged.  

It’s also a great choice for longevity. Solid wood is built to last a lifetime, unlike some other hardwood flooring types.  

There are some things you need to know, though. Solid wood is prone to water damage versus engineered hardwood flooring..

Solid wood can also cost more than other hardwood flooring, but not always. It’s more prone to dents and scratches, and you’ll have to do some extra work to maintain that initial sheen. The best asset is that solid hardwood can be refinished many times over and will probably outlive you and your home.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood flooring sounds complicated, but it’s actually a layer of real wood veneer that’s glued and heat pressed to a sheet of plywood. The veneer and plywood are then layered together over and over, with each layer perpendicular to its vertical neighbor.

The benefits of engineered wood are similar to those of solid wood:

• Immaculate, high-end appearance, and it’s not as prone to water damage.       
• Helps increase the value of your home
• Durable and easy to repair compared to most hardwood flooring types
• Versatility—can be glued to concrete
• There are a few downsides, though, compared to other hardwood flooring types:
• Costs more upfront
• Sometimes prone to scratches
• Requires more ongoing maintenance

Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tile Flooring

Even though they’re pristine examples of hardwood flooring types, solid wood and engineered wood aren’t for everyone. Some homeowners want the advantages they provide, but they also face budget issues that lead to considering other hardwood flooring types.

For these folks, luxury vinyl plank flooring can be a great choice. It gives you a waterproof core that’s thick and rigid, plus it’s scratch-resistant. It can also dampen sound by as much as 30 percent, and it can be installed over existing hardwood and tile flooring much of the time.

There’s a bit of a tradeoff in appearance, but many of your guests and visitors won’t notice the difference at all.

Use Signature Hardwood Floors to Select From Different Hardwood Flooring Types

If you’re confused about the best choice in hardwood flooring for your home, turn to Signature Hardwood Floors. We know the ins and outs of all hardwood flooring types, we are knowledgeable about quality products, and we can install the best product for your budget. To learn more, call us at (410) 415-0755, or you can use this link to learn more or schedule a free in-home consultation.