Hardwood flooring is an investment in both utility and charm that immediately enhances your living space. Visit our North Vancouver showroom to view our extensive product lines, and easily transform your home.

If you are considering having hardwood floors installed in your home, you’re going to have to decide whether you want solid wood planks or engineered wood planks.

Solid hardwood

Solid hardwood floors are just made from solid wood. Each board of solid hardwood flooring is made from a single piece of hardwood and the thickness is about 3/4 of an inch and covered with a thin, clear protective layer that often consists of aluminum oxide, ceramic or an acrylic substance. Because it’s so thick it can be sanded down and refinished for many times throughout the life of the floor. Solid hardwood expands and contracts in reaction to changes in moisture and temperature and to avoid warping, the home’s humidity needs to remain between 45% and 65% all year round.

Because of the expansion and contraction issues of the solid hardwood, installers preferably nail or staple it to the subfloor and normally leave a gap between the wall and the floor to accommodate swelling. So solid wood floors are only recommended for rooms at ground level or above and only over plywood, wood or oriented strand board (OSB) sub floors.

The thickness of solid wood flooring can vary, but generally, ranges from 3/4″ to 5/16″

Engineered Hardwood:

Hardwood planks classified as “engineered” feature multiple layers (typically three to nine) bonded together under extreme heat and pressure that can be installed in most areas of your home. Made of genuine wood, this flooring gives your home an updated look and feel. Engineered hardwood is made of a core of hardwood or plywood with a layer of hardwood veneer affixed to the top surface. It’s more resistant to moisture and heat compared to solid hardwood.

They are also better suited for installing over in-floor heating systems.

Engineered hardwood floors are suitable for installation on all levels of the home and over plywood, wood, OSB and concrete subfloors

The unique construction of engineered wood creates a structure that is less likely to buckle, gap or react to fluctuations in humidity and temperature. You can install engineered flooring on any level, including below ground. It’s a great choice for finished basements and bathrooms.

Therefore, the product is often the preferred choice for kitchens and bathrooms or in areas where the humidity level can vary—like in a basement or a part of the house below grade, as long as a moisture barrier is placed between the subfloor and the hardwood planks. Engineered flooring can be installed in a number of ways, including nail-down installations, glue-down installations, and floating installations

While this type of flooring can be sanded and finished, it cannot be done as many times as solid wood flooring. Engineered wood flooring can be installed above, on or below grade.

Both types offer a beautiful finish and will increase the value of your home—as long as they are installed correctly and maintained properly over the duration of your ownership.