Difference Between Engineered Hardwood Flooring and Solid Hardwood Flooring

Technically, both terms apply to most flooring, but the difference is considerable. Hardwood usually implies a plank about 3/4" think with a tongue and groove on the sides and ends. It will need refinishing when the hardwood flooring installation is complete, which can be the most difficult and time consuming part

of the entire job. It also requires that each plank be nailed to the subfloor, usually with a special nailer. The nailers can be either strictly a manual operation or air assisted; the air assist, or pneumatic type is preferable.

Either type are usually available for rent at home improvement stores; a good thing as the nailers are quite expensive to purchase

Laminate, or engineered, flooring is a built up composite to form planks with a specialty tongue and groove assembly also on the sides and ends of each plank. Laminate flooring is much cheaper to purchase and the installation of the flooring is much easier with no refinishing of the installed product. It is not normally refinishable; damaged pieces must be replaced entirely, and they are not as durable as the regular hardwood floor. A floor installed with engineered hardwood flooring is not amenable to patterns as each planks must be installed just like all the other planks. See the picture for a patterned hardwood floor; this type of work is not possible with an engineered hardwood floor installation.


Parqueteam Hardwood flooring offers hardwood flooring in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. Call now for more information.