Engineered wood flooring is made of high-quality plywood with a veneer of pre-finished fine hardwood on top.

1. Better sealed than hardwood

Top layer is treated in the the factory with utilization of very powerful chemical sealers, which are not available to on-site installers. Traditional finishes are normally warranted for 3 to 5 years, while factory-applied treatments may have warranties of 5 to 25 years.

2. Better moisture resistant than hardwood

Its plywood base is dimensionally stable, meaning that it warps and flexes less easily upon contact with moisture than solid wood. 

3. Easy installation

It is much easier, quicker and cleaner to install prefinished wood than to go through the process of sanding and staining the hardwood floor. Also, it’s possible to refinish engineered wood in the future, if needed.

4. Lower costs

Professional installation of engineered wood is cheaper than it is for solid wood. Also, the longer-lasting finish means that you will not have to go through the time, mess, and expense of getting the floors refinished earlier than with hardwood.

5. Resale Value

Engineered wood floors are real wood so they can be advertised as such, making them more attractive to buyers.

1. May be less durable than hardwood

If all needed requirements are met, hardwood flooring longevity will outnumbered engineered wood flooring lifespan years. These conditions are: solid wood chosen harder than engineered wood, less humid environment and good maintenance.

2. Seams are not sealed

Sealer is not applied between the planks because they are pre-finished at the factory before installation. Dirt and grime can get caught in these seams.

3. Shorter investment horizon

Engineered wood, depending on the thickness of the veneer that tops the flooring, can become chipped or de-laminated. Hardwood floors will return value many years down the road.