Look & Feel

Because it’s made from a single piece of wood, solid wood offers an authentic, timeless look. Each plank shows unique grain patterns, knots, and natural color variations that age beautifully over time. Many homeowners love the “patina” that develops after years of use.

Visually, engineered hardwood looks almost identical since it has a real wood veneer on top. However, plank lengths are often shorter, and the feel underfoot can be slightly different. Higher-quality engineered planks with thicker veneers are virtually indistinguishable from solid wood once installed.

Cost

Solid wood is generally more expensive. Expect to pay around $5 to $28 per square foot, plus installation. Prefinished solid wood often costs more upfront, but can save labor on finishing.

Engineered solid wood is generally more affordable, ranging from $4.50 to $16 per square foot. Installation costs are also lower, especially for click-and-go floating floors that require no nails or glue.

Lifespan

Solid wood can be sanded and refinished multiple times, making it a long-term investment that increases resale value. With proper care, it can last for 50 to 100 years or more.

The lifespan of laminate flooring depends largely on its wear layer. Standard laminate flooring has a lifespan of 20 to 30 years, while premium products with thicker finishes can last 40 years or more. Refinishing is typically done once or twice.

Sound

Solid wood feels solid and sturdy when walked on. It also creates a more natural, more subdued sound, which many people prefer. However, solid wood isn't very effective at soundproofing—if you live in a two-story house or apartment, footsteps from downstairs will be audible unless you install special sound-damping underlayment.

Engineered wood flooring can have slightly different sound effects depending on how it's installed. Floating floors can feel lighter and slightly "hollow," while nailed or glued floors are closer to solid wood. On the plus side, engineered wood flooring often comes with an underlayment, which helps dampen footsteps and makes the room quieter overall.

Water Resistance

Moisture is the biggest weakness of solid wood. Spills, high humidity, or damp environments can make the planks swell, shrink, or even warp, which is why bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms are not recommended areas for solid wood floors.

By contrast, engineered flooring handles humidity much better. Its layered plywood core keeps the planks stable, preventing most expansion and contraction. This makes it a practical choice for kitchens, basements, or homes in humid climates.

If your home stays dry, solid hardwood is fine. If you are worried about moisture or humidity, engineered hardwood is the safer choice.

Care and Cleaning

Day-to-day maintenance is simple for both types: regular sweeping or vacuuming and quick cleanup of spills. The difference comes in how they recover from wear and tear.

Scratches and dents on solid wood can usually be fixed by sanding and refinishing, which brings the floor back to like-new condition—even after decades. With engineered floors, routine cleaning is the same, but deep damage is harder to repair because the top veneer is thinner and can only be refinished once or twice.

If you want a floor that can be refreshed many times, solid hardwood is easier to maintain long-term.

Durability

Solid hardwood is extremely durable. With proper care, it can last 50 to 100 years or more. Because it can be refinished many times, it continues to look new even after decades of use.

Engineered hardwood is durable but has a shorter lifespan. Thin veneers may only last 20 years, while high-quality engineered wood with a thick wear layer can last 30 to 40 years.

Installation

Solid hardwood is nailed to a wooden subfloor. This type of installation usually requires professional work and is not easy for beginners to do on their own.

Engineered hardwood offers more flexibility. It can be nailed, glued, or installed as a floating floor using click-lock edges. This makes it easier for DIY installation and allows it to be used over concrete.

If you want a simple, faster installation, engineered hardwood is the easier option.

Sizes

Plank size is one of the first differences homeowners notice. Solid wood boards are usually thicker, about 3/4 inch, and come in standard widths like 2 1/4 to 5 inches. Lengths can reach up to 7 feet, which gives a more seamless look once installed.

Engineered options are thinner, often 3/8 to 9/16 inch, but they offer more variety in width, sometimes as wide as 10 inches. Plank lengths are generally shorter, up to 5 feet. This flexibility makes engineered wood suitable for both narrow rooms and large, open spaces.

Wider planks are easier to find with engineered wood, while solid hardwood delivers a more traditional size and feel.

Resale Value

Buyers tend to place a premium on real hardwood. A home with solid wood floors can command higher resale value because buyers see it as a long-lasting investment. Refinished floors also look like new, which adds to the appeal during resale.

Engineered floors do add value, but usually not as much as solid hardwood. Because their lifespan is shorter and refinishing is limited, buyers may not view them as equally permanent.

Environmental Impact

From a sustainability perspective, engineered hardwood uses less solid lumber since only the top layer is real hardwood. The plywood or HDF core comes from faster-growing wood species, which can make it a more eco-friendly option overall.

Solid hardwood, on the other hand, uses one solid piece of timber for each plank. While durable and long-lasting, it requires more hardwood resources. That said, a floor that lasts 100 years and can be refinished many times may ultimately create less waste.

Both have environmental pros and cons: engineered wood makes better use of materials, while solid hardwood offers exceptional longevity.

Conclusion: Choose Quality First

Every type of wood flooring comes in different grades. A bargain-priced solid hardwood may be full of knots and imperfections, while cheap engineered planks often have veneers so thin that they wear out or fall apart quickly.

Whether you choose engineered or solid hardwood flooring, quality matters most. The same is true when it comes to furniture. At Tribesigns, many of our pieces use solid wood for a natural, timeless look, while others incorporate MDF and engineered wood for affordability and stability. This mix of materials allows homeowners to choose what fits their lifestyle, budget, and design preference—without sacrificing style.

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