Side by side
| Feature | Solid | Engineered |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | $7–24 / sq ft | $6–20 / sq ft |
| Thickness of real wood | About ¾ in, all of it | Veneer from about 1 to 6 mm |
| Refinishing | Several sandings over its life | One to a few, by wear layer |
| Below grade or over concrete | Not recommended | Suitable |
| Humidity movement | Moves with the seasons | More stable |
| Typical install | Nailed or stapled | Glued, nailed or floated |
| Best for | Main living areas, long-term homes | Basements, condos, wide planks |
Planning ranges at national average pricing. Your quote will vary by species, thickness and installer.
What each one is
Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood milled into a tongue-and-groove board, usually three-quarters of an inch thick. Engineered hardwood glues a layer of real wood, the veneer or wear layer, onto a plywood or composite core. Both look like wood because both are wood on top.
Which costs less to install?
Engineered is often cheaper overall. The boards can cost less, and glue-down or floating installs are generally faster than nailing solid boards. The gap narrows with thick wear layers and premium species, and a wide, high-end engineered plank can cost more than a basic solid oak floor.
Which lasts longer?
A solid floor can be sanded and refinished several times, which is why you see century-old floors still in service. An engineered floor can be refinished only as many times as its wear layer allows. A thin veneer may take a single light sanding. A thick one of five or six millimeters behaves almost like solid.
Moisture, basements and concrete
Solid wood swells and shrinks with humidity and should not go below grade or straight onto concrete. Engineered boards are dimensionally more stable and are the usual choice for basements, slab foundations and homes with underfloor heating, provided you follow the maker’s instructions.
How to choose
- Choose solid if you are on a wood subfloor, above grade, planning to stay for years and want the option to refinish repeatedly.
- Choose engineered if you are over concrete, in a basement or condo, want wide planks, or want to hold the installed price down.
- Either way, ask for the wear-layer thickness in writing and have the subfloor checked before boards arrive.
Switch between the two in the estimator and the total updates immediately.