When clients come to ProCare Restoration in need of hardwood flooring installation, we aim to answers any questions they might have. Quite often, we hear our clients wonder about the difference between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood. Over the years, there’s been this preconceived notion that solid hardwood reigns supreme in quality.
While this may have been true in the beginning, the gap between the two is no longer there. In fact, at ProCare Restoration, we recommend our clients install engineered hardwood over solid hardwood. Granted, we don’t just recommend any type of engineered hardwood that you might find at a lumber liquidator store.
Our trusted source for engineered hardwood is PurezaWood. This Chicago-based hardwood flooring company offers the highest quality engineered hardwood we’ve been able to find. Because of them, we converted our previous opinion that solid hardwood was better.
As you can see in the figure above, PurezaWood crafts dynamic engineered hardwood that is built to withstand the test of time. Implementing 9 layers of Russian Baltic Birch allows for the hardwood to have more give when it suffers water damage. As a company that deals heavily in water and flood damage restoration, we are able to get a detailed knowledge of how certain wood reacts to water.
We’ve tested PurezaWood’s engineered flooring multiple times to ensure that we’re comfortable supporting a trustworthy brand. After seeing how damage proof the hardwood is in regards to buckling and warping, we’re more than happy giving them our stamp of approval.
Not only does this company produce hardwood that is resistant to moisture and humidity, it also has the ability to refinish multiple times. Unlike lesser quality engineered hardwood, which can’t be refinished even once, PurezaWood can be refinished up to 7 times. This gives you the freedom to change your style without having to completely repurchase and reinstall new flooring.
As you can see from the picture above comparing PurezaWood’s engineered hardwood (green) and it’s competitors (red), there is a stark contrast to what is offered. At ProCare Restoration, we want all of our customers to install flooring that is worth the effort. When you can actually set the two side by side, it’s clear how favorable PurezaWood is in comparison. Using premium Russian Baltic Birch plywood wood, coupled with either American walnut or European White Oak, you’re guaranteed a finished product that is top notch.
Here’s why we install engineered hardwood over solid hardwood:
Prevention of Cupping
Unlike solid hardwood, engineered hardwood is able to withstand cupping much better. The multiple layered plywood designs allow for more give and bend when there is too much moisture in the air. This prevents cupping, a condition where wood bubbles and starts to damage the hardwood.
Durability
This plays directly into the resistance to cupping. Engineered hardwood at PurezaWood bucks the common trend that you can’t refinish the hardwood multiple times. Just like solid hardwood, their engineered hardwood has the ability to refinish multiple times, but also have more longevity than solid hardwood. Because it is packed with high-quality Russian Baltic Birch plywood, it can withstand higher humidity levels and moisture content than solid hardwood. The result is flooring that ages better and doesn’t warp nearly as a quickly as solid hardwood does.
Install Anywhere
This is the main selling point that we urge clients to take into account. As we mentioned before, engineered hardwood is more durable and therefore less likely to be replaced after a shorter period of time. Not only does that create an appealing product, but engineered hardwood also can be installed on any floor of your home.
With solid hardwood, it tends to expand and contract when the moisture content or heat is too high. This is why it’s extremely cautioned against to install in basements. While it is okay to install on the first and second floors, it’s still a risk to have solid hardwood on the first floor without taking very great care of it.
No matter what type of flooring you want to install, there will always be greater benefits going with a high-quality engineered hardwood. Even though solid hardwood may sound nice simply because of the reputation, you’re sacrificing durability and affordability. So while we will most certainly help you install any type of hardwood you like, we think it’s imperative to share our detailed knowledge of hardwood before you make such a big decision.
