In this video we look at the differences between solid hardwood and engineered
hardwood flooring and which ones you should choose. That's starting right now.
Welcome to Homebuyer's School brought
to you by Brookfield Residential.
Hi everyone, I'm Karl Yeh, welcome to another Homebuyer's School video, a
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bell so you don't miss anything. So today I'm joined by Deborah Armstrong, senior
interior designer with Brookfield Residential, and the topic that we're
gonna cover today is solid hardwood flooring versus engineered hardwood
flooring, which is best for me? So Deborah, what's the difference between
the two? I think that's the first question, and then how do I choose between them?
Exactly, so the difference between the two is on solid hardwood is a solid piece of
hardwood so it's the-- if it's a maple for example it is maple all the
way through and through. Engineered however, I have a piece here,
is you have a thinner layer on top of the real hardwood. In this case it's oak
and then underneath you have several layers of a other wood different woods
here going different ways so you're-- the grains are going this way then this
way and crisscrossing all the way through and glued and compressed very
tightly. The benefit of this is that it will not
shrink and expand due to humidity. So that's one of the reasons why
you would pick this especially in Calgary, Edmonton areas where our
temperatures change drastically especially in our winters, things dry out,
you're going to get that gapping if it was real hardwood. Whereas
engineered, if you have your humidity set right, that's very important with any
hardwood you won't get that shrink-- that dry shrinkage, so it won't
dry out, okay. The other reason being for the
engineered is now we can get wider planks when you use a solid you can
get up to maybe four inches maximum, no more.
We can get up to a seven and a half eight inch wide with engineered and
we're saving trees.
So how are you saving trees? Like is it just because--
Because we're using--instead of a solid thickness now of that tree--we're
using a thin layer--
of the tree--? Is it multiple-- different types of wood
for the entire piece?
Yes these are like ply woods and
different types of woods that are put together that are that aren't like
regular hardwood, like your maple or your oak. So yeah, things like that
you're using a much more economical wood underneath.
So say for like scratches
still engineered much better than--?
Nope, they're the exact same, because
it's the surface so with the solid piece if it's all core maple it's that on
top just as this is, this is the same on top. Now people say well you know I--
with solid I can you know finish it many times over-- um no not really.
You can do it about the exact same as this because when you're using a solid,
it is nailed down into the tounging root, so you can only sand down as far as
that interface and that's about three millimeters the same as what this would
be, so you can refinish both of these products, solid and an engineered,
the exact same amount of times.
Oh I guess that was one of the questions I
had too is that I was thinking with a solid you could sand it down.
Nope, there's that little nail there and you can't.
So is there a point
where whether it's solid or engineered you shouldn't be sanding anymore you
just replace it?
Exactly, okay, and you know in a lifetime when you're in that
home for 25 years you're very rarely gonna be sanding down three times most
people maybe get one and then it's time to change because things have
changed, styles have changed so you're wanting to change it.
Yeah, so how often--
let's say like I was living in a house for 20 years-- how often would you
change your hardwood?
If it's really-really worn,
stained or scratched yes, and just maybe it's time to redecorate
if you've been in the room of that long and that's when you want to do it.
So what are the benefits of using-- you know if you've talked about using
engineered hardwood, what are the benefits of using solid hardwood?
There really is no benefits over engineered. There is none.
You're gonna have the same way layered, you get all the different same
finishes and in fact engineered is-- you're gonna have more options with
engineered because you're gonna get those wider planks that everyone wants
to do today. No one wants to stick with those little boards anymore,
two-and-a-half, two and three quarter inch boards.
And I would assume--
how are the prices, the same?
Yes, they're relatively the same.
Okay, great.
And again like you said it was perfect for climates such as Calgary and
Edmonton where-- so are you saying like if you use a solid hardwood like if
in like a terrible winter and then you know great summer the floorboards
actually shrink and then there's bigger holes in between them?
Yeah, in between you get that gaping so little crumbs will fall down in there if
you've got pets or dogs you know, kids, everyday household, you're gonna see
those little crumbs in there come summertime when humidity comes back
again, sometimes they can get-- if it's not installed right-- you can get
buckling because they're now expanding with that moisture so the floors can
just heave up a little bit.
Oh so you see an actual like a little--
--Dip yes, where the seams if you get too much humidity. You see--
and with the engineered that is not a problem.
Perfect, anything else to add?
No I think we've covered everything.
Perfect. So the
question I have for you is, have you installed hardwood or engineered in your
house and tell us why? Let us know in the comments section below.
Thank you very much for joining us and we'll catch you next time.
That's another edition of
Homebuyer's School. Tune in next time
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