3/4 hardwood vs engineered hardwood

[pegasush]

I am considering whether to install 3/4 thick hardwood floor or engineered hardwood in new house construction. The flooring supplier is pretty positive about the benefits of engineered, but I am looking for 2nd opinions.

[VALENT]

my vote is for 3/4 hardwood.

[Tom R]

3/4 hardwood is the real deal. :wink:

[Rich]

Go with the solid.

[Dragon]

Consider if and when you'll need to sell.

Go real.

[ccoffer]

It depends on the engineered. There are several engineered poducts on the market that beat solids hands down. They are mui expensivo,though.

[Dragon]

I disagree.

I've refurbished abused real wood floors that were over 100 years old and brought them back to their full glory.

There isnt an engineered out there that will ever be able to lay claim to that.

[VALENT]

And you really should be able to refinish them at least three times with no problems. Engineered wood floors have their place I just dont know where it is.

[pegasush]

Not much disagreement amongst this group!

I will be selling immediately (spec house), so that is definitely an issue. According to the supplier, a quality engineered will rarely have issues with shrinkage, warpage, etc. As to refinishing, he says that you can refinish engineered 3 times, and 3/4" the same. Engineered is slightly less expensive, but not significantly, and very much dependent on what quality products you get.

I can't help but believe that 3/4" hardwood is a much more positive asset than engineered when putting a house on the market.

[VALENT]

What kind of engineered wood floor can be refinished? (actually, I have seen it but it was much more expensive than real wood and was not going to be sanded three times) That is correct about no warping, shrinkage etc but you can see the joints all the time anyhow.

[bkrahmer]

I think it depends upon your definition of engineered. At a lumber store I was in the other day, I saw this flooring material which was basically t&g plywood, with a top veneer of about 1/8" or maybe 3/16". It looked great, and appeared that you could probably refinish it once if you were careful. Pergo? Definitely not, unless you want to change your motif to cardboard. :)

[VALENT]

Hey cardboard is nice as a box.

[anyman]

Just curious, do you guys feel the same if the 3/4's is installed over concrete, or would you say the engineered is better over concrete?

Al

[VALENT]

Well, over concrete, hardwood will require some additional steps-namely runners put down first, probably over a moisture barrier. No doubt that engineered will be easier in this situation. But, all the other arguments remain-solid, refinishable-real solid wood.