Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood: Understanding the Difference for NC Homes
You’ve decided on hardwood flooring for your home. That’s the easy part. Now comes the question that trips up most homeowners: should you choose solid or engineered hardwood?
Both are real wood. Both look beautiful. Both can last decades. The construction difference affects performance, cost, and which situations each handles best.
For Western North Carolina homes specifically, this choice matters more than in stable climates. Our mountain humidity swings create conditions that favor one option over the other in most situations.
Here’s what you need to know to make the right choice for your Asheville or Hendersonville home.
Understanding the Construction Difference
The names tell you a lot about how these products are made.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is a single piece of wood milled into a plank. The grain runs consistently through the entire thickness, typically 3/4 inch. What you see on top is the same material all the way through.
This traditional construction has served homes for centuries. The simplicity is part of the appeal. It’s real wood, period.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood bonds a real hardwood top layer to a plywood or HDF core beneath. The top layer, called the veneer or wear layer, ranges from 1mm to 6mm depending on quality.
The layers beneath alternate grain direction, creating a cross-grain construction that resists the expansion and contraction solid wood experiences.
Despite the layered construction, engineered hardwood is genuine wood where it matters. You see, feel, and walk on real oak, hickory, maple, or whatever species you choose.
Why This Matters for Western NC Homes
The Blue Ridge Mountains create a climate that stresses flooring differently than most of the country. Understanding this helps explain why engineered hardwood often makes more sense here.
Our Humidity Challenge
Asheville’s relative humidity swings dramatically with the seasons. Summer can push indoor levels above 70% even with AC running. Winter heating drops levels below 30%.
This 40-50 point annual swing causes wood to expand and contract significantly. The movement is unavoidable with any wood product, but construction determines how much movement occurs.
How Each Construction Responds
Solid hardwood expands and contracts fully with humidity changes. The entire plank moves as a unit because the grain runs one direction throughout. In Western NC homes, this typically means visible gaps between boards in winter and tight, potentially cupping boards in summer.
Engineered hardwood moves much less. The cross-grain plywood core resists the top layer’s attempts to expand and contract. Each layer restricts movement in the layers around it. The result is notably better dimensional stability.
For most Asheville and Hendersonville homeowners, engineered hardwood performs better through our seasonal humidity swings.
Performance Comparison
Let’s compare how each option handles the practical demands of daily life.
Durability and Wear
The surface durability is identical. Both solid and engineered hardwood feature real wood top layers protected by the same finish types. Scratches, dents, and wear affect both equally.
The difference is beneath the surface. Engineered hardwood’s layered construction resists warping and moisture damage better than solid wood.
Refinishing Potential
Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished 8-10 times over its lifespan. Each refinishing removes a thin layer of wood, and the 3/4 inch thickness allows many cycles.
Engineered hardwood refinishing potential depends on wear layer thickness:
- 1-2mm veneer: Cannot be refinished
- 2-3mm veneer: One refinishing possible
- 4-6mm veneer: 2-4 refinishings possible
Quality engineered products with thick veneers offer meaningful refinishing capability, though less than solid hardwood.
Installation Options
Solid hardwood traditionally requires nail-down installation over a wood subfloor. This limits installation to above-grade locations with appropriate subfloor construction.
Engineered hardwood offers multiple installation methods: nail-down, glue-down, or floating. This flexibility allows installation over concrete slabs, radiant heating systems, and in below-grade spaces where solid hardwood can’t go.
Moisture and Climate Tolerance
Solid hardwood demands consistent humidity control. Without whole-house humidification in winter and dehumidification in summer, expect significant seasonal movement.
Engineered hardwood tolerates wider humidity ranges without dramatic response. It still responds to moisture, just less dramatically than solid wood.
Neither product is waterproof. Both should stay out of bathrooms and away from consistent water exposure.
Cost Comparison
Price ranges overlap significantly between solid and engineered hardwood. Both span from affordable entry-level to premium high-end options.
Material Costs (Per Square Foot)
Solid Hardwood: $6-$15
- Budget: $6-$8 (select grades, common species)
- Mid-range: $8-$12 (popular species, good grades)
- Premium: $12-$15+ (exotic species, character grades)
Engineered Hardwood: $5-$12
- Budget: $5-$7 (thin veneer, basic construction)
- Mid-range: $7-$10 (quality construction, good veneer thickness)
- Premium: $10-$12+ (thick veneer, premium species)
Installation Costs
Installation costs are similar for both products when using comparable methods. Floating engineered installations may cost slightly less than nail-down solid installations due to faster completion.
Total Value Consideration
When comparing products at similar price points, engineered hardwood often delivers better value for WNC homes. The improved dimensional stability reduces the risk of seasonal problems that could require repair.
For the same investment, you’re more likely to have trouble-free floors with engineered construction in our climate.
Best Applications for Each Option
Different situations favor different construction types. Here’s where each excels.
Choose Solid Hardwood When:
You want maximum refinishing potential. If you plan to own your home for 50+ years and want floors that can be renewed many times, solid hardwood’s thick construction allows that.
You’re matching existing solid hardwood. For additions or renovations in homes with original solid hardwood, matching the existing material creates visual continuity.
You’ll maintain strict humidity control. With whole-house humidification and dehumidification keeping indoor levels stable, solid hardwood can perform well in our climate.
The installation is above grade over wood subfloor. Classic solid hardwood installation scenarios remain appropriate for this traditional product.
Historic restoration is the goal. When restoring historic Asheville homes, solid hardwood matches original materials and construction methods.
Choose Engineered Hardwood When:
You want real hardwood with climate stability. For most WNC homeowners, engineered construction provides the beauty of real wood with better performance through our humidity swings.
Installing over concrete. Basements, homes on slabs, and additions over concrete require engineered hardwood’s flexible installation options.
Radiant floor heating is planned. Engineered hardwood’s stability handles the temperature variations of radiant heating systems better than solid wood.
Budget matters but quality doesn’t compromise. Quality engineered hardwood delivers genuine wood beauty at prices that often beat comparable solid options.
You prefer lower-maintenance ownership. Without the strict humidity control solid wood requires, engineered hardwood simplifies homeownership.
Species Options
Both solid and engineered hardwood come in the same species options. Your choice of oak, hickory, maple, walnut, or other species is independent of construction type.
Popular Species We Carry
Oak: The most popular choice for good reason. Available in red and white varieties, oak offers durability, attractive grain, and wide availability in both solid and engineered construction.
Hickory: The hardest domestic hardwood, ideal for active households. The dramatic grain variation creates distinctive character.
Maple: Clean, contemporary appearance with subtle grain. Lighter natural color suits modern aesthetics.
Walnut: Rich, dark tones for dramatic elegance. Premium pricing reflects limited availability.
All these species come from American-made brands we trust: Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington, Anderson Tuftex, and others who source quality materials responsibly.
Making the Right Choice
For most Western North Carolina homes, engineered hardwood provides the smarter choice. The construction handles our climate better while delivering the genuine wood appearance homeowners want.
Solid hardwood still makes sense in specific situations, particularly for homeowners committed to humidity control or those matching existing floors.
The decision shouldn’t stress you. Both options create beautiful homes. The key is matching construction to your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is engineered hardwood “fake” or lower quality?
No. Engineered hardwood is real wood where it matters: on the surface you see, touch, and walk on. The engineering is in the core construction, which actually improves performance. Quality engineered products rival or exceed solid hardwood in overall value.
Can you tell the difference once installed?
Once installed, solid and engineered hardwood look identical. The construction difference is invisible in the finished floor. Only by examining an edge or cross-section would anyone know which type you have.
Which adds more home value?
Both solid and engineered hardwood add value to home sales. Buyers typically don’t distinguish between them. What matters is that you have real hardwood floors, not what construction method was used.
How thick should engineered hardwood veneer be?
For floors you might refinish someday, look for 3mm or thicker wear layers. For floors you’re unlikely to refinish, 2mm provides adequate durability at lower cost. We don’t recommend veneers under 2mm for residential use.
Can I install solid hardwood in my basement?
No. Below-grade installations carry too much moisture risk for solid hardwood. Engineered hardwood can work in some basement applications with proper moisture testing and preparation.
Which handles dog scratches better?
Surface hardness depends on species, not construction. Oak is oak whether solid or engineered. For households with dogs, consider harder species like hickory regardless of construction type.
Get Expert Guidance for Your Home
The solid vs. engineered decision depends on your specific home, your lifestyle, and your long-term plans. What works for one family may not suit another.
At Leicester Flooring, we help you understand the real-world differences and choose construction that fits your situation. Our American-made hardwood options from Shaw, Mohawk, Mannington, and Anderson Tuftex include quality products in both categories.
Visit our Asheville or Hendersonville showroom to see solid and engineered hardwood side by side. Our team’s 50 years of local experience means we understand what works in WNC homes.
Schedule your free in-home measure and let us help you choose hardwood that performs beautifully for decades.