Your guide to hardwood vs engineered wood flooring in NZ

1. Installation

When it comes to installation, both solid and engineered options can be utilised throughout a project. Jon emphasises, “Both solid and engineered flooring options can be installed throughout the entire house, except bathrooms.” 

When it comes to moisture resistance, engineered wood flooring excels. “Engineered wood is much more stable and performs much better than solid wood when it comes to moisture.” He notes that a controlled system, such as factory finishing, provides many options to enhance moisture resistance.

2. Durability

When comparing durability, solid timber flooring has advantages but also some limitations. According to Jon, “Solid wood is more prone to expansion and contraction with humidity changes and can warp in high-moisture environments. A benefit is that solid floors can typically be sanded and refinished more times than an engineered floor.” 

Jon adds, “On the other hand, engineered flooring is much more stable and performs better in high moisture and temperature areas, with an expected lifespan of 40 to 60 years, depending on the veneer thickness.”

3. Environmental impact

When discussing wear and tear, Jon mentions that “American or European oak is by far the most widely used species of flooring” for both solid and engineered options. However, engineered wood offers a greater variety of species, such as maple, ash, walnut, beech and cherry.

He also highlights the environmental benefits of engineered wood, stating, “From an environmental impact point of view, engineered wood flooring is far more friendly as you are only using 3-4 millimetres of the chosen species, for example, oak, instead of 19 millimetres for a solid option.”

4. Impact of foot traffic and pets

For households with pets or heavy foot traffic, engineered timber flooring has specific advantages.

“The fact that engineered wooden floors are finished in a factory gives the advantage of being able to UV cure the polyurethane finish. Usually, there are six-to-eight layers, and UV-cured polyurethane is a much harder wear layer than the polyurethane finish on a solid floor; therefore, it is more durable.”

5. Comparing costs

Cost is always a significant factor when making flooring decisions. Jon advises, “Engineered timber flooring is typically 30–40 per cent more cost-effective overall, mostly because an engineered floor is pre-finished, saving sanding and coating costs after installation.” 

One common misconception about flooring is that solid wood is superior in durability and quality. Jon dispels this by stating, “History has proven engineered timber flooring to be more than a match.”