On the surface, both look similar. The construction is different, however, and that affects installation.
Engineered hardwood flooring can be installed to float. The solid version is always the traditional tongue and groove/nail down.
What is a floating floor?
With this installation, there's a clicking mechanism. The pieces mat and then hover over the subfloor without nails or glue.
Any subfloor is fine if it's clean, dry, and level. Besides floating, these floors can also be glued or stapled.
Why can’t solid hardwood float?
Simply, the water issues make it impossible. Solid hardwood flooring is one slab throughout.
Like all wood, it can be damaged by excess water and expands and contracts to adjust to humidity. That will affect the subfloor, where imperfections can easily travel to the surface.
With solid, each plank has both a protrusion (tongue) and a slot (groove). They fit together, form a mat, and are nailed at the corners.
This creates very tight seams that help keep water from absorbing and seeping into the seams.
Feel free to visit our hardwood flooring showroom if you have questions.
Similar look, different construction
You can choose species, designs, and textures, either solid or engineered. They each have characteristics like knots, swirls, and undertones.
Both wood flooring types last for decades and can be refinished. Only the construction, where you can't see it, is different.
Don't take our word for it! Come into our showroom, where you'll see beautiful solid and engineered wood floors from Mohawk, Palmetto Road, Somerset, and more.
Visit our hardwood flooring showroom today
With over 50 years of experience, Cherokee Floor Covering will give you a gorgeous hardwood flooring installation. You'll also experience a friendly, knowledgeable staff, superior customer service, and great prices.
No job is too big or small for us! We're in Woodstock, GA, and work on residential and commercial projects in Woodstock, Marietta, Canton, Acworth, and Kennesaw.
