Thinking about installing hardwood. I can’t decide whether to go with the ‘real’ stuff’ of with engineered. I’m installing over a joisted subfloor so either one will work. Because the room is huge I want to go with wider and longer boards to avoid a checker board effect. So for price I think engineered might be cheaper. Also, I don’t want that terrible hallow sound you can get from floors like those at the mall. Is that possible with engineered flooring.
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Replies
Did you ever decide which way to go? I'm facing the same decision now. Had laminate in the past and not really a fan. But, someone I talked to said that you really should never have to refinish either engineered or pure wood floors. Wondering if anyone has had experience with hardwood and engineered wood and has a preference?
Engineered Floors
The Engineered wood will hold up very well, and doesn't seem to have as much of drum sound as laminate. I prefer the engineered to solid hardwoods, mostly because of the cost. The engineered costs less, and looks just as good if installed right for the fifteen to twenty years it takes the finish to wear out. At that point you will have to decide whether to refinish or tear out and reinstall. I think that when the time comes I will probably tear out and reinstall new engineered hardwood. But, higher quality engineered has a thick enough wear layer that it should be possible to do a light sanding and refinish.
The laminate is drummy because it is typically a floated floor, and the whole thing acts as a sound board.
My personal preference is for a staple down engineered hardwood floor. The correct staplers are kind of spendy. But, you can buy used ones off eBay, and sell them when you are done, if you have to. I bought one used a few years back that had 10,000 staples with it. I've done quite a few floors since then and still haven't bought more staples.
There are a few places that rent them, and that might be the way to go, but be careful on how long you keep it for because the rentals can add up fast.
1165.2 in reply to 1165.1
Did you ever decide which way to go? I'm facing the same decision now. Had laminate in the past and not really a fan. But, someone I talked to said that you really should never have to refinish either engineered or pure wood floors. Wondering if anyone has had experience with hardwood and engineered wood and has a preference?
I am about to install wood floors in a new house and have been advised that the lumber liquidators prefinished floors are great and hold up. Some of them have a 50 year guarantee. the added advantage is that you do not have to finish them!
I had Mohawk wood floors put down five years ago. They were prefinished. I am
very happy with it.