Is engineered hardwood as good as solid hardwood?

Engineered hardwood offers comparable performance to solid hardwood for most Ottawa homeowners, with some distinct advantages for our climate and modern homes. Both are real wood flooring options that can last decades with proper care, though they each have specific strengths depending on your situation.

Construction and Performance
Engineered hardwood consists of a real hardwood veneer (typically 2-6mm thick) bonded to multiple layers of plywood or high-density fiberboard. This cross-grain construction makes it more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood, meaning it's less prone to the expansion and contraction that can cause gaps or cupping. Solid hardwood is exactly what it sounds like - a single piece of wood throughout, typically 3/4" thick.

In Ottawa's climate with our significant seasonal humidity changes and freeze-thaw cycles, engineered hardwood often performs better. The multi-layer construction resists the movement that can plague solid hardwood during our dry winters when furnaces are running constantly, then humid summers. This stability makes engineered an excellent choice for basements (above grade), over radiant heating, or in homes without perfect climate control.

Durability and Refinishing
Both can last 25-50+ years with proper maintenance. The key difference is refinishing potential - solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished 6-10 times over its lifetime, while engineered hardwood is limited by its veneer thickness. A quality engineered floor with a 4-6mm wear layer can typically handle 2-4 refinishings, which is often sufficient for most homeowners. Lower-grade engineered products with thin veneers may only allow 1-2 refinishings.

Installation Flexibility
Engineered hardwood offers more installation options, including floating installations over existing floors, which can save on labor costs ($3-5 per square foot vs $6-8 for nail-down solid hardwood). It can also be installed in basements and over concrete slabs where solid hardwood typically cannot go due to moisture concerns.

Cost Considerations in Ottawa
Quality engineered hardwood typically runs $4-12 per square foot, while solid hardwood ranges $5-15 per square foot. However, engineered often has lower installation costs and fewer subfloor preparation requirements. For a typical 1,000 square foot installation, total costs including labor range from $8,000-18,000 for engineered vs $10,000-22,000 for solid hardwood.

Next Steps
Choose solid hardwood if you're in a heritage home, want maximum refinishing potential, and have proper climate control. Opt for engineered if you're installing over concrete, in a basement, over radiant heat, or want the most stable option for Ottawa's climate. Either way, ensure your contractor is experienced with hardwood installation and that proper moisture testing is done before installation.