We work exclusively with certified raw materials from forest management.
Buying Guides
Both are real wood. Both are beautiful. The right choice comes down to your subfloor, your climate, and how long you plan to keep the floor. Here is how to decide with confidence.
Solid hardwood is exactly what it sounds like: each plank is milled from a single, solid piece of timber, typically three quarters of an inch thick. Because it is all wood through and through, a solid floor can be sanded and refinished many times over its life. A well kept solid floor routinely lasts several generations, which is why it remains the benchmark for permanence and resale value.
Our exotic species such as Jatobá (Brazilian Cherry) and Cumaru (Brazilian Teak) are offered as solid hardwood, prized for extreme hardness and rich, deepening color.
Engineered hardwood is also genuine wood. A real hardwood wear layer is bonded over a multi ply core of cross layered wood. That cross layered construction is the key: it makes the plank far more dimensionally stable, so it expands and contracts less when humidity and temperature change.
Our Luxury engineered collection uses this construction to deliver wide planks and refined finishes that stay flat in conditions where a solid floor might move.
| Factor | Solid | Engineered |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | One solid piece of wood | Real wood wear layer over a stable core |
| Stability with humidity | Moves more | Moves less |
| Refinishing | Many times | Depends on wear layer thickness |
| Below grade / basements | Not recommended | Suitable |
| Over concrete or radiant heat | Limited | Excellent |
| Plank width | Narrow to medium | Wide planks available |
You are installing on or above ground level over a wood subfloor, you want the longest possible lifespan, and you value the ability to refinish the floor repeatedly over the decades. Solid is the classic choice for main living areas and bedrooms in a stable climate.
You are installing over concrete, in a basement, over radiant heat, or in a region with big seasonal humidity swings. Engineered gives you the look of a wide plank hardwood floor with far less risk of gapping or cupping.
Not all engineered floors are equal. The two things to check are the thickness of the real wood wear layer, which determines whether it can be refinished, and the quality of the core. Thin, low grade products are why engineered wood sometimes gets an undeserved reputation. Everything in our collection is built to a premium standard with a genuine hardwood surface.
Tell us about your space and our specialists will point you to the right floor.
We work exclusively with certified raw materials from forest management.
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