A high quality hardwood floor(engineered) vs. so so quality floor? (refinishing, installed)

[tianwaifeixian]

We are debating on whether to get high quality (name brand) engineered hardwood floor or a so so brand hardwood floor. They may have no big difference when they are newly installed. But anyone knows when it will start to make big difference on their looking?

[Tesaje]

They can look and perform much differently as soon as installed, depending on the quality. The lower quality floor also might have so many defective boards that can't be used that the actual cost difference ends up not being much different. A 25 year warranty floor might have a thicker wood veneer and much better finish varnish with more coats to withstand normal wear and tear than the lower grade floor. You have to look at what you are actually buying and decide based on your budget and needs.

[tianwaifeixian]

Originally Posted by Tesaje

They can look and perform much differently as soon as installed, depending on the quality. The lower quality floor also might have so many defective boards that can't be used that the actual cost difference ends up not being much different. A 25 year warranty floor might have a thicker wood veneer and much better finish varnish with more coats to withstand normal wear and tear than the lower grade floor. You have to look at what you are actually buying and decide based on your budget and needs.

Thank you very much!

[Cecilia_Rose]

Another thing to consider The engineered floor wil have a factory finish applied under optimum conditions. Since its prefinished you can put it in and go about your business. Im guessing the so so floor will have to be finished on site.

One of the downsides to engineered floors is that theyre thinner than real wood floors so you cant do multiple sand and refinishes.. But unless you plan on seriously abusing your floors I doubt youll need to sand and refinish them for a long long time. So if it were me Id go with the good stuff.

[Tesaje]

Unfinished flooring is usually solid wood and generally not considered to be a so so grade flooring. I've never seen an unfinished engineered floor. The finish quality varies and so do the thicknesses of the top layer of wood. They are more dimensionally stable than solid flooring and tend not to cup or warp like the solid wood does.

Usually, a decent engineered flooring will be able to take a couple sand downs and refinishings. The better quality ones will be able to withstand refinishing better and more times. Solid wood can take more refinishes because it is much thicker. Being finished on site after the floor is laid achieves a smoother finish but the mess is much greater. The chief advantage to buying prefinished flooring, whether engineered or solid, is that you get the really strong and tough aluminum oxide varnishes on them. And of course, no sanding dust or fumes in the house.

I've got a good quality engineered oak floor that is 11 years old in a glue down application. It still looks great with only a few not very obvious scratches.