When it’s time to buy hardwood flooring for your Virginia Beach home, you’re likely weighing your options: engineered or solid? While both are real hardwood and look identical once installed, more is going on under the surface than you think. The last thing you want to do is make the wrong choice. Living on the coast, you’ll end up paying for it later.
At Artistic Flooring, we’ve been installing and refinishing hardwood floors across Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk. We have the same conversation with every homeowner looking into hardwood. The right answer for you depends on your preference and what’s underneath your home.
What’s the Difference Between Engineered and Solid Hardwood?
Solid hardwood is cut from a single piece of timber and milled to a consistent thickness from top to bottom. In contrast, engineered hardwood is known for its layered construction. It consists of a real wood veneer top, criss-crossed layers of plywood or a high-density core and strong backing.
That’s all there is to it. It’s also why engineered wood behaves differently from solid wood when conditions change. Because of this, it’s not just a preference, it’s a sound choice.
Why Does Moisture Performance Matter in Virginia Beach?
Wood moves with humidity. It doesn’t matter which option you choose. That said, solid hardwood expands and contracts more dramatically since moisture affects the entire plank from top to bottom. Because of its criss-crossed layers, engineered hardwood better counteracts movement and is ideal for environments with fluctuating humidity.
Living on the coast is what makes the difference. Virginia Beach experiences humidity swings between seasons and sometimes, even the same week. The foundation of your home also makes a difference:
- Slab Foundations: Never install solid hardwood directly over a concrete slab. Slab foundations sit close to ground moisture. Choose engineered hardwood for homes built on slab foundations.
- Crawl Space Foundation: With proper moisture barriers and ventilation, solid hardwood is possible in a crawl space, but engineered is a lower-risk choice in our humidity.
- Above-Grade Installations: You can choose either solid or engineered hardwood for these spaces. Ground moisture isn’t a factor.
Wondering what’s underneath your existing floor and what your subfloor can support? Contact Artistic Flooring to schedule a consultation.
How Does Refinishing Impact Your Decision?
Here’s where many homeowners are surprised. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished several times because it offers the full thickness of wood. Engineered hardwood can be refinished; however, the number of times depends on the thickness of the veneer because sanding removes a portion of it with every pass.
Sanding and refinishing is one of the services we do the most. That’s worth considering before you install hardwood flooring. Not all engineered products are the same—wear layer thickness depends on the manufacturer.
Does Solid or Engineered Hardwood Make More Sense to You?
Most homes in Virginia Beach sit on a slab foundation. In this case, engineered hardwood is the practical, lower-risk choice. Meanwhile, if you’re installing in a crawl space or above grade, solid hardwood flooring is a solid option that offers refinishing flexibility.
One option isn’t better than the other. It ultimately comes down to your home.
Ready to Shop Hardwood Flooring For Your Virginia Beach Home?
In short, engineered and solid hardwood are both real wood, beautiful and capable of lasting decades with proper care. The right choice for you comes down to what’s underneath your home and how you will care for your floors, not what sounds the most premium. At Artistic Flooring, we get that. That’s why we only recommend a product after learning about your space and what matters to you.
Ready to choose a hardwood floor for your home? Contact us to schedule an in-home consultation today.
