Composition

• While the composition of solid hardwood flooring is simple to grasp since it is made of nothing other than the genuine species of wood chosen for the floor, such as oak or maple for instance, engineered wood flooring is a little different. While the top layer consists of 1-3 strips of hardwood, the base is some type of softwood or plywood.
  
  

Cost

• Overall, costs for installing these two types of floors are almost identical since both are at least partially composed of real hardwood. Generally, you can expect solid hardwood flooring to cost anywhere from $8-$12 per square foot depending on the species of wood and size of plank. Engineered flooring is only available in pre-finished form, which is typically a littler more expensive, ranging as high as $14 per square foot. All prices are accurate as of July 2010.
  
  

Installation

• Although engineered floors are only available in prefinished form, homeowners have the option to choose between unfinished and prefinished when installing a solid hardwood floor. Overall, installation is easier with an engineered floor because it can be laid down as a floating floor, meaning it will not have to be glued or nailed down to a base. Engineered wood floors provide more options for installation as well, as they can function in almost any room in the house, while solid hardwood floors must be put in rooms that experiences very little change in humidity.
  
  

Durability

• With engineered flooring, the plywood base actually helps make the wood more resistant to warping and expanding, two big challenges to the durability of any solid hardwood floor. Engineered floors are also better at handling moisture and can provide more overall stability. Conversely, real wood floors are thicker, and as such even very deep scratches may be sanded out; the thin nature of engineered wood floors may not allow that option.
  
  

Considerations

• Using engineered wood flooring helps conserve wood resources, as it requires considerably less hardwood. All but the top layers of an engineered wood floor is made of either softwood or plywood, which are more environmentally sustainable than hardwood. Softwoods grow much faster than hardwoods and plywood can be made from scrap wood that might otherwise go to waste.