Engineered vs. Solid Hardwood Flooring for San Francisco Homes
Updated: 36 minutes ago
Planning a wood floor in San Francisco or the Bay Area? We can help.
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Main office: 406B West Broad St, Westfield, NJ 07090. We sell and deliver wood flooring throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.
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Quick Answers
For most San Francisco homes, engineered hardwood is the more flexible choice. It handles concrete slabs, radiant heat and seasonal humidity swings better than solid wood.
Solid hardwood still works well over a dry, flat plywood or plank subfloor above grade, which is common in older Victorian and Edwardian homes.
Once installed, a quality engineered floor and a solid floor of the same species look virtually the same.
The subfloor and moisture conditions matter more than the product label, so have the site checked before installation.
What Is The Difference Between Engineered And Solid Hardwood?
Solid hardwood is one piece of wood from top to bottom, usually 3/4 inch thick. Engineered hardwood has a real hardwood top layer, called the wear layer, bonded to a core of cross-layered wood. That cross-layered core is what makes engineered flooring less likely to shrink, swell or cup when humidity changes.
Our floors are available in 3/4" solid construction and in 3/4" and 5/8" engineered construction, both with a 4 mm wear layer. The same wood is used either way, so once installed the two are virtually indistinguishable.
Why Engineered Hardwood Often Fits San Francisco Homes
San Francisco has every kind of home: Victorian and Edwardian flats over raised wood subfloors, mid-century homes in the Sunset and Richmond, and newer condos built on concrete in SoMa, Mission Bay and Rincon Hill. Three conditions push many local projects toward engineered flooring:
Concrete slabs. Solid hardwood generally should not be glued straight to concrete. Engineered flooring can be glued down or floated over a slab with the right moisture barrier.
Radiant heat. Many remodels add in-floor heating. Engineered boards move less as the floor warms and cools. Always confirm the product and installation method are approved for radiant heat.
A marine climate. Fog and ocean air keep outdoor humidity relatively high for much of the year, while heated rooms dry out in winter. An engineered core resists that back-and-forth movement better than a solid board, especially in wide planks. Read more in How San Francisco Fog and Humidity Affect Wood Floors.
When Solid Hardwood Makes Sense
If you are matching existing solid oak in an older home, have a sound plywood or plank subfloor above grade, and want a floor that can be sanded many times over the decades, solid hardwood remains a great choice. It is also the usual pick when new boards need to be woven into an existing floor. See Can We Match Your Wood Floors?.
How Many Times Can Each Type Be Sanded?
Refinishing depends on how much wood sits above the tongue. A solid board can typically be sanded several times. An engineered board with a substantial wear layer, such as 4 mm, can also be sanded and refinished, though usually fewer times than a thick solid board. Always ask about the wear layer when you compare products.
Questions To Answer Before You Choose
What is the subfloor: concrete, plywood or plank?
Is the floor on, above or below grade?
Will there be radiant heat?
How wide are the boards you want? Wider boards favor engineered construction. See Wide Plank White Oak Flooring in San Francisco: A Buyer's Guide.
Do you need to match an existing floor?
Still deciding? Our How to Buy Wood Flooring in San Francisco and the Bay Area: A Step-by-Step Guide walks through every step, and Laminate vs. Engineered Wood Flooring compares engineered wood with laminate.
Ready To Choose Your Floor?
San Francisco Wood Floors sells and delivers wood flooring to homes and projects across San Francisco and the Bay Area. To get started, book a virtual design consultation, request a quote with our plank flooring quote form or herringbone and pattern quote form, or call 908-232-6600. Current prices are listed at luxurywoodnyc.com.
Browse the collections: wide plank floors, herringbone, chevron and parquet.
Related San Francisco Flooring Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Engineered Hardwood Real Wood?
Yes. The top layer is real hardwood and the core is made of layered wood. Once installed, an engineered floor looks like a solid floor of the same species.
Can Solid Hardwood Be Installed Over Concrete In San Francisco?
Solid hardwood generally should not be glued directly to a concrete slab. Engineered flooring, installed with a suitable moisture barrier, is the usual choice over concrete. Your installer should test the slab for moisture first.
Which Is Better Over Radiant Heat, Engineered Or Solid?
Engineered hardwood is usually the better choice over radiant heat because it moves less as the floor warms and cools. Confirm that the specific product is approved for radiant heat.
Which Lasts Longer, Engineered Or Solid Hardwood?
Both can last for decades. How long a floor lasts depends mostly on the wear layer, the finish and how the floor is cared for.
Ready to order your floor? Call 908-232-6600, book a virtual design consultation or request a quote. We deliver throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area.
About the author: Joe Avila leads San Francisco Wood Floors, bringing 26 years of experience in wood flooring. He is an NWFA-certified wood flooring inspector, installer and sander, has taught accredited educational programs for AIA, ASID and IDCEC audiences for more than a decade, and has trained thousands of architects and design professionals in the proper specification of wood flooring. Questions about your floor? Call 908-232-6600 or visit luxurywoodnyc.com.
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