| Solid hardwood | Engineered hardwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | One piece of wood, full thickness | Real wood wear layer over a layered core |
| Over concrete slab | Generally not recommended directly | Common, with suitable method |
| Seasonal movement | More | Less |
| Future sanding | Usually several times | Depends on wear layer, sometimes none |
| Installation methods | Nail or staple down | Floating, glue-down or nail-down |
Wear layer is the key number
For engineered floors, the thickness of the top wood layer decides how many times the floor can be sanded. Thin veneers may only accept recoating. Check the product specification before buying.
Subfloor decides a lot
Solid wood normally goes over a wood subfloor. Engineered hardwood is more flexible and is often chosen for slabs. A contractor should check moisture and flatness either way.
Sources
Content reviewed: 2026-10-25. This information is general, not a property inspection.
Related services
- Solid Hardwood Installation
New site-finished or prefinished solid wood floors. Solid Hardwood Installation estimate requests for Dunwoody, GA homes, referred to independent local contractors.
- Engineered Hardwood Installation
Layered wood floors for slabs, floating or glue-down. Engineered Hardwood Installation estimate requests for Dunwoody, GA homes, referred to independent local contractors.
- Carpet-to-Hardwood Replacement
Remove carpet and install new hardwood, or reveal what is underneath. Carpet-to-Hardwood Replacement estimate requests for Dunwoody, GA homes, referred to independent local contractors.
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