Solid and Engineered Hardwood Flooring in Mississauga
Real wood floors in two constructions: solid boards for main-floor rooms over a wood subfloor, and engineered planks that can also go over concrete and in condos and basements. Compare both at our Mississauga showroom.
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Which Hardwood for Which Room
Living and Dining Rooms
Over a wood subfloor on the main floor, solid and engineered both work, so the choice comes down to the look, the plank width, and the budget.
Kitchens
A harder species and a tough finish help here, and water should be wiped up quickly whatever you choose.
Basements
Below grade, engineered is the hardwood to look at, and the concrete has to be dry first. The basement moisture checks come before choosing a floor.
Condos
Many condo corporations set a minimum sound rating for hard floors. Check your building's rules before you order, so the underlay and installation method can meet them.
White Oak and Other Species
White oak is the species we're asked about most. Its neutral tone and fairly even grain take both light and dark stains well. Red oak runs warmer, with a pinker tone and a bolder grain. Maple is pale and smooth, though dark stains can look blotchy on it, and hickory shows the most colour variation from board to board.
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Solid hardwood is milled from one piece of wood and usually nailed down over a wood subfloor. Wood moves with the seasons, and a solid board moves more than an engineered one, which is why solid floors stay above grade and away from concrete.
Compare solid and engineered hardwood
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood has a real-wood wear layer on top of a plywood or fibreboard core, so it shifts less when humidity changes. Depending on the product it can be glued, nailed, or floated, and it can go over concrete and below grade where the manufacturer approves it.
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Finish, care, and installation
Living with a Hardwood Floor
Matte and low-sheen finishes hide fine scratches and dust better than glossy ones, and the hardwood floor colours guide shows how tone and grain change from room to room. Day to day, hardwood floor care comes down to keeping grit off the surface and wiping up water quickly.
The installation method follows the product and the subfloor. The written quote names it, along with the underlay or adhesive, preparation, transitions, and whether the old floor comes up. For the full comparison of the two constructions, see the solid versus engineered hardwood guide.
Helpful answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hardwood be refinished?
Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished several times over its life. Engineered hardwood can be refinished only as many times as its wear layer allows, and some thin wear layers cannot be sanded at all.
How is hardwood installed?
Solid boards are usually nailed to a wood subfloor. Engineered planks can be nailed, glued, or floated over an underlay, which is how they go over concrete. The quote names the method for your floor.
Which hardwood species is hardest?
Among the common species, hickory and maple are harder than oak, so they show dents less. Harder wood still scratches, which is why the finish matters as much as the species.
Does hardwood need an underlay?
A floating engineered floor sits on an underlay. Nailed and glued floors are installed differently, though a condo's sound rules can still call for an acoustic layer underneath.
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