Worldwide, engineered wood flooring is more popular than the traditional solid wood planks. That is not yet true here in the United States but the trend is definitely in that direction and sales of engineered wood of all kinds are expected to exceed sales of solid wood. Besides the environmental impact of fewer trees that must be cut down, there are other, distinct advantages to engineered wood.
First, we should clearly point out that engineered wood is not laminate, vinyl or veneer. The lamella, which is the visible top layer, is finished walnut, or whatever species that is being used. Composed of two or more thin layers of real wood, pressed together with the grains running in different directions, engineered wood is more stable than solid wood flooring. Without the concern regarding stability, plank width does not have to be as limited as with solid wood flooring.
One of the main advantages of engineered wood is that it is not susceptible to the changes in temperature or humidity like solid planks are. This is because the successive layers are arranged with the grains running in different directions. Along with the peace of mind that comes with a more stable foundation, this allows for installation anywhere, including sub-grade and basement levels. It should be noted that walnut flooring or wood flooring of any kind, solid or engineered, should not be installed anywhere there is a danger of flooding.
While with solid walnut flooring, the wood planks must be nailed to a sub-floor, there are several options available when installing engineered wood. A popular method is to not use any glue or nails at all and to instead float the floor. Kits for those who like to tackle these kinds of projects on their own can be purchased from many retailers although professional installation is never a bad choice.
People will always have their preferences. Manufacturers of engineered flooring will continue to claim that theirs is a superior product. Fans of solid wood make the argument that there hasn’t been nearly enough time to judge whether engineered wood can compete as far as true durability and lasting power. Who can say what it will look like in a hundred years? Certainly there are scores of examples of beautiful solid oak and walnut floors far older than that found all over the world. As is so often the case, in the end, your choice of flooring material comes down to your personal choice.