Engineered hardwood is real wood — the difference is what sits beneath the top layer. That structure is exactly why it often outperforms solid wood in Colorado.
Key summary
- Engineered wood moves less with humidity swings and suits slabs and radiant heat.
- Solid wood can be refinished more times over its lifetime.
- A thick wear layer (3mm or more) lets engineered floors be refinished too.
- Both are real hardwood; neither is a downgrade.
Stability
Cross-layered plies cancel out expansion and contraction, so an engineered floor gaps less in a dry January. That advantage grows with plank width — a 7-inch engineered plank behaves better than a 7-inch solid one.
Refinishing life
Solid wood offers the most sanding cycles. Engineered floors with a 3–6mm wear layer can usually take two or three refinishes, which is more than most homeowners ever need. Thin veneer big-box products cannot, which is where the bad reputation comes from.
Installation options
Solid wood is nailed to a wood subfloor. Engineered can be nailed, glued, or floated, which opens up basements, concrete, and radiant-heat installations that solid wood cannot serve.
Compare samples side by side
Schmidt Custom Floors has been installing, sanding, and refinishing floors across Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, and the rest of Northern Colorado since 1968. Book a free in-home estimate and we will measure your space, bring samples to your light, and give you a fixed-price quote with no pressure.
