Which is better to have in the kitchen- engineered wood or solid hardwood?
Hi,
It shouldn't really matter what type of wood you use in the kitchen.
Of course if you use real wood it will be far more expensive than using engineered wood like MDF (medium density fibreboard). Although MDF is a far cheaper option it can be made to look very appealing to the eye by using Formica.
Formica is a sort of plastic composite that can be made to look like marble, natural wood, etc and is waterproof, heatproof and wipes clean easily.
If your a traditionalist then natural wood maybe an option for you although once fitted its always a good idea to varnish the surfaces so the wood doesn't swell when damp or when water has spilt on it.
Regards.
Here I leave some details that you should take into consideration before making a desicion.
When remodeling, many homeowners want hardwood flooring. However, solid hardwood floor is difficult to install on your own--you almost always need to hire hardwood floor installers for this, and can be finicky when it comes to moisture. And laminate floorgin, as much as it looks like actual wood flooring, simply is not real wood.
Engineered Wood Flooring is Real Wood:
Laminate is melamine-infused paper on top, wood chip composite on
bottom. Not exactly what you would call real wood. Solid hardwood is
real wood, from top to bottom.
Engineered wood, too, is real wood. It is a sandwich of 1/16" to 1/8"
of finish wood on top and non-finish plywood underneath. So, what
you're looking at is 100% genuine wood. But did you know that it's actually better to have plywood underneath?
That's right: the middle layer of plywood is laid cross-ways to the
finish layer, providing additional strength to the flooring.
Engineered Flooring Species Options: Whatever specie of solid hardwood, there is an equivalent specie of engineered wood flooring.
Engineered Wood Floor is Pre-Finished: The top finish layer is pre-finished, which means that it's already
sanded and sealed. As soon as the floor has been laid, you can walk on
it.
By contrast, unfinished solid hardwood must be sealed, and this
requires waiting time before use. Note: solid hardwood is available
pre-finished, as well.
Engineered Wood Flooring can be Sanded: The advantage of
engineered wood flooring versus laminate is that engineered wood can be
sanded after scratches and dings develop. Two catches, though:
- Limited Sanding - Engineered flooring cannot be sanded more than 1-3 times (depending on the thickness of the finish layer).
- Professional Sanding Recommended - Because of the low
tolerance for failure with sanding engineered wood, I seriously
recommend that you have a professional do the sanding. It is very easy
to gouge your engineered wood floor, revealing the plywood underneath.
Laminate Flooring - Pros
- Easy to Install. Pergo says you can install 300 square feet
in a weekend. Older types of laminate flooring required you to glue
pieces to each other. Newer types of laminate flooring have a
"click-lock" design. This "click-lock" design is often combined with a
dry glue that is already on the product and requires just a swipe of a
wet (with water) sponge or cloth to active it.
- Very Durable Surface. Unlike wood, which can dent,
laminate flooring is almost impervious to dents and scratches. Laminate
flooring has what's called in the industry a "wear layer" that protects
the photographic layer underneath. Some manufacturers, DuPont in
particular, give very generous 10+ year warranties on this wear layer.
- No Bad Pieces. Unlike real hardwood, which comes with
many imperfect pieces that need to be thrown out or re-engineered,
there are no defects in laminate flooring.
- Good for Moist Places. Laminate flooring can be
installed in bathrooms, kitchens, and other places where you encounter
"topical moisture" (as Mannington calls it). But it will not tolerate
standing pools of water. However, let's be clear that neither solid
hardwood nor engineered wood can tolerate standing water, either. For
heavy moisture, you need a very impervious surface like vinyl or tile.
- Easy to Clean. Just use a vacuum or broom. Mop with a slightly damp mop. No floor waxing needed.
- Resists Stains. Laminate flooring's tough surface resists stains. And if you do get a stain, it's easy to clean off.
Laminate Flooring - Cons
- Not Real Wood. Some people are bothered by this, some
aren't. Technically, there is wood in laminate flooring--a wood chip
base layer. But, for all intents and purposes, laminate flooring isn't
wood.
- Hard Under Foot. Foam underlayment helps dampen this feeling, but it's still there.
- Slippery. Traditionally, laminate flooring has been
very slippery. More currently, though, manufacturers have been
developing slip-resistent wear layers.
- Lower Resale Value. Good hardwood or engineered wood gives better value when selling your house.
- Not Sandable or Refinishable. This is probably the
biggest disadvantage of laminate flooring. If laminate flooring is
heavily worn, deep scratched, or grooved, it cannot be sanded or
refinished like solid hardwood: it must be replaced.
In taste and color, the authors have not written, the final decision is yours. I really hope helped with this.
The main advantages of bamboo flooring are its durability, and the fact that it is sourced from a renewable resource. Moreover, bamboo flooring is much more resistant to expansions than solid wood and is also insect resistant.
First, you can get the exact visual design that you wanted
and it will cost you considerably less. Second, laminate flooring can be
installed above and below the grade unlike hardwood flooring. Moreover, the
laminate flooring is installed without using any nails or glue which make it
much easier to it yourself. Furthermore, laminate flooring is extremely
durable, easy to maintain and can be replaced easily.
Hardwoods
like oak, walnut, cherry or maple dent less easily than soft woods like pine
and cedar. A "solid wood" table means it's made of solid boards. "All wood"
tables are produced from engineered plywood or particleboard. I personally
prefer the oak tables but it can get a bit pricy so you should take it into
consideration.
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The response I received is not from an expert but from Ask.com which I already read on my own yesterday. I'll to hear from someone who can give their 2 cents on either solid or engineered hardwood in the kitchen and not just list pros and cons from another website
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