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Engineered or solid wood flooring?

14 years ago

My wife and I are getting ready to install wood flooring throughout the 1st floor of our house. Our floors tend to be very slightly spongy. While this does not bother me, it drives my wife crazy. I installed steel along the floor joists underneith which has taken most of it out.

My question is, considering this, which type of flooring would help this situation, or better yet, which type would be more succeptable to damage because of the existing condition of the floor, engineered,or solid wood?

Also, what would be better, gluing or nail/staple?

Comments (5)

boxers
14 years ago
you can't get an answer without knowing what the subfloor is. If the subfloor is 'spongy' you have a problem that no floorcovering is going to cure. You have to have a stable subfloor to put wood flooring over it, no mater what type it is.
pequeajim
Original Author
14 years ago
It is a particalboard sub flooring, OSB. The "spongy" feeling is very slight, and I really just wanted to know which type of flooring is more rigid.

Also, should the hardwood floor be glued in place, or just nailed/stapled?
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glennsfc
14 years ago
But boxer's question to you is right on the money...any flooring or floorcovering installed over a 'spongy-feeling' subfloor, especially an engineered wood product that is glued, nailed or stapled, is not going to cure the problem one iota.

The only wood product that has any chance of stiffening the floor system would be a solid tongue in groove nailed into the joists...and that is my opinion based on my experience.
boxers
14 years ago
also not all osb are equal in terms of being suitable for a subfloor for hardwood.
hardwoodjoe
14 years ago
It all depends by your circumstances - do you live in a cold, humid or wet are of the country? if yes, then you probably want to opt for Engineered Flooring or Laminate Wood Flooring since they both resist humid and wet temperatures. You should go with Solid Hardwood Flooring if you live in a low humidity, moisture and wetness area.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hardwood Flooring

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