Responding to salesmen's claim that only difference is the core (HDF for lock and ply for engineered), this is very wrong. The wear layer of the lock is thinner than the wear layer of the engineered. This makes a difference in terms of how many times the product can be sanded and refinished. You can measure the difference on your samples. Also, the warrantied method of installation for the two products differs. Check out the Mirage website for more more information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mirage website

If the Mirage Lock had come in Brazilian Cherry, I would have bought that instead since I loved the 4.25" width better than the 5" width I chose over the 3.25" width (BR-111 that is nice but despite how hard the wood is, it does scratch and dent) and I loved how you can take the floor apart to change a board. I also loved the Mirage Lock Maple Auburn but due to my Cherry Desk, I thought the Brazilian Cherry looked better in my home office.

lynn2006: thank you, thank you for responding! I'm with you re: color, it's what's steering me too.

I need some help here though...

I feel like I'm not understanding something: When I mention "Lock" that "floats" to someone they think it's a "laminate" which to me (& maybe them) is like a "picture" of wood. (So there's an instant reaction that Lock would be inferior.) The salesperson said it's REAL WOOD, and also dry sawn cut (vs. rotary cut) so the boards won't have repetitive patterns.

My problem is that I have not seen a full sized sample of the Mirage Lock in the Maple-Charcoal color I want, (only small samples of OTHER colors). In the store I physically compared a Lock random color sample (pretty small) to a full sized Engineered sample, same color, and the TOP (stained wood part) indeed appeared to look the same to me. My husband is trying to say that the way he understands it, is the Lock IS hardwood, not a picture, it's (the top stained wood part) just not as thick as the engineered. (of course I understand that Lock has an HDF core vs. the plywood core of Engineered.)

My question to you Lynn is: did you get the chance to compare Mirage Lock to a same color of Mirage Engineered both in a full sizes? And does it indeed LOOK the same to you? Also, did your salesperson explain if it "clicked" underfoot? Or looked "wavy" or anything different than the engineered?

Thank you SO much for any help : )

(PS: I also like the 4.25" width but was actually considering 5")

I was able to bring home Lock big samples from a store and the engineered samples and they looked the same to me with the sawn cut on top but the engineered had more real wood on top. I loved the way the lock clicked together and loved the width. I also loved the finish on top of both floors and the choices of either semi-gloss or cashmere. I preferred the semi-gloss.

The lock is NOT a picture of real wood but a nice sawn cut that is beautiful when installed based on pictures on this forum from others that installed the Sapele or the Maple Auburn.

Both 4.25" and 5" widths are very nice especially in dark colors. You will be happy with either floor. I wanting a floating floor so I would not feel the concrete under my feet and my floor with the floor muffler and the 1/2" deep 5" wide boards does feel like a solid wood floor when walking on it. I bought my wood from TrueHardwoods.com and was happy.

Click Rudee's Link of his Sapele Mirage Lock. If I had seen this video before buying my wood, I may have compromised on the Sapele Mirage Lock since the lock did not come in the Brazilian Cherry that I wanted. I love the Semi-gloss better than the slightly less glossy BR-111. I love my floors but the headache of the installing of installing a floating floor using glue could have been avoided if I went with the lock. Just my opinion. You will not go wrong with any floor from Mirage since their finishes are so sturdy and beautiful in my opinion and they use a sawn cut.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click Rudee's Link of his Sapele Mirage Lock floor that I love

Rudee's basement Video #3 - Sapele Mirage Lock installed by him floated ... direct link so you do not have to look for Rudee's post in the above link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rudee's basement Video #3 - Sapele Mirage Lock installed by him floated

LYNN! THank you so much for writing and providing links!! Thanks to "rudeeee" too who took the time to post a video!

I am so hoping to be able to compare Lock to Engineered in the same colors. It's reassuring to know you CONFIRM it LOOKS the same on the surface! It's a big criteria of mine! Because my cabinets/woodwork are already too busy, I do not want a lot of variation in floor grain/color so it's important to know FOR SURE if one Maple Charcoal looks like the other Maple Charcoal! Still deciding on Cashmere (matte) or semi-gloss??

(Do you know anything about the Lauzon brand? I've found a Shadow Gray in maple that's interesting! A little hike though to find dealers)

Per your link above, "rudeeee" wrote that "Mirage requires an acoustical underlayment which makes floors feel and sound solid"! I've got a raised floor situation over particle board so "spongyness" or tell-tale "clickyness" people associate with "laminates" or "floating" worries me a little if I choose Lock! (No worries with Engineered as we'd nail/that down.)

NOT an easy decision so opinions and advice from everyone is very, very much appreciated!