Engineered wood is "real" wood. It would be more accurate to ask how engineered compares to solid. And saying that you would never buy engineered is just as sweeping a generalization as saying "I wouldn't buy any solid wood because I know someone with soft pine wood floor that scratches easily." The term "engineered" is also a general description, not a specification. Someone with a bad experience with a hotpoint gas range would be silly to say they would never buy a gas range because their hotpoint couldn't boil a pot of water. Or "my granite etches so I'm never buying granite again". The number of times an engineered product can be refinished varies by manufacturer. Some can be refinished several times. If you buy a quality product, you shouldn't need to refinish more than once every 10-20 years anyway. But also ask yourself how often your nailed-down solid wood product can be refinished? You can only sand down to the tongue. So your 3/4" solid wood has maybe a 1/4" wear layer, not so much more than some engineered products. You would also typically do a "screen" and recoat anyway, which is a light scuff-sanding that doesn't take off much wood, unless you have serious damage. So what's a quality product when talking about engineered? Look for an aluminum oxide finish, which is tougher than a site-finish. Look for a thick top layer. Look for many plies. Look for a long guarantee and a reputable manufacturer. Look for a tough wood species. There's pros and cons either way, but I would not say that solid wood is a slam dunk and superior in every respect.

Ok...For $4.98/sf this is a look-a-like product with a coloured finish (stain/pickling product) with traditional urethane finish. Not bad...but you get what you pay for. And urethane is a traditional finish that will scratch happily. That is not "wrong". It is not a defect. It is simply the truth of a traditional urethane finish. And at this price....you can't ask for much more. The thickness is 1/2". Again, for the price, that's about as thick as you can hope for. The write up is showing 7 layers of engineered flooring. For a thin(ner) product there are MANY layers. Which probably means there isn't much more than 2mm of wear layer. And if it is 2mm, then you will never get a refinish out of these floors. Never. The fact that HD does NOT advertise the thickness of the wear layer TELLS ME it is very thin. Remember: a THICK wear layer is to be advertised and celebrated! I thin wear layer (as I suspect this is) is a drawback that the company does NOT want you to know. If it isn't advertised then it is probably very thin. So....there you have it. You are looking at a lower quality product, with a lower quality finish (standard urethane is now considered passe because there are tougher one's out there) with a wear layer that is *probably very thin. Sounds just about right for $4.98/sf. And remember, the installation of hardwood (engineered or not) can be the same price as the wood product. Please don't use HD installers. If you have any concerns with floor preparation (in other words you NEED floor prep) then the HD installers/quotes will miss this step entirely....thus leading to months of headaches. Personally I would look at a HIGH END laminate with the right optics. It will be roughly the same price (possibly a few cents cheaper) and it will most likely offer a much longer life span of "happy" than a very cheap (yet pretty) engineered wood floor from HD. And installing laminate is MUCH cheaper than engineered hardwood. Thus saving tons of money if budget is a concern. LVT in this price range will purchase PLENTY of quality with much better "wearability" than low priced engineered hardwood. JMHO.

Quietwalk or 1/4" cork. I've seen the Eco-cork "numbers" and how they achieved them....not pretty. Unless you can buy your downstairs neighbor a 12" drop-down Armstrong Acoustic ceiling, you will not get what you want from that product. Eco-Cork foam is 90% polyethylene foam (not cork). They HAD to add cork because of some complaints that they were using the word "cork" when it didn't have ANY cork (100% polyethylene foam = false advertising anyone?). So...they added a snick of cork and then republished their old numbers. Done like dinner. And still wonky after all these years. Having sold and worked with cork for more than 6 years, I have investigated pretty much every underpad out there. QuietWalk is the ONLY one I have respect for. Please use their 3mm thick pad...or thicker if you can. The 1/4" cork is lovely because you throw it down like a beach blanket. No tape. No glue. Just butt the edges together and start laying the floating wood floor. It will help even out tiny wobbles in the gypcrete...which is helpful because gypcrete is a PAIN in the @ss to deal with if it needs patching. Either one will get you a nice quiet home....the cork will be more rigid and sometimes that is needed over a little bit of a wonky subfloor.

LM is the brand. I live in Texas also. I bought mine at a local floor shop. I have them in the kitchen, living area, halls, and utility room with no problems so far. We also have a dog. They're 3/4" thickness with aluminum oxide finish. LM has a lot to choose from as far as plank size and finishes. Look up LM Flooring. They have good reviews and also a good warranty. I have a great floor guy and he said they were good quality floors. I've also had other engineered hardwood floors that peeled like a layer of plastic when they scratched like you said above.