Your home's heating/cooling/humidity control will dictate which type of flooring is more appropriate. Both solid and engineered hardwood have the same needs. The engineered is considered "more stable" with fluctuations in humidity...but the REQUIREMENTS are the same: 40% - 60% is a common humidity range for hardwood. This doesn't change with engineered vs. solid.

The ability to REFINISH the floors will become a concern (or could). The engineered hardwood needs at LEAST 3mm wear layer (more for hand scraped) to get a single refinish out of it. The factory finished solid hardwood *could have issues with refinishing if it has the "super tough" aluminum oxide finish on it...

Sigh. So many decisions. Start with your HVAC system. Do you have PIN POINT accurate humidity control (you push a button on the thermostat to CHANGE the humidity)? If not, then the engineered *might be the better choice.

What type of subfloor are you working with. You mention there is "no basement". Does that mean this is over a "slab"? What form of install are you looking for?

Some engineered hardwoods can be floated whereas very FEW solid hardwoods allow for a floating install. Again, the format of the install along with the indoor living conditions might be what force you to make a decision.

The slab install will limit you (obviously) to a glue down or floating install. The solid will require glue down (expensive install that can go wrong when the wrong adhesive is used). An engineered hardwood might give you the option of glue down vs. floating. A floating install allows a full vapour barrier (and under pad) to be used under the wood. This can be considered a "safer" form of install. It is also slightly cheaper than a full spread glue down.

The "subfloor prep" is identical. Smooth, flat, even. Grind down the concrete, add some SLC (self leveling compound), light grind and we are ready to go. This is IDENTICAL for either floor.

Solid HAS to be glued to slab; engineered gives you the option to work with the less dangerous floating option. If you float, I ALWAYS recommend working with a high-end underpad to reduce the hollowness of a floating install (3mm or 6mm cork underlay = cheap = EXCELLENT under pad to reduce hollow sound).

Slab install can be tricky with a full spread glue down application. The glue can be mightily expensive (depending on the moisture readings of the concrete). The floating floor approach with engineered can steer you around some of the concerns with glue down.

A full service, Ma-and-Pa, hardwood flooring store in your area (make sure they've been around for a while) can help with this decision...they will have seen what works and will keep it in stock. They will have seen what has failed and why....and they can help you determine if your home would fall into that category (with solid).

Where is it made, what chemicals are in the floor, are the chemicals banned in the USA?

If you are happy with your answers then take a sample home and spill water on it if it doesn't swell up and curl on the edges then you decide.

we had a roof leak. The stuff under the wood swelled. The swelling went down but now the wood is curled.

good luck.

Cancork Floors - I'm now curious when I read that you say Hardwood HAS to be glued to a slab? Here in Texas, they nail down the hardwood floors that I've seen. Although I do believe they glue down some sort of underlayment wood (or mdf, not sure) Is that installation method equal to what you were saying?

And in your opinion, here in Texas, super hot and humid. If I wanted wood in my Kitchen, is it a no brainer to go with engineered wood? Most all new build, upper scale homes here have real hardwood, and I've always wondered why because I would think engineered would be a better fit for our location..?

"Most all new build, upper scale homes here have real hardwood"

You'd be surprised. 10-15 years ago yes. I did quite a bit of work in this area in the past. It was then 80% "site finished real wood floors." installed over plywood attached to slabs. Now it's turned to 80% prefinished because of the rage for wide plank floors and the need to go with engineered.

3/4 Inch engineered floors

Ken Fisher

Lindsy - If you think about it, even with plywood attached to the slab, SOMETHING is glued. Either you glue the PLYWOOD (not my favourite approach because of the problems than can occur) or you glue down the hardwood STRAIGHT to the concrete. Either way, you are GLUING "something" to concrete.

For me, that plywood is just an extra step. The same glue is needed to put down plywood as it is hardwood. Yes, the hardwood is then nailed to the plywood, but again, I'm not fond of that method. It gives the installers the feeling that they don't need to be so careful with the type of adhesive used (seen it time and time again).

Plywood is not a vapour barrier. The ADHESIVE is the vapour barrier. The ADHESIVE is going to be $2-$4/square foot regardless as to whether or not you use $1/sf plywood over the slab or the hardwood itself.

Of course it is FASTER to lay plywood into glue. And then come back LATER to quickly nail down hardwood. You can use the cheap/poorly trained guys to do that sort of work. Whereas a high-end professional who can properly install a glue down hardwood STRAIGHT to concrete is FAR more expensive than the guys lining up at Home Depot looking for work.

As for engineered vs. solid hardwood glued to slab in Texas....it is all about appearance and knowledge of the situation. As engineered hardwood evolves, it becomes the "go to" product in high humidity areas.

"Lindsy - If you think about it, even with plywood attached to the slab, SOMETHING is glued"

Not true. Plywood can be mechanically fastened to concrete and wood flooring can be mechanically fastened to plywood. I prefer adding adhesive to the equation but I've seen it done without.

The key to this type of job is whether there's enough height to install both without causing transition problems.

To the OP, I have that brand and line of flooring. I haven't done anything in that line but everything I've done from that brand has been satisfactory.