Depending on the price point the answer is: engineered is great, or engineered is cheap.

If engineered hardwood has a true "useable" wood veneer similar to the thickness of a quarter then you are able to refinish it 2-3 times. It will function very similar to solid hardwood floors. But you have to pay a little more to get something of a decent quality.

Vinyl is all the rage for convenience & it can look really nice, I like it for basements. But it's vinyl and in my design opinion nothing compares to beautiful wood floors. Engineered are perfect if you select quality that you can refinish & this depends on the thickness. I have white oak, high-end engineered in my own home with 2 crazy little boys & it's extremely durable & lovely.

I would do wood and make sure to go with the best quality wood and installation you can afford. Wood floors can warp if poor quality.

We have both regular wood floors and engineered. They do not meet anywhere in the house. The engineered is on a slab addition. The engineered can be refinished (2-3 times,if I recall correctly) but still doesn't need it. Looks beautiful,no problems whatsoever. It is almost old enough to drive.

I encourage you to explore solid wood floors finished on site. My experience with factory finished flooring is that there has been a reflective value in pre-finished floors that seems to highlight dust and (in my case) pet fur that is less obvious on the site finished solid wood in other areas. The satin finished solid hardwood is more forgiving at my house. This might not be true in other settings. That being said, I am looking forward to learning about your choices. I still have a laundry area to complete and appreciate every bit of information. Best wishes.

Sativa McGee Designs "If engineered hardwood has a true "useable" wood veneer similar to the thickness of a quarter then you are able to refinish it 2-3 times."

So what if one has zero intentions or desire to ever refinish the floor?

dsgts

"I encourage you to explore solid wood floors finished on site. "

OP will be installing on CONCRETE. Engineered wood would be the better product here.

That's interesting. Can you say more?

I had Engineered Hickory floors in a previous home and LOVED them. Not only were they gorgeous but the finish was solid and held up with three kids in and out all day. We had them glued down on a slab foundation 4,000 square foot of them. We had white oak site finished solid hardwoods in our last home and they wore poorly. I felt like no matter how much I "cleaned" them they always felt and looked dirty.

I am in the same boat and about to replace hideous tile with Engineered hardwood because I am on a slab. I have been searching and learning about Engineered hardwood and I think they are a great option for someone in the boat I am in. (Slab) I have found some that I love. I just need to narrow the choice and decide...

What are you looking for? Colors? Texture? Pattern? Style?... Be sure to read some of these links so that you don't wind up disappointed. In my research I am stunned at the options. I do think there are a few that look really cheap but there are some in the $10 per sq foot which are gorgeous. Here are a few I love.

The Sanctuary · More Info

Rustic contemporary kitchen design with Monterey floors · More Info

Modern White Kitchen · More Info

Engineered Hardwood Flooring · More Info

Kitchen · More Info

Modern White Kitchen · More Info

We also have a slab and had engineered flooring installed a year ago. We love it and so far no problems.

I had 3" engineered oak glued onto slab that we bought from Lowe's. We lived in the house for 14 years and raised three kids and 2 dogs. When we sold the house a year ago, the floors still looked like new!

Buy a QUALITY engineered floor and realize only any and all surfaces are subject to humans. Humans vary. Some people can beat the crap out of anything.......and others can keep a white carpet clean for a decade or more. .............either way it depends but start with quality and select it IN PERSON. you will get what you pay for ninety nine percent of the time.

Handscraped engineered hardware even in kitchen. It will dent and knick, but I didn't mind as it just looks distressed. Used wood pens to fix when that happened. This pic is at 10 years approx. Well worth it for my builder grade home!

My Home Pics · More Info

My Home Pics · More Info

Thank you to everyone who here has posted. Greatly appreciate it. Literally everyone I talk to has said I am crazy for putting engineered hardwood in my home because LVP is so much better.

Does anyone have wood flooring in their bedrooms?

I'd like to add another option to consider, if your budget allows for it. Staybull Flooring is a solid-type flooring that's designed for installation over concrete slabs. It's made of glued-up narrow strips of recycled solid hardwood, which helps it resist the stability issues that normally result from installing over concrete.

http://staybullflooring.com

Staybull Flooring- Eco-Friendly Flooring To Adore! · More Info

Staybull Flooring: Eco-Friendly Flooring To Adore! · More Info

Staybull Flooring: Eco-Friendly Flooring To Adore! · More Info

Staybull Flooring: Eco-Friendly Flooring To Adore! · More Info

Just noticed you are comparing them to LVP. We’ve had those too. Great product. We had Amtico American Cherry LVP. I think that product is really great for specific applications. Damp basements. Pool houses. Bathrooms. We had it on our entire downstairs. Loved it. We had a swimming pool and kids. The poil was used basically year round. CA home. Two things i didn’t like about it. It too is glued to the slab and it’s a thin product. So it’s hard on your feet, joints, back. There is no cushion and no give to it. Second thing is i could only use it downstairs. I couldn’t put it on my stairs or upstairs . This might have changed since i had it which was 2002. But then the product couldn’t be used in those applications. In MW you get a 1/4”-3/8” profile. Even though it’s glued to the slap that gives you some cushion making it easier and more comfortable on the body. We had our MW everywhere except bathrooms and laundry. I’m not a fan of carpet. So yes we had it in our bedrooms. We used area rugs.

We have a ranch, engineering flooring in the bedrooms also. We really love it. Do you live in the deep south by any chance? Just wondering why salesmen are steering you away from engineered.

Thank you for all of the info! I live in Nebraska.

Dereck Djernes, you may want to cross post your question in the Building a home forum also. You may get more answers there and maybe from people in Nebraska too. Best of luck!

Wonderful discussion! Everybody.

I like make a point that the technology to make engineered wood floor has improved greatly in the past few years. There should be no difference in performance and look between an engineered wood floor with 1/8" or thicker sawn cut wear layer and a solid wood floor. In fact, if you prefer wider than 5" floor look and desire for longer boards, you almost have to select from engineered floors. For basement, condo and slab on grade floors, you best choice has always to be engineered floors. Here is a short article to help you understand the differences between engineered floors. Hope it is helpful.
Why Engineered Wood Floors Are Not Made Equal

Dereck Djernes

"Thank you to everyone who here has posted. Greatly appreciate it. Literally everyone I talk to has said I am crazy for putting engineered hardwood in my home because LVP is so much better."

Oh my. Really? That is what you are hearing? Sheesh. I have heard so many horror stories about LVT installs gone wrong and that scares me more. :-( It seems like skilled/trusted engineered wood installers are more widely available where I am. It really is scary to be faced with spending thousands of dollars and no guarantees of getting a proper floor install - the FIRST time.

I put mine everywhere except bathrooms. Used rugs under beds and in Livingroom. Would do it again. I don't have pets though, so that may be a different story. can touch up knicks and scrapes on my wood, can that be done with LVT?

My Home Pics · More Info

Does everyone have tile in their entry way or do you have the engineered wood run right up to the front door?

Here is what I "hear" from 5 stores talking about "horror" stories and engineered hardwood glued down over slab = THEY INSTALLED IT WRONG!

That's the horror story side for the store/installers! They are HORRIFIED when they find out they DID THE WRONG INSTALLATION! And therefore owed the homeowner a NEW FLOOR (no warranty claim by the manufacturer because it was improperly installed).

So....homeowners LOVE the decent to high end stuff. Some homeowners love their low end stuff and others HATE theirs.

The bottom line is: PROPERLY INSTALLED engineered wood floors glue down over slab (in Nebraska...any problems with HIGH water tables in your situation?????) are awesome.

The caveat: "properly installed"....in other words the OH MY GOD IT'S LIFTING AND CUPPING is all about "proper". And that's where the horror stories begin - from the seller/installer side of things anyway.

Mine is to my door. (see earlier pic) Not a lot of front door traffic and I live in Texas, so that's a consideration...

Like hollybar, we have both traditional hardwood (jatoba/brazilian cherry) on our main level and engineered hardwood (white tigerwood) floating, not glued, on our walkout level. Love them both. White tigerwood has a hardness similar to the jatoba and wears like iron, but the wear layer will allow for sanding if needed. We live on a lake and even the sandy wet feet have not scratched it up after 7 years. The white tigerwood has the warmer tones of natural cherry with much better durability. NOT cheap though. Had to import to MN from CA.

Mine are everywhere but baths and laundry which means to my front door. if you don't have a mud room entrance and your front door is your main entrance then I assume the snow would be a consideration in Nebraska. That said I never had water or pets or kids do damage to my MHW. If you choose one with an Aluminum Oxide finish it helps the durability .

We have wood floors everywhere - bedrooms, kitchen, living areas and even the powder room (which has a shower!). We do not have them in our main or master bathrooms. I love them and am including them in our new house that we are building. I must say, however, that we are a "no shoes in the house" family, for the most part and I think that is why they have worn so well. The floors are most worn in the kitchen from dropping things on the floor, which is to be expected. It doesn't bother me at all.

Dereck Djernes

"Does everyone have tile in their entry way or do you have the engineered wood run right up to the front door?"

I have sheet vinyl at my front door currently. But when I replace the carpet with engineered wood, I will be running it up to the door. I have a covered front porch, and I rarely use the front door anyway - I use the garage entrance. However, if the front door was my main entrance, I would put tile there.

I am definitely not a "no shoes" person, but I am careful. Unfortunately BF is the worst in the world for tracking in crap on my floors and carpet. He NEVER thinks about what is on his shoes. Drives me NUTS. After I get my new floors, he and I are going to have a come-to-Jesus meeting.

I live in North western Canada & we get snow. I had engineered floor for 7 years in my main entrance which was used multiple times daily. We have had dogs (sometimes up to 4 of all sizes) for years. I chose a colour variation which I knew was not going to show much wear through scraps. Colour was a washed oak with tones of gray, taupe, brown & bit of black. I also put a large mat with a full rubber backing to cover the majority of the space. We sold that home last year & the entrance look terrific. I was a realtor for years & the only thing I would caution you about is the colour of the flooring. When Espresso dark floors were in and people tried to sell their homes after a few years, it was a nightmare because dark anything, shows everything! The quality of the product is also important as others have covered above.

Good luck pls keep us posted on your choices.

"Just wondering why salesmen are steering you away from engineered."

Nebraska probably sums it up. Lack of knowledgeable guys to install a glue down floor. Happens in other areas as well.

@uptown floors - Great question. They told me I wouldn't be happy with wood floors because they scratch, expand and contract creating gaps and I would have to monitor humidity. One of them told me that he doesnt like hardwood because he only wants to sell a floor people will love for years to come. Not a maintenance hog. He also told me that "if you want wood floors than thats like wanting a Ferrari so expect to have to go above and beyond to take care of it"

That^^ would scare me away too. I don't want a floor that is going to cause me MORE work....I have enough to do as it is.

Not everyone recommends wood floors. Reading though various threads on HOUZZ you would think it was absolutely necessary. I have probably drunk that koolaid myself.

https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/a7562/hardwood-floors-cons/

http://www.4men1lady.com/hardwood-flooring-pros-and-cons/

Interesting ive had wood floors in all my homes and really ive done nothing to maintain them except to clean them like I would have to do with any other floor id have.

I live in Texas and most houses are on slabs. My house has old fashioned hardwood, most of my neighbors have the same. My daughter just added to the hardwood that is in her house. Apparently there is a subfloor over the slab so the hardwood is not placed directly on the slab. My floors look great, house built in 2001, my daughters floor looks great, house built in 1996. So not sure why you cannot have solid hardwood if that is what you want.

We have site finished oak hardwood in our bedroom with a polyurethane finish. It's been there for 18 years. We raised 3 kids and have had multiple dogs. The floor is beautiful and I love it. In fact, I'm needing to redo my kitchen floor and am wondering if I can just do hardwood there.

I have not found my engineered hardwood floors to be much maintenance. When we had them installed, we were told engineered floors were more stable, and less prone to cupping and gapping.

We have engineered hickory hardwood, and I love them. They are throughout the first level, except for the laundry room and baths. We put a rug at the entry doors. They get dirty, especially in messy Wisconsin winters, but nothing a good old mop can't handle. We have them in the master bedroom as well, and decided not to put a rug down. I like the ease in getting the dust bunnies out from under the bed with a Swiffer.

I can understand the practicality of the vinyl, but as pink_peony mentioned above, the feel of vinyl under my feet is much harsher than a wood floor.