Both are real hardwood and look the same once installed. The difference is what’s underneath — and that decides where each one belongs in a Michigan home.
Side by side
| Solid | Engineered | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | One piece of hardwood, top to bottom | Hardwood wear layer over a stable multi-ply base |
| Refinishing | Can be sanded many times | Our 4.5 mm wear layer can be sanded and refinished |
| Seasonal movement | Moves more; needs controlled humidity | Moves less; better for very wide boards |
| Radiant heat | Generally not recommended | Usually the right choice |
| Concrete / below grade | Not recommended | Suitable with the right installation |
| Look underfoot | Identical once installed | Identical once installed |
Why Michigan’s seasons matter
Michigan homes swing from humid summers to dry, heated winters. Wood takes on and gives off moisture with those swings, and wider boards show it more as gaps in winter or cupping in summer. Keeping indoor humidity steady helps any hardwood; engineered construction reduces movement further, which is why it’s often chosen for boards 6″ and wider.
When to choose solid
Solid suits above-grade rooms over a wood subfloor, where you want the option to sand and refinish many times over the life of the house. It’s a natural fit for whole-house runs in red oak or white oak.
When to choose engineered
Choose engineered over radiant heat, on concrete slabs, in finished basements, or when you want extra-wide boards with less movement. Our engineered floor uses a 4.5 mm sandable wear layer, so it can be refinished.
Still deciding?
Tell us about the room, subfloor and heating when you book a consultation, and we’ll recommend a construction. Installation questions go to our installation partner, 1 Wood Floors.