# Wood flooring: do I go with engineered wood, or real hardwood?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-flooring-do-i-go-with-engineered-wood-or-real-hardwood/957169>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [January 4, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-flooring-do-i-go-with-engineered-wood-or-real-hardwood/957169 "2022-01-04T00:27:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-flooring-do-i-go-with-engineered-wood-or-real-hardwood/957169/21 "2022-01-06T00:12:52Z")

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> [@rbroome](#):
>
> Engineered floors can be lightly refinished once or twice (so I am told. I have never done this), while solid wood will take several refinishes.

My “floor guy” was here today so I asked him. He said the engineered floors he just put in our living room could be refinished 4 or 5 times, if done by a competent refinisher. I’m sure different products might have different tolerances. Ours look identical to the solid wood we have in other parts of the house, and should have less warping problems.

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**Author:** ![Retzbu\_Tox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/retzbu_tox/32/11829_2.png) [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-flooring-do-i-go-with-engineered-wood-or-real-hardwood/957169/22 "2022-01-06T00:21:00Z")

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> [@jjakucyk](#):
>
> Engineered wood floors may or may not be pre-finished as well.

Solid hardwood flooring is available pre-finished, too. I have prefinished solid oak flooring in my living room and dining room. Parts of it get a lot of sunlight, causing the stain to fade a bit after 15 years. I may sand it and refinish it at some point.

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