SOLID or ENGINEERED?

[Lockport]

Hi, I have built a home in Lockport Manitoba and want to know if I am better installing 3/4" solid or an engineered. I have heard negatives on both (checking,cupping,shrinkage, etc.). The flooring is for the main floor over plywood, The home has HRV, gas furnace with humidifier, structural wood floor in basement, foundation was poured last summer. I would choose a pre-finished Canadian product, likely maple.
Your advice would be appreciated, thank-you in advance.

[Steve Olson]

I would prefer a good quality engineered floor. You can use wider widths, and not have nearly the concerns you would have with a solid. This may not be the cheaper way, but better in the long run.

[Country Flooring Direct]

Engineered hardwood floors are nice there are a lot of different kinds now Vintage has a beautiful product solid sawn that is solid 3/4 Oak but is engineered with a thick layer of oak on top then fingerjointed substrate made out of Oak under it.

I prefer Solid wood floors if you are at all concerned about movement look into rift and quartered wood flooring it is more money yes but it doesnt have the movement cupping issues that plain sawn has. And it looks AWESOME.

[Peter Kodner]

I'm for domestic site finished solid unless there is a very specific (and legitimate) reason to use engineered. Too many manufacturers of engineered place totally unrealistic environmental boundaries on the use and there are no industry standards to create responsibility for manufacturing problems. The latest is the revision of the ANSI/HVPA standard will remove grading standards!

[Daris Mulkin]

what ever you choose remember that the humidity and temperature levels are critical. Speaking from experience. Make sure that the moisture checks between the wood and substrate are done and within the parameters of the manufacturer.

Daris