Engineered Hardwood Floors range in a wide array of widths from 3 to 7 inches wide and in thickness from 3/8" to 3/4".  They come in almost as many varieties of wood species as available in nature.  All Engineered Woods are NOT created equal!  Some qualities of Engineered Wood have a thin .6mm wear layer that can only be recoated and cannot be sanded and refinished new again (1-5 times) to remove all damage.

Solid Hardwood is the wood of choice for those looking for long-term usage.  It is generally harder than other wood selections such as Engineered Hardwood.  Standard Solid Hardwood is 3/4" thick and 3.25" wide, although available up to 11" wide.  It comes prefinished and unfinished (which is sanded and finished on the job site).  The protective wear layer is usually thicker than Engineered Hardwood, and can be sanded and refinished more times than Engineered Hardwood therefore having a longer service life.

While Solid Hardwood is an appropriate selection for most areas it is not advisable for wet areas or below grade installations.

Laminate Flooring is one of the most inexpensive wood looks, as a realistic photo of wood is used to create the pattern and color, not real wood.  There are definite differences in overall quality with certain brands and among different brands.  There are many different backings, wear surfaces and production processes which make some laminates inferior to many other types of flooring and some superior.  Certain laminates provide water-proofing, good damage resistance, ease of maintenance, care and repair.

It is important to become educated on the construction of laminates and their characteristics and not just make selections based on patterns and colors.