During a renovation, you may hear two wood types discussed as options. The first is structural engineered and the second is structural hardwood. If you are looking at structural renovations, extensions, and remodeling you may be wondering what the benefits are of going with a structural hardwood over an engineered option. This is especially true if you are working on a vintage home where hardwood is used in most areas. Here are some of the benefits that you should take into consideration.

Material Construction

One of the biggest considerations for structural renovations is deciding what materials you want to use. Some homeowners want to stick with natural materials rather than combinations of various engineered options. Engineered hardwood is made of several layers of different wood and synthetic materials that create the structural design.

Hardwood is generally one solid piece. There are no layers of different woods, plywood, or other materials. The pieces of structural wood are cut and shaped from one piece and that is the only type of wood you have to worry about dealing with in that aspect of construction.

Durability

Though there are some debates related to engineered structural wood being more durable than hardwood, a lot of that depends on what materials are used to create the engineered wood. For example, if cheaper plywood is used, it may not be as durable as if a stronger, thicker plywood is used. It also may not be as sealed between the layers as other types of engineered structural wood.

Since hardwood is one solid piece of wood, the wood is believed to be more durable for structural renovations. If you will be using the structural hardwood for flooring, as long as you are using a hardwood, such as oak, the wood will be durable enough to hold up to daily activities and traffic.

Staining and Refinishing

One reason that many people choose a structural hardwood for their flooring and renovations over an engineered option comes down to staining and refinishing the wood surface. Though hardwood does need to be stained more often, staining an engineered floor may take longer and require more equipment. Refinishing and staining hardwood can also be handled as a DIY project where engineered wood may require specific tools and equipment most people do not have, so you incur a rental fee.

If you are working on your home renovation and you take these considerations into account, you should be able to make the right wood choice for your floors based on your needs. For a full array of structural hardwood options and pricing, visit your local flooring store like Greenmount Timber & Building Supplies for a consultation.

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