Solid hardwood vs engineered wood flooring
Both are real wood, so this is not about which looks better; it is about how each behaves over time, where it can go, and what it costs. Especially if you have underfloor heating, the difference matters.
Solid hardwood is timber all the way through: the most authentic floor, able to be sanded and refinished many times across 50 years or more, but it moves with humidity, so it is generally not suited to underfloor heating or damp, below-ground rooms. Engineered wood has a real hardwood top layer on a stable core, costs less (about £35 to £90 per m² supplied and fitted, against £70 to £140 or more for solid), stays stable so it works well over underfloor heating and in more rooms, but can usually only be refinished once or twice. For a period home with no underfloor heating, where a forever floor that can be refreshed for generations matters, choose solid hardwood. For most modern homes, kitchens, and anywhere with underfloor heating, choose engineered wood. Neither belongs in a bathroom or wet room. (Indicative UK costs: HomeOwners Alliance, Checkatrade and MyJobQuote, June 2026.)
At a glance
| Solid hardwood | Engineered wood | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per m² (supplied and fitted) | About £70 to £140+ | About £35 to £90 |
| Construction | 100% solid timber | Real wood top layer on a stable core |
| Times it can be refinished | Many, over decades | Usually once or twice |
| Typical lifespan | 50 years or more | 20 to 40 years, longer with a thick top layer |
| Stability with humidity and heat | Moves, can gap or cup | Very stable |
| Underfloor heating | Generally not recommended | Generally good, check the board |
| Damp or below-ground rooms | No | Better, but not wet rooms |
| Authenticity and resale | Highest | High |
| Best for | Period homes, forever floors, no underfloor heating | Underfloor heating, kitchens, most modern homes |
The real difference
Solid hardwood is a single piece of timber, milled into a board. Engineered wood is a real hardwood surface, usually 2mm to 6mm thick, bonded to a stable core of plywood or high-density board. You walk on real wood with both, and once fitted they can look identical. What differs is what happens underneath over the years: solid timber moves more with changes in humidity and temperature, while the layered engineered board is built to stay put.
Cost and lifespan
Supplied and fitted, solid hardwood typically runs about £70 to £140 per m² or more for wide or exotic boards, while engineered wood is roughly £35 to £90 per m². Solid wood lasts longest, often 50 years or more, partly because it can be sanded back and refinished many times. Engineered wood typically lasts 20 to 40 years, longer for boards with a thick wear layer, and can usually be refinished once or twice depending on that layer. Those bands are indicative UK figures for budgeting only, from HomeOwners Alliance, Checkatrade and MyJobQuote, reviewed June 2026.
Stability, rooms and underfloor heating
This is the deciding factor for many homes. Solid wood expands and contracts with the seasons, which can leave small gaps in winter and is why it is generally not recommended over underfloor heating or in damp, below-ground rooms. Engineered wood stays dimensionally stable, so it works well with underfloor heating and suits kitchens, hallways and basements that solid wood does not. Even with engineered wood over underfloor heating, check the board is rated for it and follow the manufacturer’s guidance. Neither is a wet-room floor; for bathrooms, choose tile or LVT.
Which should you choose?
Choose solid hardwood if…
You are in a period or forever home with no underfloor heating, the rooms are not damp or below ground, and you want the most authentic floor, one that can be sanded and refreshed for generations.
Choose engineered wood if…
You have underfloor heating, you are fitting kitchens, hallways or basements, you want real wood that is more stable and lower cost, or you simply want a floor that suits a wider range of modern rooms.
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Find a vetted flooring specialistHardwood vs engineered wood: common questions
Is solid hardwood or engineered wood flooring better?
Both are real wood; the right one depends on the room. Solid hardwood is the most authentic and can be sanded and refinished many times over decades, but it moves with humidity, so it is not suited to underfloor heating or damp rooms. Engineered wood is more stable, works well over underfloor heating, suits more rooms and costs less, but can usually only be refinished once or twice. For a period home with no underfloor heating, solid wins; for most modern homes, engineered.
Can engineered wood be sanded like solid wood?
Yes, but fewer times. Engineered wood has a real hardwood top layer that can be sanded and refinished, usually once or twice depending on how thick that layer is. Solid wood is timber all the way through, so it can be refinished many more times across its life. If the option to refresh the floor repeatedly matters to you, solid has the edge.
Which is better for underfloor heating, solid or engineered wood?
Engineered wood, clearly. Its layered construction stays dimensionally stable as the floor heats and cools, while solid wood expands and contracts with the temperature and is generally not recommended over underfloor heating. Even with engineered wood, check the specific board is rated for it and follow the manufacturer’s guidance.
Does engineered wood add as much value as solid wood?
Both are real wood and both tend to help resale more than laminate or vinyl. Solid hardwood carries the strongest association with quality and longevity, especially in period homes, so it can edge ahead on perceived value. In practice, a well-chosen, well-fitted engineered floor that suits the room and your heating is what buyers respond to.
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