Floating solid wood floor vs. Engineered floor

[Di11on]

Hi folks,

When researching the different types of flooring - the main differences between solid wood floors and engineered wood floors are typically described as follows:
- Solid wood floors need to be nailed/glued to a wooden substrate
- Solid wood floors may cup/warp over time
- Engineered boards can't be refinished as often

However, when looking at products, I see that there are many click together solid wood floors that can be installed as a floating floor, just like engineered boards.

So, for the same price, why would I choose an engineered board over a click together solid wood board, assuming I want to install a floating floor?

Is the only difference that the solid wood board may cup/warp over time (even if it is click together?)

Thanks in advance

 

[dazlight]

You can't float a real solid wood floor. They have to be glued down or secret nailed.
Some Compmays call them solid wood on the packs but they aren't.

 

[JohnD]

You can't float a real solid wood floor.

What would happen if you did?

 

[dazlight]

The solid expands more then a engineered so could end up coming apart.
That's what I was told on 2 wood flooring courses.
But if it says it's ok on the pack it might be ok.

 

[chappers]

I agree with Daz I wouldn't risk it, I'm sure over time it would come apart

 

[Di11on]

Here is the product (see attached image). You can see (if you look closely) that the installation method is "Pose Flotante - Clic (plus facile)".

You can see that the boards are solid wood and are designed to click together without glue.

Also, here is a link to similar products:

http://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/produits/carrelage-parquet-sol-souple/parquet-stratifie-et-plancher/parquet-contrecolle-et-massif-l1308217050?pageTemplate=Famille/Carrelage,+parquet+et+sol+souple&resultOffset=0&resultLimit=50&resultListShape=PLAIN&nomenclatureId=17321&priceStyle=CAPACITYUNIT_PRICE&fcr=1&*13460=13460&*17321=17321&*24886=24886&*4294687484=4294687484&*4294961224=4294961224#result-wrapper

 

[Di11on]

Actually if you read the reviews of some of those products on LeroyMerlin.fr (using Google translate ) you can see that many people have had problems with swelling. The only 5-star review I can see is from a guy that glued them down. I'm thinking perhaps with Elasilon they could work?

 

[chappers]

Agree should be fine with elastilon

 

[Deleted member 326613]

The fitting method isn’t the main difference, it’s how the material behaves.

Even in click format, solid wood is still one piece of timber, so it naturally expands and contracts more with changes in temperature and humidity. Floating it doesn’t stop that movement.

Engineered boards are layered, which makes them far more dimensionally stable. That’s why they’re generally safer for floating installs, kitchens and underfloor heating.

Solid wood can usually be sanded more times over its lifetime, but it’s more prone to movement like cupping or seasonal gaps.

So if both are the same price and you’re floating the floor, engineered is usually the safer, more stable option in most UK homes.

 

[aveatry]

Here is the product (see attached image). You can see (if you look closely) that the installation method is "Pose Flotante - Clic (plus facile)".

You can see that the boards are solid wood and are designed to click together without glue.

Also, here is a link to similar products:

http://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/produits/carrelage-parquet-sol-souple/parquet-stratifie-et-plancher/parquet-contrecolle-et-massif-l1308217050?pageTemplate=Famille/Carrelage,+parquet+et+sol+souple&resultOffset=0&resultLimit=50&resultListShape=PLAIN&nomenclatureId=17321&priceStyle=CAPACITYUNIT_PRICE&fcr=1&*13460=13460&*17321=17321&*24886=24886&*4294687484=4294687484&*4294961224=4294961224#result-wrapper

They look really thin.
I put down about 40m2 of engineered floor. Floating. The engineered bit about it is that the base is dimensionally stable as the ply is in at least two different grain directions (something like that.) And talking about the re finishing opportunity form memory my oak layer is 6mm thick so plenty of room for refinishing. But I am not sure why you would need to refinish it, as any damage over the years does not seem to show up on a natural product.