Engineered Timber Flooring vs. Hybrid Timber Flooring

What are the Pros and Cons of Engineered Timber Flooring

Pro: Engineered Timber Flooring is Made From Real Wood

When natural elements are used throughout interiors, they bring a special touch of class, calm and nature. Engineered timber flooring is real wood and whilst Hybrid floors try hard to replicate this - they can’t achieve the same natural look and feel as real wood.

Con: Not As Water-Resistant As Hybrid

Whilst your engineered flooring can take a little water, to keep your floors in the best condition and to last as long as possible you do not want to leave water on them for long periods of time. 

Image: Havwoods' engineered flooring profile showing the high quality various timbers used to manufacture it and the top layer which can be sanded.

Image: Apartment featuring flooring from Havwoods' V-Collection.

Pro: It Can Be a Cost-Effective Type of Flooring

Engineered timber flooring is available at a range of price points and given it is pre finished and stained, there are less post installation costs. The click system or tongue and groove system allows for quick and easy install leading to lower costs versus some other flooring alternatives.

At Havwoods, prices range from Parky and V-Collection as some more affordable options, through to custom products and higher grade timbers such as the Luxe Collection and Venture Plank. Request a priced version of our Wood Book here.

Con: The Floors May Scratch Easier Than Hybrid

Since engineered flooring has a top layer made from real wood, engineered flooring has the same drawbacks as solid wood flooring and is therefore more likely to scratch.

Keep this in mind if you have large pets or children, or if you're installing engineered timber in a high-traffic area. 

Pro: They Can Be Repaired and Refurbished

Whilst engineered timber floor boards may be more susceptible to scratches than hybrid flooring, due to them being made from real timber, they can be repaired in many instances.

Engineered timber flooring can be sanded back, just like solid timber floors allowing for the repair or refurbishment.

Some finishes of engineered timber boards, such as a UV oil finish, can also be spot repaired.

Con: Engineered Timber Flooring May Require More Maintenance VS Hybrid Flooring

Whilst many people enjoy the look of real timber, even as it naturally wears, if you prefer the look and feel of those new freshly laid boards, a little more effort and maintenance is required vs the hybrid flooring counterpart.

Special timber appropriate products need to be used for cleaning and regular sweeping and cleaning is recommended to keep dirt, sand and other elements from damaging the floors. More information on how to maintain engineered timber floors can be found here. 

Image: Havwoods' engineered timber floor can be used in high traffic areas due to general wear adding to the character and ability to refurbish if required. Pictured here, the Roundhouse Restaurant at the Crystalbrook Kingsley Hotel. 

Image: Eco friendly project featuring Lucerne from Havwoods third party sustainably certified range.

Pro: Engineered Wood Is Eco-Friendly

Engineered timber is an excellent option if green-friendliness is a priority for you. It's more sustainable than full timber flooring since you're using fewer trees and isn’t made using plastic and laminates such as hybrid flooring.

Many Havwoods engineered floors are also third-party sustainably certified providing the next level of comfort in knowing they are eco and socially sustainable.

You'll appreciate that you're protecting the environment, while still improving your home, a single floor plank at a time. 

Pro: Hybrid Is More Water-Resistant

Moisture isn't a problem when you're dealing with hybrid floors. They can be waterproof, which makes them one of the most stable options on the market.

Con: They're Susceptible To Discolouration

With that said, the floors are susceptible to different forms of discolouration. While many of these floors come equipped with ultraviolet (UV) protective coating, it's not a form of protection that you can count on indefinitely.

This means that age, constant use, and general wear and tear will all take their toll sooner or later.

Pro: You Get Plenty of Versatile Options

Since hybrid floors are made from several different materials, you can also count on many colour options. Examples of hybrid flooring colour options that you can explore include maple, slate grey, taupe, and reddish tones.

This flooring material also allows you to choose patterns like herringbone, natural, diagonal, and those that mimic traditional wood flooring.

Con: A Timber Look Hybrid Floor Can Look Fake

A downside of wood look hybrid floors is that the printed timber image is usually quite obviously fake. Whilst this may not be an issue for some clients, for others it can cause issues if they want to achieve a quality finish for their project.

The other consideration when considering hybrid floors is that given it is a printed timber photo or pattern, this is replicated throughout the pack, so if not installed carefully, you will notice the print repeated throughout your floors, clearly showing the “fakeness” of this product. 

Image: An example of the repetition of a manufactured pattern seen in a Hybrid floor.

Image: Hybrid floor profile showing various mix of plastic based materials.

Pro: Hybrid Floors Are Affordable

Hybrid floors are also cost-effective. It's easy to add these floors to your budget and get an installation from start to finish.

These floors are also easy to customize, and you can get a good rate on the work even when building flooring from scratch.

Con: These Floors Can't Be Re-Sanded

Sanding your engineered timber floors is always an option when you need to refurbish or repair them. Unfortunately, this isn't possible with hybrid flooring.

You can't add a fresh coat or sand these floors, so you'll have to use other methods for repairing the floors such as replacing panels.