Start with the subfloor
Solid hardwood is a nail-down product over a wood subfloor. If the job is on a concrete slab — most condos, most basements, many main floors in newer builds — solid is off the table and engineered is the answer.
Engineered installs by nail, glue or (for the white oak program) float, which makes it the more flexible specification when the subfloor is unknown at quoting time.
Then consider moisture and heat
Below-grade spaces, slabs without a proven vapour barrier, and any assembly with in-floor radiant heat call for engineered construction. The cross-layered core resists the cupping and gapping that solid stock shows under those conditions.
Kitchens and entries are fine for either construction with normal care. Full bathrooms and laundry rooms should go to rigid core vinyl.
Width drives the decision more than people expect
Wide plank amplifies seasonal movement. A 3 1/4" solid board and a 10.24" engineered board can move the same percentage and produce completely different gaps.
That is why the Sunca solid program runs 3 1/4" to 4 1/2" and the wide-plank colours live in the engineered white oak program.
Refinishing expectations
Solid 3/4" stock can be sanded several times over its life. The Sunca engineered products carry a 3.5 mm wear layer, which supports a full sand and refinish and typically more than one.
Set that expectation in writing with the client. Most floors are replaced for style reasons long before the wear layer runs out.
Frequently asked
- Can engineered flooring be refinished?
- Yes. Sunca engineered products carry a 3.5 mm solid wear layer, which supports a full sand and refinish and generally more than one over the life of the floor.
- Can solid hardwood be installed on concrete?
- No. Solid hardwood requires a wood subfloor for nail-down installation. Specify engineered flooring over concrete slabs.
Need this checked against a live job?
Send us the subfloor, the readings and the product you're planning to use. We'll tell you whether it works before the material ships.
Ask the Sunca team