Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - hardwood flooring

I'm sorry in advance if you guys are repeating yourselves but i couldn't find the search option anywhere on the forum. :rolleyes: anyways, i'm thinking of replacing my all the carpet in my house with hardwood. However, choosing the hardwood is more complicated than i thought it would be. I have a few questions for the pro's out there. First, I been researching about hardwood flooring and narrowed it down between solid and engineered. Now from all the material i read, it seems like the engineered is better or equal to the solid in all aspects. But when i shopped around i mostly saw solid wood and a few engineered here and there. So is there something i'm missing? Is there any other benifit of solild other than it can be refinished more times?

also i have a plank subfloor, what would you recommend for the type of installation: nail/staple, glue or floating?

last question, sorry if this is so long :coffee: , do you guys have any recommendation on retailers and manufactures? I've been looking at Lumber Liquidators and their bellawood, and their prices look good. I've read some comments that Lumber Liquidator and bellawood is bad or something, if you think this can you give me some reasons why? I mean they do have the longest finish warranty i've seen yet. I've also looked at some Bruce at home depot and Lowes, prices are alittle on the high side and i think i can get a better deal some place else.

any comments or response is appreciated, Thank You in advance. :D

With the slat flooring you can install over that in a fastened down installation, but it is going to have to be laid the opposite direction as the slats lay, unless you overlay the slats with a minimum of 5/8 plywood to gain dimensional stability.

Same with a floating installation.


YIKES!! not LL or Bruce!!, unless you don't care about gaps and higher boards then the one next to it, from fast milling so they can sell it cheap.
Those two brands are an installers nightmare, when it comes to plaesing the home owner.

Isn't Bellawood and Bruce, 2 of the biggest companies out there?
I see Bruce everywhere. If not these two then can you tell me way are the better companies. thanks

I'm also interested in hearing what the pro's consider to be the "better" manufacturers.

Mirage

Muskoka

Anderson

BR-111

Columbia

Delamano

Mannington

Mullican

Pinnacle

Virgina Vintage

Sun Paratech

Westhollow

Johnson

Vineyard


Just to name a few that are leaps above Bruce and Bellawood.