A real wood floor is suitable for -

• people who want the look and feel of real wood

• buyers who want the long term benefits like multiple refurbishment capability

• those who want a distinctive product like a floor made from centuries-old barn timbers and who aren't satisfied with reproductions

Engineered wood flooring is made of plywood with a veneer of fine hardwood on top.

Expect to pay nearly as much for engineered wood as for solid hardwood.

Because of its thin veneer, engineered wood floor can be lightly refinished a few times before the veneer begins to wear down to the base plywood layers.

Due to its dimensionally stable base layers, engineered wood flooring actually stands up to moisture better than solid hardwood.

Engineered wood is just like solid hardwood in that it needs to be stapled or glued to sub-floor.  However, it is possible to buy floating engineered flooring which rides independently of the subfloor.

The veneer of real wood--with its unique patterns and deep appearance--cannot be matched by vinyl or laminate's artificial images.

Engineered wood can receive only a limited number of sandings before the veneer layer wears through.