Platforms

The foundation of your floor.

The platform describes how a hardwood floor is built. Each platform type — Solid or Engineered — is crafted to provide different performance benefits depending on where and how you plan to install it. Both are made with real wood and deliver the natural warmth and character that define genuine hardwood flooring — but their construction makes them behave differently under various conditions.

🔹 Solid Hardwood

Traditional. Durable. Authentic.

A solid wood floor is made from a single piece of natural hardwood, milled to a consistent thickness — usually ¾”. Each board features tongue-and-groove edges for a seamless, secure fit.

Solid hardwood is known for its timeless beauty and longevity. It can be sanded and refinished many times throughout its life, restoring its original appearance even after decades of use. However, it reacts naturally to changes in humidity — expanding and contracting with the seasons — which is why it’s best suited for stable environments.

Key Features:

  • 100% hardwood throughout.
  • Installed by nailing or stapling to a wood subfloor.
  • Ideal for ground floors and upper levels.
  • Not recommended for basements or high-humidity areas.

Advantages:

  • Can be refinished multiple times, extending its lifespan.
  • Classic and natural feel underfoot.
  • Long-term investment with decades of durability.

Considerations:

  • Sensitive to humidity and temperature changes.
  • Not suitable for basements, condos, or radiant heating systems.
  • Requires professional installation and acclimation before fitting.

Best choice for: Traditional homes, main floors, and heritage projects where authenticity matters.

🔹 Engineered Hardwood

Modern. Stable. Versatile.

An engineered wood floor is crafted from multiple layers of real wood — with a hardwood surface (called the wear layer) bonded to high-stability plywood or multi-layered hardwood core. This structure gives engineered floors superior dimensional stability, making them resistant to seasonal movement and ideal for areas where solid hardwood isn’t suitable.

Key Features:

  • Top layer: genuine hardwood veneer (same look as solid wood).
  • Core: layered hardwood or plywood construction.
  • Compatible with glue-down, float, or click installations.
  • Suitable for any level of the home, including basements and condos.

Advantages:

  • Highly stable — less expansion and contraction with humidity.
  • Compatible with radiant floor heating systems.
  • Can be installed over concrete subfloors.
  • More flexible for modern building conditions.

Considerations:

  • Can only be sanded and refinished a limited number of times (depending on the wear layer thickness).
  • Some low-end versions may have thinner top layers.

Best choice for: Condos, basements, or areas with temperature fluctuations.