May 28, 2026 · 6 min read · TQF team

Engineered vs solid hardwood — what actually works in Chicago

Why this matters in Chicago specifically

The shoreline + Lake Michigan effect means summer humidity hits 70–80% RH for weeks, then drops to under 25% indoors during heating season. Solid hardwood expands and contracts with that swing — about 1/8" per 5 feet of board width. Over a 20-foot living room, that's 1/2" of seasonal movement.

What engineered does differently

Engineered hardwood is a 3–7 layer plywood sandwich with a real hardwood wear layer on top. The cross-grain construction prevents most of that expansion. In a 20-foot run, you might see 1/16" of total movement — basically invisible.

When solid still wins

Historic restoration where existing floor is solid and you want to match

Sand-and-refinish potential beyond 2 cycles (engineered with 4mm+ wear layer matches that)

Some traditional species (Brazilian walnut, mesquite) only sold solid

Brands we stock in both

Brand	Solid available	Engineered available
Lauzon	Yes	Yes (Pure Genius line)
Mirage	Yes	Yes
Casabella	Limited	Yes (Estate Collection)
Maxwell, Smith, Missouri, Middles	Yes (unfinished)	No

Talk to us first

Every Chicago install is different — subfloor, radiant heat, slab vs joist, exterior wall exposure. Call (847) 233-6300 with photos of the room — we'll spec it in 10 minutes.