Engineered hardwood flooring is a product made up of a core of hardwood, plywood or HDF with a top layer of hardwood veneer and is available in almost any hardwood species. This product has the natural characteristics of selected wood species as opposed to a photographic layer. The “engineered” product has been designed to provide greater stability, particularly where moisture or heat pose problems for solid hardwood floors.

Refinishing: It depends upon the thickness of your hardwood layer but the fact is that 95 % of hardwood surfaces are never refinished. With the high quality finishes that are offered and the extensive process that refinishing a floor entails, damaged areas are often removed professionally. If sanding is desired, typically, the professional sanding procedure removes 1.5mm. Thus if your floor has a 2mm layer you can sand the floor 1-2 times if you are very careful.

Pros: When installed over a subfloor, engineered products nearly match hardwood (quiet and solid).

-Engineered wood also looks like hardwood as opposed to the laminate products.

-It is resistant to traffic, and available in many finishes.

Cons: Engineered wood has a slicker surface than hardwood.

-When it is installed without a subfloor it has a hollow sound.

            - it will scratch easier than the laminate.

Finish: Hardwood or engineered wood can be pre-finished or finished on the job site.

Cost Estimate: Floating or glued, $8 to $15 per square foot.

Laminate flooring is a  versatile, durable, attractive flooring with the appearance of a hardwood floor. Although laminate flooring looks like wood flooring, there is actually no solid wood used in its construction. Laminate floors are made up of several materials bonded together under high pressure. 

Refinishing: Laminate can not be refinished.

Pros: The easiest do-it-yourself flooring project.

-Laminate is softer to walk on, low maintenance, hides floor cracks and concrete imperfections well.

-Laminate floors work well in family rooms, children's rooms, and hallways.

- cheapest 

Cons: Due to the slick surface, pets may have trouble walking on a laminate floor. If larger dogs' nails get too sharp, they will scratch the clear coat.

-It isn't particularly sound absorbent without the underlayment.

-The boards can warp or otherwise be damaged if often exposed to moisture  (i.e. in bathrooms).

Cost Estimate: $6 to $12 per square foot.