Solid hardwood flooring is a timeless choice with undeniable beauty and durability—for good reason. It’s milled from a single piece of wood, meaning that it can be sanded and refinished for generations to come. If you want something that maintains value and lasts for the lifetime of your home, solid hardwood is hard to beat.
At Woodboys, we have the experience and master craftsmanship to install solid hardwood in Summerville, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and the greater Lowcountry. Our free in-home consultations ensure that we help you select a flooring product that meets your needs and makes your home more beautiful.
Here, we give you all the information needed to make an educated decision before investing in new wood floors: how solid compares to engineered hardwood, where it can be installed, and what you can expect for cost and maintenance. Make your choice with confidence after meeting with our flooring experts.
What is Solid Hardwood & How Is It Made?
Solid hardwood floor is simple to understand: it’s milled from a single piece of ¾”-thick hardwood. No veneers and no layers. They have a tongue-and-groove construction so that each piece fits together. Solid floors do not come in click-lock constructions that are easier for DIY installations.
There are also two types of solid hardwood: prefinished and unfinished. Prefinished floors offer plentiful options for design and species. They have factory finishes, which are provide more durability than finishes applied on site for unfinished floors. Plus, they make installation simpler and faster. They can be installed within just a few days while you still live in the home.
Unfinished floors are installed, sanded, and finished inside of your home. They offer more customization options for color and gloss level, along with a seamless appearance. However, these finishes are often not as durable as those aluminum oxide finishes on prefinished floors applied under controlled conditions in factories.
Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood
| Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood | |
| Stability | 100% solid wood, top to bottom | Real hardwood veneer over plywood core |
| Moisture Resistance | Prone to cupping and warping in humid conditions | Offers more dimensional stability, less prone to cupping |
| Areas for Installation | Above-grade over plywood | Over concrete slabs, plywood, or particle board |
| Refinishing | 3-4 times | Depends on wear layer thickness |
| Price | Usually higher material cost | Usually lower material cost, depending on wear layer |
| Installation Method | Nail down | Nail down, glue, or floating |
Where Can Solid Hardwood Be Installed?
Solid hardwood can only be installed on or above grade. It can only be installed over plywood—not glued down on concrete slabs. Like all hardwood, it will not perform in full bathrooms where there will be lots of moisture from showers and baths. It can handle topical spills cleaned up promptly, but standing water can lead to discoloration and warping.
Outside of very moisture-prone areas, it performs great in main living areas, bedrooms, dining rooms, and even kitchens.
However, successful installation of solid hardwood floors requires acclimation time, especially with higher humidity levels in Charleston. Acclimation time is longer for solid hardwood than engineered. Woodboys recommends acclimating solid wood floors for 5 to 7 days inside the climate-controlled area of your home where the floors will be installed.
Choosing a Species
The wood species selected for a new floor plays a major role in its durability. The hardness of a particular species is rated according to the Janka scale. This scale measures the difficulty of embedding a small metal ball into the wood flooring by about 0.45 inches (half the size of the metal ball itself). The lower the score, the softer the species.
Red oak tends to be the standard, rating at 1290 on the Janka scale. This is about as hard as most people need, but there are species both softer and harder. Soft species like American walnut and American cherry are more prone to dents and dings, making them less ideal for families with pets or small children.
Higher Janka scores are often reserved for exotic species like ipe, Brazilian cherry, or tigerwood. However, some domestic species like hickory and maple are also harder than red oak. These harder species tend to hold up better with exposure to heavy force (think high heels or dropped kitchen utensils).
With that in mind, species hardness measures how a floor will hold up under force. Durability often refers to the finish or how hard it will be to scratch. Most prefinished floors in our showroom have several coats of factory-applied aluminum oxide finish. Site-finished floors will have a slightly less durable oil-based or water-based polyurethane finish.
Lifespan & Refinishing
One of the best aspects of solid wood flooring is its longevity. It can be sanded and finished multiple times, allowing it to last for decades. Many homeowners find that these floors only need refinished once every seven to ten years, depending on foot traffic and overall wear and tear. They can be fully sanded for color refreshes or screened and recoated to remove surface scratches for a like-new appearance.
Compared to engineered wood floors, solid floors typically have more refinishes available. However, some premium engineered wood floors will allow for an equivalent number of refinishes.
Installation Methods
Solid hardwood floors have fewer installation options compared to engineered flooring choices. We only nail down our solid wood flooring options. Gluing is not typically recommended for ¾”-thick floors, nor is floating a viable alternative. Keep in mind that floors can only be nailed to plywood—not particleboard.
Before installation, acclimation time is crucial. This permits wood to adjust to the moisture and humidity levels inside the home, leading to less movement after installation.
The National Wood Flooring Association recommends solid hardwood be placed inside the home where it will be installed (in climate-controlled conditions) for a minimum of 72 hours. In our humid Charleston climate and for wider face widths, Woodboys recommends a longer acclimation time of 5 to 7 days.
Cost Overview
The cost of solid hardwood flooring varies widely depending on the grade of the wood, face width, species, and design factors like handscraped or wirebrushed texture. Prefinished floors are often more expensive than unfinished, but have lower installation costs as they do not require sanding and finishing in place.
Other materials will also be needed such as 15 lb. felt paper, new quarter round, and transition pieces.
For a personalized quote on solid wood for in your home, Woodboys offers free in-home consultations. We will account for every item needed to complete the job, as well as all installation and labor costs—no guesswork and no surprises on the day of installation.
Solid Wood Flooring FAQs
Can solid hardwood be refinished? How many times?
Solid hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times, lasting for decades. The number of times it can be refinished depends on whether you need a full sand-and-finish or a less drastic screen-and-recoat. Most homeowners can refinish their solid wood floors at least four times.
Can I install solid hardwood on a concrete slab?
No, solid hardwood is not designed to be installed on a concrete slab. Engineered wood offers more dimensional stability and is better suited for this application.
How long does solid hardwood flooring last?
Solid hardwood flooring can often last for the lifetime of a home if properly maintained.
What’s the difference between prefinished and unfinished hardwood?
Prefinished hardwood is finished under factory-controlled conditions. It comes out of the box ready to install without additional sanding or an application of finish. Unfinished hardwood is raw wood that must be sanded in place, followed by an application of finish directly in your home. Prefinished wood floors tend to be more expensive but have fewer installation costs and more convenience.
Does solid hardwood work with Charleston’s humidity?
Solid hardwood can work in Charleston’s humidity, but it usually requires more acclimation time. Woodboys generally does not recommend installing solid hardwood with a face width greater than 3 ¼” wide unless you have an encapsulated crawlspace with a dehumidification system.
Do you offer financing?
Woodboys offers special financing through Wells Fargo. You can apply for financing before you shop!
Do you install solid hardwood flooring near me?
Woodboys installs hardwood flooring in Summerville, Goose Creek, North Charleston, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, and the greater Charleston area. Our flooring experts will bring the showroom to you for a free in-home consultation!
Let Woodboys Help You Decide on the Perfect Floor
Want to explore your solid hardwood flooring options? The Woodboys showroom on Ladson Road, right in the heart of Summerville, is open six days a week for you to spend time with a flooring expert—no appointment needed. We also offer free in-home consultations where our mobile showroom can bring the samples to you and go over your unique site conditions and options for hardwood floors.
Woodboys takes care of everything you need from start to finish. Our installers are master craftsmen with decades of experience in wood floors, so your Lowcountry home looks flawless upon completion.
Whether you live in Summerville, Goose Creek, North Charleston, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, or anywhere in the greater Charleston area, Woodboys would love to earn your business. Reach out today to schedule your free quote!