Engineered Wood and How It Differs From Solid Wood
Last Updated: Apr 7, 2025Engineered wood is one of the most common building materials used in modern-day construction, especially in residential homes. For example, commercial office buildings and high-rise apartment complexes might be built from steel and other structurally sound materials. In contrast, most single-family homes are traditionally stick-built with plywood and 2x4s as the main components of a home's structure.
In terms of total use, in 2006, we collectively used an estimated 6.8 billion cubic feet of solid wood products in the United States. If that sounds like a lot of wood, that's because it is. The construction industry has found certain advantages associated with the widespread use of engineered wood. But, some drawbacks need to be taken into account as well.
Knowing the pros and cons of utilizing engineered wood in a structure will help homeowners make educated decisions that will affect their homes' overall sustainability.
Table of Contents
- What is Engineered Wood?
- What is Plywood?
- What is Densified Wood?
- What is Particleboard?
- What is Oriented Strand Board (OSB)?
- What Are the Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring?
- What Are the Disadvantages of Engineered Wood Flooring?
- What to Look for When Choosing Engineered Wood for Your Home
What is Engineered Wood?
Solid wood products are single pieces of kiln-dried timber cut from trees and subsequently milled into planks. We regularly find solid wood products in all kinds of home furniture, solid flooring, and exterior cladding. Engineered wood, on the other hand, consists of multiple layers of ply. These layers are then cross-laid for increased strength. Many engineered products for the home, such as laminate flooring, are then finished off with a top layer of veneer that adds a glossy exterior finish. In many cases, this veneer makes the engineered wood appear almost identical to its solid wood counterparts.
There is a wide range of engineered wood products and techniques, including composite woods and manufactured boards. However, all manufactured wood products rely on the binding, gluing, or fixing the layers using various adhesives.
While there are dozens of engineered products, some of the most commonly used in household construction include the following.
What is Plywood?
Plywood is made from cross-laminated veneer sheets, bonded under heat and pressure with adhesives known to be moisture resistant. Plywood is most commonly used for interior floors, walls, and roofs of homes.
What is Densified Wood?
Densified wood includes medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and high-density fiberboard, commonly used for baseboard, trim, molding, and some hardwood flooring. This product uses a mechanical hot press to compress wood fibers and increase the wood's overall density. This higher density, in theory, makes the finished engineered wood product stronger and stiffer. MDF is typically used for cabinetry and shelving.
What is Particleboard?
Particleboard is a low-density fiberboard. This engineered wood product is significantly weaker than other wood products. This is because it is manufactured from wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even sawdust. Synthetic resins are glues that bind these wood chips together. Particleboard is often used as a substitute for plywood because it costs less. But, because of its relative weakness, it's better for lightweight furniture and accent pieces.
(Construction professionals have differing opinions on which is better to use; see this article for more background.)
What Are the Advantages of Engineered Wood Flooring?
Low Cost of Engineered Wood
The low cost of engineered wood is the most immediate benefit and the reason that it is so widely used. Our grandparents might have been able to build log cabins from hand-sewn lumber of expensive and rare hardwood trees. But, the cost of that wood in today's economy would be exorbitantly high for most homeowners. In terms of flooring, engineered hardwood flooring generally costs between $8 to $12 per square foot. In contrast, solid wood flooring can cost upwards of $13 per square foot. Plywood sheathing for walls and roofs drastically reduces home construction cost compared to using planks of solid wood.
Engineered wood products manufactured before 2003 might also include chromated copper arsenate (CCA). CCA was widely used as a wood preservative and had a series of severe health issues.
Engineered Wood Is Not As Durable
Engineered wood products are not as durable as other types of building materials. For example, plywood has a general life expectancy of between 10 and 60 years, depending on how it is manufactured and treated. It is also highly susceptible to water and moisture damage. This lack of durability is one reason that 6.7 percent of the total volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the US was wood. Much of that was discarded plywood and other engineered wood products.
Engineered Wood Requires Energy To Produce
Another drawback to using engineered wood products is that it requires a significant amount of energy to process engineered wood products. However, it is worth noting that engineered wood manufacturing uses significantly less energy than producing steel or mined products.
What to Look for When Choosing Engineered Wood for Your Home
As noted, there are environmental and health problems associated with opting for engineered wood products. But, there are steps consumers and homeowners can take to limit those adverse effects.
First, make sure to search for engineered wood products labeled as zero-VOC or low-VOC and that they are TSCA Title VI compliant. While this might slightly increase the price tag, it is a small price to pay to improve your home's interior air quality.
Second, make it a priority to find engineered wood products with a sustainable forestry certification, such as FSC certification. Certification ensures that your wood products are sourced from sustainably managed forests around the world.
Last, consider opting for engineered wood products made from fast-growing trees such as bamboo. Alternatively, you might be able to find engineered products made from rice straw, hemp, or other biomass. While not technically "wood," these products are all sourced from fast-growing plant species that reduce overall global forest pressure.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
