If you love the warm, natural look of wood floors but worry about upkeep, water damage, or installation limitations, you're not alone. Many homeowners compare solid wood and engineered wood when starting a flooring project—only to discover both have trade-offs that can impact long-term satisfaction.

At Parkay Floors, we offer a smarter approach: advanced wood-look flooring that delivers all the aesthetic charm of wood, plus modern performance benefits like water resistance, easy maintenance, and durability in any room of your home.

Solid Wood Flooring: Beautiful, But Demanding

Solid hardwood is made from a single piece of lumber and has been a traditional favorite for decades. But its natural composition brings challenges that aren’t ideal for modern lifestyles.

Pros

• Distinctive wood grain and visual depth

• Can be sanded and refinished multiple times

• Long lifespan with strict maintenance
  
  

Cons

• Sensitive to moisture, humidity, and temperature shifts

• Can warp, swell, or shrink—especially in kitchens, basements, and bathrooms

• Higher cost to install and maintain

• Requires regular sealing and careful cleaning
  
  

Engineered Wood: More Versatile, Still Vulnerable

Engineered wood pairs a hardwood veneer with a layered core, offering improved stability over solid wood. It works better in some environments—but still isn’t ideal for heavy wear, spills, or long-term exposure to moisture.

Pros

• Handles moderate humidity and climate variations better

• Compatible with below-grade installations

• Often considered more eco-friendly
  
  

Cons

• Limited ability to refinish

• Susceptible to surface damage from water or dents

• Quality and lifespan can vary between products
  
  

The Parkay Floors Advantage: Beauty Without Compromise

Why settle for the downsides of wood when you can have the look you love without the limitations? Parkay Floors offers high-performance, wood-inspired flooring solutions designed for how you actually live.

Explore our most popular collections:

• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): Authentic wood textures, waterproof design, soft underfoot comfort

• Laminate: Scratch-resistant, low-maintenance, and ideal for active homes and commercial settings

• Porcelain Planks: Beautiful wood-look patterns with unmatched strength for indoor or outdoor use
  
  

Our products are:

• Waterproof and pet-friendly 

• Certified for indoor air quality

• Easy to install and care for

• Available in a wide range of colors, grains, and finishes

Discover the warmth of wood, reinvented

From cozy living rooms to busy office lobbies, Parkay Floors brings timeless style and smart performance to any space. Visit our website to browse our complete catalog, order free samples delivered to your door, use our store locator to find a nearby retailer, or request a free printed catalog to explore at home. Let Parkay Floors help you create the space you’ve always imagined—elegant, durable, and made for real life.