A wood floor is not just a wood floor.

A wood floor is one of the most emotionally charged decisions in an interior project. It defines the warmth, the sound and the ageing character of a room for decades. And that is precisely where the problem lies: the range runs from genuine solid wood to thinly veneered engineered parquet, and both are called a 'wood floor'.

Solid wood (solid parquet).

One piece of wood. Solid, from top to bottom. Oak, walnut, ash, larch, depending on species and origin. Solid parquet is typically laid 20–22 mm thick and can be sanded 3–5 times over its lifetime.

• Ages beautifully: solid wood develops a patina that becomes warmer and deeper over time.

• Repairable: scratches, dents and stains can be sanded and re-sealed, time and again.

• Lifespan: 50–100+ years with professional maintenance.

• Indoor climate: wood absorbs and releases moisture, noticeably regulating the room climate.

• Haptics: feels warm underfoot, even without underfloor heating.

• Movement: wood works. It swells with moisture and shrinks in the dry. Gaps in winter are normal and unavoidable.

• Sensitive: soft wood species (spruce, pine) show every dent. Hard species (oak, walnut) are more resilient.

• Not for wet rooms: solid wood and standing water do not mix. Bathrooms only with specialist timbers (teak) and professional waterproofing.

• Cost: CHF 120–300/m² (material) + installation. Significantly more expensive than engineered.

• Underfloor heating: only partially compatible. Maximum surface temperature 27°C; slow warm-up.

Engineered wood (pre-finished parquet).

Three layers: a wear layer of hardwood (2.5–6 mm), a core layer of softwood or HDF, and a backing layer. The wear layer determines the appearance; the core layer the stability.

• More dimensionally stable than solid wood: the cross-ply construction significantly reduces swelling and shrinkage.

• Underfloor heating: better suited than solid wood; the thin wear layer conducts heat more quickly.

• Faster installation: often with click system, no gluing required.

• Less expensive: CHF 60–150/m². The same wood look as solid, at a fraction of the cost.

• Can be sanded 1–2 times: depending on wear layer thickness (4 mm = 1×, 6 mm = 2×).

• Limited lifespan: 20–30 years (vs 50–100 for solid).

• Less depth: the thin wear layer does not have the same visual depth as a solid wood block.

• Repair: individual boards are harder to replace than with solid parquet.

• Sound differences: a click system on acoustic underlay sounds hollower than glued solid wood.

The honest recommendation.

The question is not 'which floor is the best?' but 'which floor suits the use, the budget and the intended lifespan of the project?'

• Long-term project (50+ years): solid wood. No discussion.

• Rental flat, budget, underfloor heating: engineered. The best compromise.

• Wet room or commercial space with high traffic: no wood floor, tiles or natural stone instead.

• Architect wants 'wood floor' in the specification, client wants low maintenance: engineered with a robust seal is the best compromise.

What applies in every case: a wood floor is only as good as its installation. Poor subfloor preparation destroys any floor, whether solid or engineered.

For project-specific questions, contact the supplier directly. You will find the contact option on the product page.