Engineered Hardwood vs Solid Hardwood: What Works Best in Real Florida Homes

Hi everyone! Joshua Given here, owner of Given Flooring in Seminole, Florida. There is something timeless and undeniable about the beauty of real wood floors. It adds a level of warmth and value to a home that few other materials can match. However, when you live in Pinellas County or the surrounding areas like Trinity and Odessa, you are dealing with environmental factors that traditional wood just wasn’t designed to handle. The debate between Engineered Hardwood and Solid Hardwood is one we have every single day. While both are “real wood,” they behave very differently in our climate. Let’s talk about the structural differences between these two and why one is the clear winner for a real Florida home.

To understand the difference, we have to look at how they are made. Solid hardwood is exactly what it sounds like: a single, solid piece of wood from top to bottom. Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, is a layered product. It features a top layer of real hardwood veneer bonded over multiple layers of high-quality plywood or a high-density fiberboard core. These layers are stacked in a cross-grain configuration, which is the secret to its performance.

The biggest challenge we face in Florida is dimensional stability. Because wood is a natural, porous material, it acts like a sponge. When the humidity rises in Palm Harbor or the summer rains soak the ground in Odessa, wood absorbs that moisture and expands. When the air dries out, it contracts. In a solid piece of wood, this movement is powerful and directional. This leads to common Florida flooring disasters like cupping, where the edges of the boards rise, or crowning, where the center bulges. In extreme cases, solid wood can even pull itself right off the subfloor.

Engineered hardwood was practically designed for our climate. Those cross-grained layers underneath the top veneer act as a stabilizer. When one layer wants to expand, the layer beneath it pulls in the opposite direction, essentially canceling out the movement. This means that even during a humid Florida summer, your engineered floors stay flat and stable. This structural integrity is also why engineered wood is the only real wood product I recommend for installation directly over a concrete slab foundation, which is what almost every home in our area sits on. Solid hardwood generally requires a plywood subfloor built on top of the concrete, which adds significant cost and height to your floors.

Another factor to consider is the wear layer. A common misconception is that you can’t refinish engineered wood. While it is true that solid wood can be sanded down many times, a high-quality engineered floor with a thick wear layer can also be refinished once or twice if needed. However, most modern engineered floors come with incredibly tough, factory-applied finishes that are far more durable than a finish applied on-site. For most homeowners, the need to sand and refinish is a rarity that doesn’t outweigh the risk of solid wood warping.

In my professional opinion, if you want the luxury of real wood in Pinellas or Pasco County, Engineered Hardwood is the superior choice. It gives you the exact same look, feel, and smell of solid wood but with the engineered strength to withstand the moisture and heat of the Sunshine State. It is a smarter investment that provides beauty without the constant worry of environmental damage.

Until next time, this is Joshua Given reminding you that the foundation of a beautiful home is a beautiful floor.

Do I Need to Leave My House During Flooring Installation?

Hi everyone! Joshua Given here, owner of Given Flooring in Seminole, Florida. One of the most common logistical questions I get from homeowners in Pinellas, Palm Harbor, Trinity, and Odessa is whether they need to pack their bags and move out while we work. It is a valid concern—after all, your home is your sanctuary, and the thought of living in a construction zone can be stressful. The short answer is that while you don’t always have to leave, your daily routine will certainly shift. Let’s talk about what to expect during an installation and how to decide if staying or going is the right choice for your family.
The decision often comes down to the scale of the project and the type of material being installed. If we are replacing the flooring in a single bedroom or a home office, staying is incredibly easy. We simply close the door to that room, and the rest of your home remains fully functional. However, if we are tackling the main living areas, the kitchen, or the primary hallways that connect your house, the disruption is much more significant. In those cases, you have to consider how much “camping out” in your own home you are willing to do.
If you choose to stay, you must be prepared for noise, dust, and limited access. We use professional-grade saws and tools that are loud, and even with our clean-installation practices, some dust is inevitable. More importantly, certain materials require cure times. For example, if we are installing porcelain tile, you cannot walk on the freshly laid tiles or the new grout for at least 24 to 48 hours. If that tile is in your only bathroom or blocking the path to your kitchen, staying home becomes very difficult. On the other hand, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is a “dry” installation, meaning you can typically walk on it as soon as the last plank clicks into place.
Safety is another major factor, particularly for families with small children or curious pets. An active job site has moving parts, sharp tools, and heavy materials being shifted around. If you cannot keep your kids or pets in a completely separate, secure area of the house while we work, it is often safer and less stressful to stay with a friend or book a short-term rental for a few days. We take every precaution to keep our workspace tidy, but it is still a construction zone during work hours.
For many of my clients in Trinity and Odessa, the most popular compromise is to stay in the home but plan to be out during the actual work hours. This allows you to avoid the loudest part of the day while still sleeping in your own bed at night. We are always happy to work in phases, completing one section of the house at a time so you always have a “clean zone” to live in. We prioritize clear communication, so you’ll always know which rooms are off-limits and for how long.
Ultimately, my goal at Given Flooring is to make the transformation of your home as seamless as possible. Whether you decide to head to the beach for a few days or stick around to watch the progress, we will coordinate every detail to ensure you return to a beautiful, professionally installed floor without the headache.
Until next time, this is Joshua Given reminding you that the foundation of a beautiful home is a beautiful floor.

Best Flooring for Vacation Rentals and Beach Homes in Pinellas County

Hi everyone! Joshua Given here, owner of Given Flooring in Seminole, Florida. If you own a vacation rental or a beach home along our beautiful Gulf coast, from St. Pete Beach up through Clearwater and Dunedin, you know that your property faces a unique set of challenges. You are dealing with a revolving door of guests, constant tracking of sand, wet swimsuits, and the ever-present Florida humidity. In this environment, your flooring is essentially on the front lines. You need a surface that is durable enough to handle high turnover but beautiful enough to earn those five-star reviews. Let’s talk about the best flooring options that will keep your rental looking pristine and your maintenance costs low.

The biggest enemy of a beach home is sand. It acts like sandpaper on traditional finishes, quickly dulling the shine of hardwood or scratching softer materials. When you combine that with guests coming in straight from the pool or the shore, moisture becomes a massive concern. A floor that absorbs water or swells in the humidity will not survive a single season. For a successful vacation rental, you must prioritize materials that are 100% waterproof and have a high resistance to abrasion.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is often the top recommendation for rental owners throughout Pinellas County. It offers the high-end look of wood that travelers love, but it is built to handle the chaos of a vacation. Because it is completely waterproof, you do not have to worry about a guest leaving a wet towel on the floor or a spilled drink that goes unnoticed for hours. When choosing LVP for a rental, I always suggest going with a high-quality wear layer, at least 20 mil thick. This ensures the floor can withstand the heavy foot traffic and the abrasive nature of beach sand without showing wear. LVP is also quieter underfoot than tile, which can be a huge plus if you have a multi-story rental where noise travel is a concern.

Another fantastic choice for the coastal lifestyle is Porcelain Tile. If you want a floor that is virtually indestructible, this is it. Tile is completely impervious to water and is the most scratch-resistant option on the market. It stays naturally cool, which is a big selling point for guests looking to escape the Florida heat. For beach properties, I recommend choosing a tile with a bit of texture to provide slip resistance for those wet feet coming in from the surf. Using a larger format tile with minimal, high-quality grout lines will also make the floor much easier for your cleaning crew to mop between guests.

While some owners are tempted by laminate because of the lower price point, I generally advise against it for high-turnover beach rentals. Even the best waterproof laminates often rely on wood-based cores that can struggle with the sheer volume of moisture found in a coastal environment. In a rental scenario, you want a floor that gives you total peace of mind, and the non-porous cores of LVP or the solid nature of porcelain tile are the only ways to guarantee that.

Investing in the right flooring for your vacation rental is a strategic business decision. By choosing a material that can handle water, sand, and heavy use, you protect your property’s value and ensure a better experience for your guests. Whether you are managing a cozy condo in Madeira Beach or a large family home in Tierra Verde, the right floor will serve as a beautiful, durable foundation for years to come.

Until next time, this is Joshua Given reminding you that the foundation of a beautiful home is a beautiful floor.