Engineered Hardwood
Hardwood flooring made of a real wood veneer over a plywood or HDF core. More dimensionally stable than solid hardwood.
Engineered hardwood is real wood flooring built as a sandwich: a top layer of finished hardwood (the veneer), 3-7 plies of cross-grain plywood beneath, and sometimes a backing layer. The cross-grain construction makes engineered far more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood — it can be installed below grade, over slab, and with radiant heat.
Veneer thickness determines how many times the floor can be sanded and refinished. A 4mm veneer is good for 3-4 sandings. A 1mm veneer is essentially a one-and-done install.
Pricing runs $4-$10 per square foot for material, $3-$6 per square foot for install. Total installed cost is usually $8-$15 per square foot — about half the cost of a solid hardwood install when you factor in labor.