Sounds

Don't discount the importance of sound when choosing wooden flooring. For the most part, the floor doesn't get a lot of attention except as something to step on, but when it makes a disturbing noise, the attention it receives is not really wanted. Although most people don't even think about it, the easiest way to tell the difference between the three is often by sound. The hollow clunk that is characteristic of laminate wooden floors is a dead giveaway. Many laminate manufacturers swear up and down that this is no longer an issue. A solid wooden floor, though, is quite solid and silent. Well, that is, until it begins to creak. Although professionals do have ways to minimize it, pretty all solid wood floors will face a creak or two, or maybe more, which is an issue that laminate mostly can't develop. Engineered wooden floors could possibly creak, and might have a slightly hollow sound, but nether will be nearly as pronounced. Creaking in engineered flooring is somewhat rare, but possible. I guess, when comparing engineered wooden flooring to solid wooden floors, you just have to decide if which possibility bothers you most, or which brand you trust to not have these issues.