Known for retaining its dimensions over a wide range of environmental conditions, engineered wood can have advantages over solid wood for some applications.  If you're looking to avoid potential shrinkage and gaps, engineered wood is a good choice.  Also, because it's more stable, it can be installed as a 'floating' floor, for example, over concrete or other surfaces where a nailed-down floor is not practical.  There are hundreds of engineered floors on the market, but if thicker flooring is chosen it may be sanded and refinished  in the future, as needed.

Solid wood has served as the floor of choice for hundreds of years, due to it's durability, beauty and the fact that its finish can be restored over and over.  Its thickness adds structural value to your home.  The installation method for solid flooring (perpendicular to the floor joists, rather than parallel) actually increases the strength of your floor and helps prevent vertical deflection (bounce) in the subfloor.  Installation of solid wood flooring is generally considered to be a one-time occurrence, as it will last a lifetime.