We've had hand scraped walnut floors down for almost 2 years now...any scratches we've gotten as a result of moving furniture, dropping things, etc. are pretty easily disguised with a brown Sharpie and dents don't matter. We get a lot of compliments on them. No real cons that I can think of, other than the typical cons of hardwood floors which is that they do indeed scratch.

Hand scraped floors add great texture and interest to any space. The look does sometimes lend itself to being called rustic. This flooring does indeed help disguise any scratches and nicks that may occur over time. The only con we can comment on is if you choose an engineered hand scraped floor and want to sand it down the line. You may run into some issues here because of the nature of the hand scraped layer, being higher in some areas and lower in others. This basically boils down to it taking more work to sand, and essentially sanding down more, leaving less to re-sand in the future. You also have to be careful when it comes to engineered hand scraped floors, make sure you note the thickness of the actual veneer. This is key if you plan on re-sanding down the line. If the wear/sanding layer is very minimal to begin with, you may not be able to sand the floor down at all. Hope that helps!

I think they look hokey and cheap and pseudo! It's like buying new solid wood furniture that some lucky minion got to clobber with chains in a vain attempt to "antique" it. There's the real McCoy, and then there are the wannabes. JMO, though, ymmv.

But tell us what you really think, bubblyjock! ;-)

too funny

Sorry - must be feeling sharp but blunt today!

Speaking of the real McCoy, a good engineered floor cost a lot more than solid hardwood for a reason- its a better floor. It's a significant building upgrade. If you are buying hardwood floor solely on the ability to refinish it, maybe hardwood flooring isn't the best choice to begin with. We use Engineered scraped hardwood often. It wears well, it is stable, withstands fluctuations in humidity, and looks great. If you like it, go for it! I dont have any cons on this product- but remember you get what you pay for. Here is a great link on choosing a good engineered vs a cheap one. Look for a thick wear layer and multiple layer backing.

http://www.hoskinghardwood.com/Department/Hardwood-Floors/All-About-Engineered-Wood-Floors.aspx?dId=7&pageId=7