I am considering engineered flooring of good quality, since you can get better value for exotic wood. the sample i am considering is natural dark wood, which is expensive with solid hardwood. the Aluminum oxide coating with prefinished flooring cannot be applied on site, and makes the wood more resistent.
I think they are equal in adding value. The engineered wood is more practical because it does not warp like all solid wood.
I am a contractor and I prefer site finished hardwood as you get solid wood and I think is cosmeticly looks better, you do have to re seal it from time to time but I still think it is the best way to go.
I have been installing floors for a while now and if I were to pick between the two it would have to be Hardwood. The engineered floor is also good but with engineered floors you can never refinish it and if you need to repair any part of it, it can be a night mare. Plus hardwood can be refinish. Both will raise the value of your home.
There are solid hardwoods (exotic and domestic) that come in varying thicknesses and are prefinished with aluminum oxide. Such as 3/4, 5/16, and 7/16 thick, all three of these can be re-finished more than once but you're really better off never re-finishing if possible because the finish that is applied is no where close to the quality of aluminum oxide. There are also engineered hardwoods that you can refinish at least once, sometimes twice
