Hi all. A few questions... One is basic differences between engineered and regular HW.

Second is we are trying to find affordable HW flooring..retail seems very high and I always try to find other options. I found a wholesale warehouse close to me where most of the woods (not engineered) are between 4-6 dollars a sq ft. Much cheaper than stores. Keep in mind they typically deal w contractors but open to retail public at same price. With that said how do I know if it's quality or cheap material since price is so affordable. Is there a way to know that and is there such a thin as cheap solid Hwood ? Thank you so much in advance !

Engineered flooring has more than one layer of "veneer" that can make it resistant to swelling and shrinkage due to changes in humidity as the different plies will keep it flat and stable like plywood.
Solid wood flooring is graded by standards according to the Association that the mill is a member. Compare the grades between different mills. Or ask what the standards are for the mills product.
Pre-finished flooring can have different finishes which will affect the price, and may not follow recognized grading rules, except for a single mill.
Usually engineered flooring can be sanded a few times, however, the surface is what you are paying. If you have the right color, and a hard film type finish you may not ever need to sand the floor again if it can be re-coated. Other floor finishes may need to be re-oiled periodically. This can affect the price.
A quantity purchase will be the best value.