Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is always a great choice. It’s a gorgeous addition to any home and is almost guaranteed to increase resale value. From oak to walnut, hickory, and beyond, there are endless types of wood flooring to choose from—each with something special to offer.

Types of Wood Flooring

When it comes to buying hardwood flooring, there are two main categories to consider: solid wood and engineered wood.

• Solid hardwood is constructed of solid wood throughout. It can be purchased prefinished or unfinished, depending on your preference.
• Engineered hardwood is most commonly composed of two layers: a thin strip of solid wood (called a veneer) fixed to a plywood or high-density fiberboard core.

Some people assume that the best hardwood floors are always made of solid hardwood. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Both solid and engineered hardwood floors bring something special to the table. For example, some of the most durable wood flooring is made of engineered hardwood. And when it comes to exotic species of wood, engineered options can decrease your wood flooring costs considerably. Engineered hardwood can also go places some solid hardwood can’t, like kitchens and basements.

Advantages of Hardwood Flooring

Besides the fact that it looks beautiful and feels great underfoot, hardwood flooring can increase your home’s resale value tremendously.

Additionally, it’s long-lasting. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished over and over again for decades. Some of the best engineered wood flooring options can be refinished multiple times as well.

Solid wood is versatile; there are dozens of species (types of trees) to choose from, each with its own look, color, and texture. The same goes for finishes. Even the way a plank is cut—flat sawn, quarter sawn, etc.—can reveal different elements of its beauty.

Installing Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floor installation can be done in a number of ways. Solid hardwood planks can be nailed, stapled, or glued to a subfloor. Engineered hardwood planks can be installed the same way, and can sometimes be installed as click-together floating floors. What is a floating floor? It’s a type of snap-together flooring that rests on top of a subfloor, rather than being attached to it.

When you are ready to install hardwood floors in your home, talk to your local flooring experts. Experienced contractors can help ensure your flooring purchase is the right one for your space and installed correctly, allowing your new floors to last for years to come.