Different Types of Wood Flooring

wood flooring

There are many distinctive types of flooring available on the market nowadays. All you have to do is to walk into any home décor store and sample the vast collection with your own eyes. However, for some the enduring good looks of hardwood flooring is a must-have and for these customers, there is a vast variety available which come in many types and styles to fit different needs and budgets.

If you’re thinking of putting in wood floors, you can’t go wrong as all types of hardwood floors have unmatched natural beauty and match perfectly with any décor whether it is modern, traditional or country. Hardwood flooring usually goes in any room, although kitchens and basements call for special deliberations.

Unfinished or Finished Hardwood

Unfinished hardwood flooring is a great option if you want a custom stain applied or if you want to match the colour of existing flooring. After hardwood flooring installation and staining, the flooring is given several different coats of protective finish. If you’re planning of adding hardwood flooring in your kitchen, unfinished flooring is the better choice because the finish will penetrate and seal the seams in between boards, helping to prevent water and other fluids from seeping between boards.

prefinished-hardwood-flooring-benefits

Prefinished hardwood flooring comes from the factory already sanded and sealed, meaning that the whole installation goes easier and quicker. There are also no odours and VOCs from the on-site finishing, and the floor is usually ready to walk on immediately, hence saving time.

Solid or Engineered

Solid hardwood flooring is comprised wholly of wood and comes in thicknesses of 5/8 up to 3/4 inches. Because it’s solid wood, it can be sanded and refinished several times. However, it’s susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity and isn’t recommended for below-ground basements.

Engineered hardwood flooring is an exterior of real wood that is glued to several layers of wood underneath, kind of like plywood. This gives engineered wood excellent stability over other options and makes it a good choice for almost any area of your home, including below-ground basements. Depending on the diameter of the hardwood veneer, engineered hardwood flooring can only be sanded and refinished a few times during its lifetime.

What Species Is Usually Best

The best hardwood floors are made of wood species that are readily available locally and, surprise, are very hard. Oak flooring, cherry flooring and maple flooring are all good choices. Other commonly used species include walnut, ash, mahogany and bamboo which is a grass. For more exotic species you’ll have to pay a premium price, such as teak, jarrah and mesquite. Also, check to make sure that the hardwood flooring you choose comes from sustainably harvested forests.

Another option is reclaimed hardwood flooring which can be found at your local salvage yards. It will likely have some signs of wear and age, but you’ll end up paying about half of what it would cost for comparable new flooring. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, you can ask to be put on a waiting list. Salvage flooring is a notably good choice if you’re renovating an older house.