Hardwood flooring has grown in popularity in recent years, thanks to its natural and attractive finishes that compliment nearly any room in the home. Hardwood flooring comes in a massive variety of colors, textures, finishes, and species, so there’s a hardwood flooring to match any home, design aesthetic, or function. Learn how to shop for the perfect hardwood flooring by reading on.
There are two major types of hardwood: engineered and solid. Engineered hardwood flooring is made from real hardwood, which is then adhered to plywood and fiberboard. When bonded to plywood and fiberboard, engineered hardwood flooring is able to be manufactured in a larger variety of lengths, widths, and areas of a home or business. Solid hardwood, on the other hand, is made of completely natural wood. Usually, solid hardwood is sanded or re-finished several times to be more appropriate for home use, which can also lead to an increase in property value.
Once you select from either engineered or solid hardwood flooring, you can then decide on the surface texture of the flooring. Distressed styles add an aged look to flooring, while smooth finishes can appear traditional, classic, and clean. Decide whether you’d like an aged appearance or something fresher when selecting hardwood flooring surface textures.
When it comes to installing hardwood, engineered hardwood flooring must be installed by either tongue and groove installation, nailing, floating, or gluing. This versatility of installation is ideal for various spaces, whether on, above, or below grade level. Solid hardwood flooring usually requires tongue and groove installation because of its size and shape. While gluing can sometimes work, tongue and groove is the most reliable installation process. Additionally, hardwood flooring cannot be installed below grade level.
Use this guide to help you shop for hardwood flooring in your home. Find the best hardwood flooring option for your space at flooring.org. Check out our website to view our inventory, or give us a call at 800-689-9006 for additional details. We look forward to hearing from you!
