There are many different types of hardwood floors. This guide will help you to decide which is right for you and your home.
Did you know the professionals say that you can expect to see a 70% to 80% return on investment when installing hardwood floors do your home?
Even if you aren't planning on selling your home soon, installing hardwood floors offers many unique benefits to homeowners. Hardwood floors are easier to clean in comparison to carpet flooring. They're also a lot more allergy-friendly!
When it's time for you to start shopping around for different types of hardwood flooring, understanding the best option for your unique living situation can be challenging. That's why today, we've created a complete guide to help you better understand which type of hardwood floors are best for you and your family.
Keep reading to learn more!
What Are the Different Types of Hardwood Floors?
There are different types of hardwood floors on the market. These are referred to as engineered hardwood floors and solid hardwood floors.
There is a difference between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood is produced from solid wood logs. Engineered hardwood flooring uses several layers of plywood and other types of composite materials to create the flooring.
Solid hardwood can come in both unfinished or prefinished selections, as well as in planks or strips that have a variety of thicknesses. Engineered hardwood has a selection of different thicknesses for homeowners to choose from.
Both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood floors provide buyers with the same physical appearance as real hardwood. The biggest difference between the two types of flooring is the materials that are used to create the floor.
Solid hardwood flooring is more sensitive to humidity changes, meaning that it will expand and contract based on the level of humidity located inside of the home. This means that solid hardwood isn't an ideal flooring to use if your home doesn't have controlled humidity levels.
Engineered flooring uses multi-ply construction. This means that it can withstand the changes that are caused by fluctuating humidity levels.
Other Factors for You to Consider
Once you've decided on whether you're choosing solid hardwood or if you're going to choose an engineered flooring, there are other factors that you have to make a decision on to find it the perfect flooring for your dream design. These factors include:
Species of Wood
If you choose to install solid hardwood into your home, there are different wood species available on the market. Each wood species has a unique grain pattern, color, and durability.
Some of the most commonly found wood species on the market include cherry, oak, and maple. There are more exotic selections available, such as mahogany, but these wood species are much more expensive than being more commonly found species.
Hardness
If your household has young children or pets, choosing a durable hardwood option is essential. This is to ensure that your floors are able to withstand wear and tear.
Different species of hardwood floors will withstand against wear and tear differently. Red Oak is known for being a popular hardwood floor choice because of its durability. On the other hand, Klein is a softer wood that will show dents and scratches more easily.
Finish
The finish on the flooring is responsible for protecting the surface of the wood. In addition, different finishing options will provide your hardwood flooring with different luster and color options. The majority of hardwood that's available on a commercial level will already come finished.
Choosing hardwood floors that are prefinished will help to make the entire installation process take less time and be a lot easier. Choosing to have finished hardwood floors will ensure that your floors will withstand wear and tear a lot better than unfinished floors.
Texture
Depending on what your dream hardwood floor design looks like, you can choose different flooring textures. There are some options available on the market that provide buyers with a brand-new appearance, while other options available add an antique effect to the flooring.
Board Widths
Another way that you can customize the appearance of your home is by choosing hardwood floors that have a different board width. You will be able to choose from narrow strips, to wide planks, or even rectangles.
Other Options
There are also hardwood options available that were custom made for radiant heat. You can find scratch-resistant and waterproofing hardwood flooring options, perfect for bathrooms and high-traffic areas.
Thankfully, there are many different options available in the market, which makes it easy for you to find your perfect hardwood flooring for your unique living situation.
Finding the Best Type of Hardwood Floors for Your Home
Installing hardwood floors in your home can create a warm and inviting living space. Hardwood floors are also easy to maintain, especially if you have children or pets. If someone in your family has allergies, installing hardwood floors is a great way to make your home more allergy-friendly.
With the large variety of available hardwood floor selections on the market, you can invest a little bit of money and completely transform the appearance of a room (or several) in your home.
If you're looking to find your dream hardwood floor, we have financing options available to help turn your dream design into a reality! Click here to contact us today.
