The Best Hardwood Floor Types For Your Home

When it comes to flooring, hardwood is a popular choice. Not only does hardwood look beautiful and add value to your home, but it’s also durable and easy to maintain. There are various hardwood floor types available on the market, each with its unique set of benefits and drawbacks. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at seven of the most popular hardwood floor types so that you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your home.

What Is Hardwood Flooring?

Wood flooring is a type of flooring that is made from hardwood planks. Not only does hardwood look beautiful and add value to your home, but it’s also durable and easy to maintain. There are various hardwood floor types available on the market, each with its unique set of benefits and drawbacks. Let’s take a closer look at seven of the most popular hardwood floor types so that you can make an informed decision about which one is best for your home.

What Are the Different Types of Hardwood Flooring?

There are several different types of hardwood flooring available on the market, each with its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. The basic hardwood floor types are solid hardwood and engineered hardwood.

Solid Wood Flooring

Solid hardwood is the most popular type of hardwood flooring. It’s made from 100% hardwood and is very durable. Solid hardwood is also easy to repair and can be refinished multiple times. However, solid hardwood is also the most expensive type of hardwood flooring and is not suitable for rooms that are prone to moisture.

Solid wood floors are made from a single piece of wood, typically 18-20mm thick. The boards are fitted using tongue-and-groove, and all types of wood have a hardness score that indicates how easily they can be damaged, dented, or worn by everyday wear and tear. Solid wood floors can also be sanded back to restore the finish – the number of times you can do this is determined by how deep the tongue is set from the top of the board. If you are looking for a durable and attractive option for your flooring, solid wood may be the perfect choice for you.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered hardwood is a type of hardwood flooring that is made from layers of hardwood veneer. Engineered hardwood is more stable than solid hardwood and is less likely to warp or cup. It’s also more resistant to moisture and can be installed over radiant heating. However, engineered hardwood is more expensive than solid hardwood.

There are a few things to consider when choosing engineered wood flooring for your home. The thickness of the boards is one factor – usually, the thicker the boards, the longer they will last. The number of layers is also important – more layers means more stability and resistance to warping.

Another thing to keep in mind is the veneer. A real-wood veneer will give you the look of solid wood, but it can be sanded back and refinished if it gets damaged. Finally, take a look at the installation method. Click-and-lock engineered wood floors are becoming increasingly popular because they’re easy to install.

Tongue-and-groove boards will need to be glued into place, but this type of flooring is usually a bit cheaper. With so many options on the market, it’s important to do your research before making a purchase.

Hardwood Flooring Species

Now that you know the basic floor types when it comes to hardwood, here are the species of wood you can opt for when remodeling your home:

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is a beautiful, sustainable option for your home. It is made up of compressed strands of bamboo, giving it the appearance of wood. Bamboo is also a fast-growing plant, making it eco-friendly and widely available. Bamboo isn’t as easy to stain like real wood, so home improvement stores often sell it prefinished and in a number of color variations. If you are looking for an alternative to traditional hardwood floors, bamboo flooring is a great option to consider. It is durable, eco-friendly, and comes in a variety of colors and styles to suit your needs.

Oak Flooring

If you’re looking for an affordable, durable, and easy-to-install hardwood flooring option, oak is a great choice. It is the most common hardwood species used in flooring in the United States, and it comes in two popular varieties: red oak and white oak.

Red oak has a darker red appearance, while white oak is golden brown. White oak flooring is especially popular because it’s one of the hardest woods available, with a hardness level of around 1360. This makes it ideal for high-traffic areas of your home that are prone to scratches and dents. Whether you choose red or white oak, you can be sure that your new floors will add beauty and value to your home.

Maple Flooring

Maple is a popular hardwood that is typically harder than oak. It is commonly used in high-traffic areas and is usually less expensive than other hardwoods, making it a popular choice for homeowners on a budget. Also, maple is less likely to dent or scratch than other softer woods, making it a good choice for rooms with a lot of activity. However, maple is not as resistant to sunlight as some other hardwoods and can fade over time if exposed to direct sunlight. For this reason, maple is often used in rooms with limited natural light.

Cork Wood Flooring

Cork hardwood is a type of hardwood flooring that is made from the bark of cork trees. Cork hardwood is environmentally friendly and is resistant to mold and mildew. It’s also easy to install and is available in a variety of colors and styles. However, cork hardwood can be scratched easily and is not as hard as oak hardwood.

Conclusion

Now that you know the different types of solid hardwood flooring and their benefits, it’s time for you to make a decision. If you want assistance in choosing the best type of hardwood flooring for your home, get in touch with us. We can help you select the perfect type of wood floor based on your needs and budget. Thanks for following our blog series on hardwood floors!

Related Local Flooring Business