Did you know that a lot of people are completing home renovations? If you want to learn about the best wood flooring options, we can help.
In this guide, we’ll go over different types of hardwood flooring.
Want to learn more? Keep reading.
Do You Want Finished or Unfinished Hardwood Flooring?
Some people prefer unfinished hardwood flooring because they want a custom stain. If you’re going to match the color of another existing flooring in your home, choose this option.
After staining the flooring, the floor will need many coats of protective finish.
If you want new kitchen flooring, unfinished flooring is an excellent option. The finish will penetrate and end up sealing the seams between your boards, and it will prevent water from slipping between the boards.
Prefinished hardwood flooring will be prepared at a factory. It gets sanded and sealed so that the installation job will go fast.
You won’t have to deal with odors. Instead, you can install it and start walking on the flooring right away.
Engineered or Solid Wood
Engineered hardwood flooring is when a veneer of natural wood gets glued to layers of plywood.
The engineered wood will remain stable for a long time, and it’s an excellent choice for any spot in your home. Engineered hardwood flooring should get sanded or refinished once in its lifespan.
Solid hardwood flooring is all wood and can be almost one inch thick. Since it’s solid, it can get refinished and sanded many times.
Learn more here about acrylic-infused hardwood flooring.
What Wood Should You Choose?
Wood floors should be made from very hardwood that’s easily accessible in your area. Maple, cherry, and oak flooring are excellent options.
Some other options include walnut, ash, and mahogany. You’ll pay more for exotic wood species like mesquite, teak, or jarrah. Make sure your choice comes from a sustainably harvested forest.
Reclaimed Flooring
Homeowners have started to look into reclaimed hardwood flooring. You can find reclaimed hardwood flooring at a salvage yard. The reclaimed flooring will have age and wear, yet you’ll pay a fraction of the cost.
If the salvage yard doesn’t have the flooring, you could always ask to get put on the waiting list.
Don’t Choose the Typical Flooring
You could look at trying a different kind of wood flooring. There’s a new range of flooring coming from Australia, parts of Asia, and Brazil.
The price for more exotic kinds of hardwood flooring has become more reasonable. Also, they are more available, and lower pricing and interest have grown in the market.
Homeowners love the possibility of new colors. The different wood species will provide homeowners with a range of colors. People want to try a different wood type now instead of staining oak flooring.
Popular wood flooring includes Brazilian cherry flooring. The flooring appears reddish-brown and has a medium or coarse grain, and it’s more stable than red oak.
Cork has a spectrum of shades going from light to dark and a familiar grain. It’s popular because it’s sustainable and durable.
Bamboo is technically grass, but it’s considered wood because of its hardness. If you want a sustainable option, look at bamboo flooring.
Bamboo grows super-fast, making it a super sustainable choice for homeowners. You can get yellow or manila tones or darker shades. The grain pattern will show the nodes from the bamboo stalks.
Wenge is almost black wood, and it’s famous as an accent wood. Bubinga is burgundy and has a fine grain.
Sydney Blue Gum can change from pink, burgundy red to medium brown-red.
Exotic woods will react differently to installation and cutting techniques. Make sure you get the wood installed and prepared by a professional.
Try Hickory Flooring
Hickory is one of the hardest wood flooring species available commercially, and it’s also called pecan.
Hickory was one of the most popular flooring options in the past, but now red oak wood has replaced it.
Yet in engineered wood, hickory’s a popular choice. Hickory will provide a rustic appearance, and that’s why it remains a favorite option for homeowners.
Solid Wood and Humidity
Solid wood can swell or warp if in a humid environment. You shouldn’t install the flooring near moist, humid, or damp areas.
Don’t put hardwood flooring in a bathroom, basement, mudroom, or above underfloor heating systems.
You can find some water-resistant wood flooring options. Most of the time, these flooring options are engineered or composite products. Most solid wood floors don’t have water-resistant qualities.
Handle a Lot of Maintenance
Before installing a solid wood floor, you have to leave the wood in your home for a few days. Wood grains will shrink or expand, depending on the temperature and humidity.
You should let the materials acclimate first. Otherwise, the flooring could warp. Solid wood needs a lot of care after you install it, as well.
You should learn about the proper cleaning procedures. If there’s too much humidity, you’ll need dehumidifiers.
Make sure you protect your investment. Hardwood flooring’s stunning. Ask your family to take care when cleaning up a mess.
Types of Hardwood Flooring
We hope this guide on types of hardwood flooring was helpful. Consider if you will choose engineered wood flooring or reclaimed wood flooring. Do you want a specific color in your home?
Are you looking for more homeowner tips? Check out our resources on the blog.
