You can never go wrong with hardwood floors. They one of the oldest flooring options, yet they are still among the most desirable type of flooring. Whether your house has a classic, contemporary, or a decor tone in between, you can find the ideal option from the many species of wood. So, we created this article to help you choose the best flooring option from the different types of hardwood floors.
Choose Right from the Many Types of Hardwood Floors
There are two main types of hardwood floors: solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. But when it comes to wood species, you can pick from oak flooring, maple, Brazilian cherry, hickory, walnut, ash, mahogany, teak, and pine. Here, we’ll help you choose the ideal floor type!
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Europeans began using solid hardwood floors since the 1600s. Click on this article if you want to learn more about the history of hardwood flooring.
Solid hardwood is real wood. And homeowners love it for its natural, unique, and warm beauty. Most wood species deliver that authentic charm, but it’s crucial that you choose the ideal type. The species of wood that you select will dictate the overall look of your floor.
For instance, when you compare white oak hardwood with cherry floor, you’ll get different grain patterns, colors, wood texture, and durability.
Top Wood Species We Recommend for Flooring:
- White or red oak
- Maple
- Brazilian Cherry
- Hickory
- Walnut
- Ash
- Mahogany
- Teak
- Pine
So, it’s certain that you’ll find the ideal wood species that suits your design, house decor, and lifestyle needs.
The floor is installed by interlocking pieces of wood that are called hardwood boards or planks. Hardwood planks vary in thickness, but most boards measure from 5/16 to ¾ inches thick. This thickness allows homeowners to sand and refinish the hardwood planks several times to restore its beauty.
With that being said, we would like to state something clear: hardwood is expensive, and it’s susceptible to cold temperature and humidity.
We recommend installing hardwood planks in the living room, master room, bedrooms. But you should avoid installing it on damp rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, or the basement.
Now that you know some pros and cons of solid hardwood, how does it compare to engineered hardwood flooring?
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered hardwood floor is manufactured from three to four layers of wood glued together to create a thick plank. The core of the plank is sandwiched by a top and bottom layer of hard, real wood that is called veneer.
This type of floor is a good choice because you get the same natural beauty as the real thing. Also, it’s less expensive, and it’s a little more resistant to moisture than solid hardwood planks.
However, some downsides to engineered hardwood are the following:
- It can’t be sanded and refinished
- Engineered wood is not quite as lasting as solid hardwood
- It doesn’t add as much resell value to your home
So, if you are faced with the decision of solid or engineered hardwood, your budget will be the decisive factor.
Choose the Hardwood Floor that Suits Your House Decor and Lifestyle!
To sum up, oak flooring is a good choice. Also, you can root for maple and cherry hardwood floors. And if you have a big budget, you can choose some exotic species like teak. In the end, it would depend on the decor of your house, your taste, and lifestyle needs.
So, we hope we helped you find your ideal option from the different species and types of hardwood floors. One last advice: make sure the hardwood flooring you choose comes from sustainably harvested forests.
Now, it’s time to buy the hardwood boards and get ready to install them. Later, you’ll enjoy the natural, unique, and warm beauty of your hardwood floors.