Types Of Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floor is not only long lasting, it’s also elegant to look at. The different hardwood floors come in different sizes and shapes. There are different types of these floors that you can install in your house. The main ones include:

Solid Hardwood floor

This is the most desired type of flooring. The wood planks are usually milled from a single piece of wood; therefore, they are very strong thus last for a long time. They come in different wood types and stain finishes thus you can use them in different rooms of the house.

There are two types of these floors: unfinished and pre-finished versions. The unfinished floor is the one that requires you to sand it at the job site. The pre-finished version on the other hand is the one that is usually sanded and finished at the factory.

The wood grain is the one that gives the hardwood the appearance of texture. If you want to maintain the longevity of the floor you only need to sand and stain the wood.

While solid hardwood floor has these advantages, it has a number of flaws. One of the flaws is that it’s the most expensive type of hardwood floor. The cool thing is that it lasts for a long time and gives your house the elegant look that it deserves.

Another flaw is that the floor is sensitive to moisture which causes warping, shifting, and swelling which can sometimes become difficult to repair.

Engineered Hardwood Floor

This one is composed of a number of thin, bonded sheets of wood. The floor is then topped with a thin layer of your desired wood grain. There are different types of wood that you can use. For example, you can use: maple, red oak, and cherry.

The cool thing with this floor is that it’s much cheaper than solid hardwood floor. While it’s cheaper, you shouldn’t install it in your bathroom. This is because it’s susceptible to moisture and warping.

To mitigate moisture issues it’s highly recommended that you install the floor over concrete. You should install it in a cross layer design in order to prevent it from expanding.

Conclusion

These are two of the most common hard wood floors that you can install in your house. For ideal results you should ensure that you buy the wood from a reputable store. You should also ensure that the installation is done by a professional.