Hardwood floors are a great choice for any home. They are durable, versatile, attractive, and easy to clean. With so many hardwood flooring options, the process of selecting the right wood floors for your home may seem a little overwhelming. To simplify the process, the flooring professionals at Got You Floored offer this practical guide below. We also offer hardwood flooring samplesdelivered free to your door.

Your Guide to Perfect Hardwood Flooring

Flooring Location

Hardwood floors look beautiful in any room of your house. However, they are not well suited for rooms such as bathrooms where they may be exposed to household chemicals and excess moisture. Over time, harsh chemicals and moisture will deteriorate your hardwood’s finish and decrease the lifespan of your flooring.

Engineered Hardwood Floors or Solid Hardwood Floors

Engineered hardwood flooring consists of two pieces of plywood glued together and topped with a 1/8 inch prefinished veneer. This layering makes it is stronger than solid hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood floors don’t expand and contract as much as solid wood floors making it better suited for rooms that experience high humidity or that may not be level. This type of flooring is also better than solid hardwoods for finishing basements because it is designed to “float” over an existing floor and can be nailed directly into a concrete subfloor. However, engineered hardwood flooring cannot be refinished which gives it less longevity and versatility than solid hardwood flooring.

Solid hardwood flooring is made from 1/4 inch pieces of solid wood and has a longer lifespan than engineered hardwood floors. Solid hardwoods are the more versatile option since their look can be changed by sanding and refinishing them with different stain colors. Solid hardwood floors do cost more than engineered hardwood floors, but you may consider it worth the extra investment because of its longevity, versatility and preference among home buyers.

Wood Species

Most popular hardwood floorings come from deciduous trees such as cherry, oak, maple, hickory and walnut. These trees produce the hardest wood because they lose their leaves during the winter months, giving their trunks a chance to harden. Each wood species has a different grain to it which affects the appearance of the flooring once it is stained. Have your Got You Floored salesperson place different wood flooring planks side-by-side so you can compare the different grain patterns and subtle shade differences.

Flooring Plank Size

The width of the flooring plank and the spacing between each is a decorative choice. We normally suggest wider flooring planks in country style, waterfront, and contemporary homes because these tend to compliment the style of these homes. Smaller flooring planks are better suited for homes with smaller rooms.

Hardwood Stain

The stain you select determines the color of your hardwood floors. The wood species affects the hue of the stain color.

Sheen

The next consideration should be your hardwood floors’ sheen or gloss. The glossier the floor, the more small nicks and scratches will be visible. If you are expecting a lot of floor traffic, choose a lower gloss.