Wood floors are prized for their timeless beauty and durability. From rustic farm houseto sophisticated contemporary design, wood floors allow homeowners great flexibility in styles. There are three basic types of wood flooring available to homeowners, solid hardwood, engineered wood, and laminate.
Solid hardwood flooring is made from a solid piece/plank and is available in various woods from oak and walnut to zebrawood. When purchasing hardwood ask the retailer if your chosen wood is harvested from sustainable and managed forests. Solid hardwood can be refinished many times over it’s lifetime and is installed directly to a subfloor.
Engineered wood is made from a top veneer of hardwood and several cross cut layers of plywood. This type of construction resists expansion and contraction from humidity changes. It is a good choice for kitchens and basements due to its durability. Engineered wood can be refinished one or two times.
Laminate is very low maintenance and available in many styles and colors. Extremely stable and similar to engineered wood, laminate has a coated photograph as its top layer. This laminate can be installed to look like many types of hardwood or stone, and can be installed over existing flooring but it cannot be refinished.
Julie