Solid hardwood flooring has been the industry standard for many years. Made from entire full-length hardwood trees specially cut to fit your home’s needs, these flooring products are beautiful, practical, durable, and can add to the worth of your house. Unfinished hardwood flooring comes ready from the manufacturer, while a prefinished floor is finished and sanded at the job location. If you decide to install the hardwood yourself, it is recommended that you purchase a wood floor installation kit. These kits include everything you need to install a hardwood floor.
Solid hardwood flooring is beautiful and hard wearing, making it a long-lasting, low maintenance flooring option. Unlike carpets and rugs, hardwood flooring has a solid surface with little or no texture. Even the largest hardwood flooring installations typically only have about two-thirds as much space as the actual area of the room where the hardwood is installed. This creates a stunning effect in rooms that are large enough. Because of this, solid hardwood flooring can be installed in place of a huge rug, on high traffic areas, like hallways, or even in smaller rooms or patios. It is also durable enough to take regular use day after day without requiring any special treatment.
When shopping for hardwood flooring, the most popular selection is hardwood flooring that’s available in laminate form. Laminates are much easier to clean than the real thing. Since laminate hardwood flooring does not need to be stained or finished, it can be left in its natural state with just a few minutes of work every week or month. The ease of care makes it a practical choice for families who are busy and don’t have time to maintain wood floors. And because laminate is virtually impenetrable, it’s an ideal flooring solution for those who like to rearrange their rooms regularly.
Engineered hardwood flooring offers a close resemblance to its natural counterpart, but it’s made using a process that differs greatly from solid wood. In engineered hardwood flooring, layers of hardwood or composite material are laid down to replicate the look of a traditional hardwood floor. This includes both the visual appeal and durability. One key benefit of engineered hardwood flooring that sets it apart from solid hardwood is that it’s more affordable. In many cases, engineered hardwood flooring can cost less than half the price of comparable solid wood solutions.
Lumbers grown under the same conditions as hardwoods do vary slightly, which is another reason why some people prefer engineered hardwood flooring. If a tree is constantly under pressure to produce more leaves for its environment, the wood layers in the core of the hardwood flooring are somewhat unstable. The layers are not completely random in their arrangement. This produces a slightly irregular surface that’s slightly textured and uneven in texture. Some homeowners find this aesthetically displeasing, but it’s also much easier to repair.
Another way that engineered hardwoods differ from hardwoods is that they don’t require the tedious process of finishing. Hardwoods must be finished with stain and then protected with a protective coating. Engineered hardwoods don’t require any additional finishing process, so they’re ready to install right out of the box. This is especially helpful for do-it-yourselfers who may want to install their own hardwood flooring but are lacking the experience. By having it pre-finished, it cuts down on the time required to achieve the look they’re looking for.
When comparing solid hardwood floors and engineered hardwood flooring, one major distinction is the number of layers needed to achieve a smooth, flat surface. Since engineered hardwoods are comprised of multiple layers, each layer adds its own level of stability and attractiveness. The number of layers necessary to achieve that stability can be adjusted to the homeowner’s needs. In other words, some homeowners may prefer a very smooth top layer while others may opt for a thicker, finished top layer.
No matter what style or design a homeowner chooses, hardwood floors add a certain touch of beauty to any home. They’re durable and are resistant to scratches and other damage that can occur with other types of flooring. It’s easy to customize hardwood floors to meet a homeowner’s particular needs. This is why they’re considered one of the most popular and easiest to install styles of flooring available today.