Types of hardwood floors available

Wood floors are made from many different materials and each has its own look. Here we are going to take a look at some key terms to make sure you know exactly what you are buying. Education is an important part of the buying process.

There are two main types of wood flooring that we will discuss: solid wood and engineered wood.

Solid wood:
As the name implies, it is a flooring material that is all “real” wood. Typically milled from a 3/4-inch-thick piece of hardwood, solid wood flooring is a long-lasting product that can be sanded and restored many times and, if installed in the right environment It can last for generations.

Engineered wood:
It’s still considered “real hardwood flooring,” but engineered wood has just a thick layer of hardwood on a plywood base. This product is ideal for areas with humidity.

Strip floors:
These are narrow strips of wood, usually available in widths of 1 1/2″, 2″, and 2 1/4″ wide. This is what you see in most homes.

Plank floors:
This is wood flooring with widths of 3″ or more. It was long considered to have a traditional look, but wide planks are becoming a mainstay of modern design.

Random Width Floors:
It combines various widths of wooden flooring and can be shaped. This gives a very interesting look to your room.

Flat:
This is a patterned wooden floor, on which wooden slats are laid in different directions. Parquet floors are generally sold in tiles. Parquet has become much more popular in recent times, after a period where it had fallen out of fashion.