7 Types of Wood Flooring: Hardwood Flooring Guide

Wood flooring is any type of permanent floor that has the appearance of wood, whether it is made out of natural or synthetic lumber. Wood is a versatile flooring material that comes in a number of styles, colors, and species. There are two main types of wood flooring, which are solid wood and engineered wood. Solid wood flooring is made from solid planks of lumber. Engineered wood flooring has a lumber veneer over a synthetic, reinforced underlayment made of something other than wood. Here is a little more information about both of these types of flooring.

• Solid hardwood flooring: Solid wood floors are made up of solid, wide planks of hardwood that are fitted together using the tongue and groove method. This hardwood is the longest-lasting kind of wood flooring but is also the most expensive. It is also vulnerable to warping from humidity, so it should not be used in high-moisture areas of the home or on the ground floor of your floor plan. Sanding down your wood flooring every few years can help extend the life of your solid wood floor.
• Engineered hardwood flooring: Engineered wood floors involve laying a top layer of wood over a subfloor (sometimes made of multiple layers of wood, others of synthetic materials like concrete). Engineered wood flooring is slightly cheaper than solid wood flooring. It also holds up better against moisture and humidity than solid hardwood, though it is not completely water-resistant. Engineered wood flooring cannot be sanded and refinished regularly in the same way that solid wood flooring can.

When you are choosing what hardwood floors you want to install in your home, you want to consider the structural makeup and durability of your choices. Here are three factors to keep in mind when you’re considering the various types of hardwood flooring that may work for your home.

1. 1. Humidity and moisture resistance: Any type of solid wood flooring will be significantly more vulnerable to heat, humidity, and moisture damage than engineered wood flooring. Also, when you install solid wood flooring, you need to account for the wood expanding slightly from temperature changes to prevent it from warping. The same problem doesn’t exist with engineered wood flooring.
2. 2. Hardness: Wood flooring durability is determined using the Janka hardness scale, which is measured in pounds-force. Hardwoods (like Brazilian cherry or hickory) that have a higher hardness rating than softer woods (like cherry or douglas fir) are better suited for rooms with lots of heavy furniture and foot traffic. Harder woods are also less vulnerable to scuffing and denting. Synthetic wood flooring—like laminate and vinyl flooring—is less durable and more easily damaged than natural wood.
3. 3. Photosensitivity: The color of wood changes when it is exposed to direct sunlight, including natural filtered light that comes in from your windows. Keep this in mind when you choose your home’s wood flooring. If your floors get a lot of direct sunlight, choose a type of wood with low photosensitivity. Cherry wood is the most photosensitive of all the wood floorings, so avoid this type of wood if your room gets lots of direct sunlight.

Once you’ve decided whether you want to have solid wood or engineered wood flooring, you can choose from a number of wood species that will influence the appearance and functionality of your floors. Here are a few popular species of wood that homeowners can choose from for their new flooring.

1. 1. American walnut: American walnut is a soft, dark wood that has a distinctive look of swirled grain. This makes this kind of wood a striking design choice, but it is susceptible to denting and scuffing and should not be used in high-traffic areas of a home.
2. 2. Bamboo: Bamboo flooring is made up of compressed strands of bamboo, which means that it is not natural wood. However, it is considered wood flooring because it has the appearance of wood. It is also two to three times harder than most natural woods and cheaper by the square foot. Bamboo is also a fast-growing plant, making it eco-friendly and widely available. Bamboo isn’t as easy to stain as real wood, home improvement stores often sell it prefinished and in a number of color variations.
3. 3. Cherry: Cherry wood is a popular flooring material, but one that is more expensive because of its enviable appearance. It has a versatile, light reddish-brown color with visible, swirling grains. However, it is highly photosensitive and liable to darken in the first few months after installation. It is also the softest natural wood flooring material, and it is highly vulnerable to scuffing, denting, staining, and warping.
4. 4. Maple: Maple is another popular hardwood that grows in the Northern US and Canada. Maple flooring is usually harder than oak and is often used in bowling alley lanes, and other underfoot areas.
5. 5. Oak: Oak is the most common hardwood species used in flooring in the US because it is durable, affordable, and easy to work with. Red oak (which has a darker red appearance) and white oak (which is golden brown) are popular flooring choices. White oak flooring has a hardness level of around 1360, making it durable to high-traffic areas of your home.
6. 6. Parquet: Parquet flooring dates back to the parqueterie courts of 1600s France. It is not a type of wood, but a fashion of laying wood plank flooring. Parquet flooring involves arranging small panels of one wood into a geometric, angular mosaic. Parquet floor patterns include square parquet, chevron parquet, or herringbone parquet. Parquet flooring requires frequent upkeep, but also highlights the natural beauty of the grain pattern and adds value to your home.
7. 7. Pine: Pine is a relatively soft wood, abundant in the US and Canada making it a cheap and sustainable flooring option. Pine is not always great for refinishing, as it dents and scratches more easily than other hardwoods. However, the charming grain and versatile white and yellow hues of this wood make it a popular decor choice.

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