Hardwood flooring is any material made from hardwood that’s intended to be used as flooring, either decorative or structural. Wood is an incredibly popular option for flooring materials, both because of its high quality and the many options available. There are many reasons to choose hardwood flooring for your home. First, the natural beauty of wood floors is hard to beat, whether it’s a traditional look or something more modern. Plus, wood flooring adds warmth and character to any home.
If you’re looking at hardwood flooring for your new floor, there are a few factors you should consider. Hardwood flooring comes in many different types and grains, so it’s important to know what’s out there before making your decision. Oak, ash, maple, birch, cherry, mahogany, plum, oak, maple, beech, and walnut are among the most popular choices, though there are some solid woods you may want to avoid. There’s no right or wrong choice when choosing hardwood flooring, but there are some things you should always look for. The first thing to consider is the grain pattern of the flooring.
Even though there are several different grain patterns of hardwood flooring to choose from, some of the more popular are planks with an “X” pattern on the top layer. This is basically a cross between an oak plank and a walnut or oak floor. The top layer of the engineered hardwood flooring has a very high natural gloss and is sealed to make it easier to clean. The second layer of the wood is more natural, with a slightly coarser texture. It still has a high gloss and is sealed to help keep it looking fresh.
There are many benefits to having engineered hardwood flooring over solid hardwood. The main benefit is that it is much more durable. Engineered hardwood flooring is constructed to last longer than solid hardwood, so if you have kids or animals, you can buy a less durable option. If you’re looking for a real engineered hardwood floor, the best choice is Walnut, Maple, or Beech.
Another important difference between hardwood flooring and engineered floor is the finish. Finish is simply applied to the top layer and left to dry. The top layer will need to be sanded to remove the finish, and then a thin layer of glue is added to the finish and let it dry. If the finish is done correctly, it should be smooth and shiny. If not, sandpaper will be needed to scrape off the unfinished layer.
The third difference is in the density of the boards. Solid hardwood floors have a dense board top layer, while engineering floorboards have a lower density. The boards are also arranged differently on solid hardwood floors. Nails are used on engineered floors to bond the boards together.
The fourth difference is in price. Engineered hardwood flooring can be cheaper than solid hardwood, since the boards are pre-built. Also, because the floors are more durable, they cost less per square foot, but they may be more expensive than natural hardwood.
The fifth and most important reason to choose engineered hardwood flooring over wood flooring is that it is stronger than solid hardwood. In addition, it can withstand moisture better than wood does. Most people are familiar with the scratches and scrapes that engineered hardwood flooring can take. However, many people don’t realize that hardwood flooring also takes dents and dings. Acrylics, on the other hand, do not have any scratches or marks.
With engineered floors, you get two layers of wood. One layer is the hardwood layer and the second layer is the engineered-wood layer. If your existing hardwood flooring has been damaged by water, this is not a problem with engineered floors. You simply apply an appropriate sealant, and you’re ready to use. On top of that, you save money because the product is less expensive than hardwood floors.
You also won’t have to pay to refinish your boards. Refinishing hardwood flooring can be extremely costly because you have to hire a professional installer, buy new tools and materials, and pay for the refinishing yourself. You’ll have to spend time sanding and painting your boards, and the process often costs several days of work. With floor engineered flooring, you simply remove the existing flooring and replace it with the new product, which will only take a few hours to do.
Unlike hardwood floors, solid wood floors don’t have grooves. The reason for this is that the process of felling lumber in order to make planks is much more expensive than simply staining a plank to make it look like unfinished wood. If your planks are scratched, there’s no need to refinish them because they’re already damaged. If anything scratches the surface of the planks, however, you can always buff out the scratch and use a finishing touch up stain to give your floors a bright, fresh look. Engineered floors aren’t as inexpensive as solid wood floors, but they’re much easier to install, last longer, and require very little maintenance.