What Are The Wood Flooring Options Available Today?

Thinking About Wood Flooring? Read This First.

Wood flooring offers a warm and timeless appearance that you won’t get with any other flooring material. So, if you’re in the market for good quality flooring materials that will last for a long time in your space and bolster the overall appeal of your home, you should consider wood flooring. But, then again, choosing the right type of wood for your floors can be a tough nut to crack if you don’t know where to start. Since you’re here, we’re going to help you choose the right wood flooring for your home. If that sounds interesting, keep reading.

Solid Hardwood

This wood flooring needs no explanation; the name gives it away already. From the ground up, materials used for this type of wood flooring are solid hardwoods. Solid hardwoods in this context are sticks of lumber sourced directly from the log without adding any additional materials or chemical treatments. In most cases, solid hardwood flooring is referred to as “hardwood floor”. While there are no additions to the wood itself, it can come in one of two ways: prefinished or unfinished hardwood.
Unfinished hardwood: As the name implies, this type of hardwood is supplied to the customer directly from the mill in an unfinished state. Some suppliers will sand the wood before offering them to the buyer or installer, but the sanding is usually just the top surface. If you want to enjoy optimal results with unfinished hardwood, you’ll need to sand the surface lightly, immediately when it arrives. Unfinished hardwood allows the customer to choose the exact stain shade. After installation, unfinished hardwood will need to be properly sealed to avoid damage by water, insects, or life in general!

Prefinished: Again, the name gives it way. Prefinished hardwood needs no extra work; it has been filed, sanded, and finished at the factory or flooring mill, and can be walked-on right away. Although prefinished woods are not as economical as their unfinished counterparts, they offer a lot of options when you need to use your floor immediately after installation. On the other hand, unfinished woods are more customizable than prefinished goods, and you can stain and seal them to your specifications.

Pros
· Long-lasting
· Can be re-sanded
· Budget-friendly
· can be sealed to specification

Cons
· vulnerable to scratch
· Cannot be installed on existing floors (needs to be nailed to the floor)
· Doesn’t fare well in moist areas

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is made of wood-chip composite laced with a thin resin-infused paper on the top. As a result, it is not real wood per se. But, if you’re looking for a great wood flooring alternative to add to your space, laminate flooring should be on your list. Because of its great looks, laminate flooring has become extremely popular in home interior design (which is why it’s being included on this list). Laminate floorings are created to mimic hardwood by portraying the character and aesthetic of wood. The top layer of the laminate crafted with an impressively convincing imitation of wood. Even if you hold a magnifying lens to the wood, you’ll still be fooled by its realness. Unlike natural wood, laminate woods are resistant to scratches, making them a great choice if your floors receive a lot of wear and tear from kids or pets.
Pros:
· Scratch resistance
· Moisture tolerant
· stress-free installation
cons:
· hard on the legs (if you don’t have a foam underneath)
· Slippery
· Cannot be re-sanded or re-finished

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is the perfect blend between laminate and finished wood. It bears similarities to solid hardwood flooring, minus the drawbacks. The main distinction between the solid hardwood and engineered wood is the wood used for the flooring. Unlike the hardwood flooring, where prefinished or unfinished wood is used for the floor without adding any other material, engineered flooring uses both base wood and finish wood. A wood or wood composite base layer is used than real wood is glued to the top at the factory to create a truly impressive product.

Pros;
· Scratch-resistance
· can be installed on stable existing floors
· Easy to install

Cons
· thin top layer
· Sanding is limited (once or twice)
· Vulnerable to deep scratches

Reclaimed Wood

This is a type of wood flooring is becoming more and more renowned among interior decorators in our modern-day society. When it comes to creating a cozy, rustic feel in your home, reclaimed woods offer a lot of options. Reclaimed woods are sourced from dilapidated structures, furniture, scaffold, old barns, factory buildings, etc. These woods have been used before, and they have stood the test of time. Ironic as it may sound, the beauty of reclaimed wood is not in its newness, but rather, in its agedness. With reclaimed woods, imperfection equals perfection. These aged hardwoods can add beauty and elegance to your space or a time-honored rustic appearance. The character of your floor will be truly unique. If you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative for your flooring needs, reclaimed woods are the ideal choice.

Pros
· One-of-a-kind character
· Can be eco-friendly (based on how/where they are sourced)
· They can be re-sanded in the event of a scratch
· You can stain them to your specifications

Cons
· Old
· Requires sanding and sealing
· Vulnerable to moisture

Those are the four basic wood flooring options available in the market today. Now, in each category, there are a subset of options, but today we just wanted to go over the basics.If you want to remodel your floors with wood, it doesn’t get better than these four. But before you settle on a choice, make sure it fits your needs perfectly. Also, make sure your wood flooring choice is the right decision for your budget. Feel free to stop by the showroom or give us a call for more details or help in making a decision.