Quick Tips For Buying Wood Flooring
Posted by Johnny Holbert on 14th Sep 2021
Have you been shopping for a wood floor lately? It can be downright overwhelming to the beginning floor shopper. Getting too involved in the technical side of the products can be a headache, so today we will be giving you some quick tips for buying wood floors to make the process just a little more manageable.
Quick Tips for Buying Wood Floors
The biggest decision on wood floors is choosing the right type for your home. When we say type we are really talking about 2 wood floor types: Solid Hardwood Flooring and Engineered Wood Flooring.
Solid Wood Floors – This is the go to flooring that you have been around all your life. Solid hardwood is exactly how it sounds, a solid piece of your chosen specie of wood. The life expectancy is phenomenal and will more than likely outlive most of the items in your home. This floor is hardy and very durable. One of the biggest benefits is the fact that you can refinish it as you desire to achieve different looks or repair it after years of wear and tear.
There are a few downsides though, like any product. Solid wood floors are susceptible to water damage and aren’t the ideal flooring option for kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Solid wood also has a tendency to scratch a little easier.
Engineered Wood Floors – These floors are an excellent choice for those that are willing to sacrifice the refinishing potential for better water and scratch resistance. They aren’t typically made of the same species of wood that you see on the top layer. Their construction is achieved by adhering several layers of ply wood on a base and finishing it with the top layer of your chosen specie, stain and texture. This gives it incredible durability. But don’t confuse engineered wood with laminate, as it is still 100% real wood. The installation of engineered wood floors are a perfect Diy project, without fear of installing in just about any room in your home.
The downsides are few but they do exist, sometimes they can be a little more expensive, but not much more. You also aren’t able to refinish them like you can solid wood floors. However if you buy an engineered with a thick top layer you may be able to finish it once or twice in its lifetime.
Those are the basics of the types now lets get to the fun part… THE LOOKS!
Finishes – Finishes are what is put on wood floors to protect your flooring from damage. You can buy unfinished wood, but you will never be able to get the supreme protection that factory finished wood offers doing it yourself. It is a matter of technology developed over years of manufacturing. Finishes also give wood unique colors and reflections ranging from shiny to muted looks.- Textures – Textures are a great way to bring character to any design. When referring to wood floors specifically, they vary ranging from distressed to dings to gouges or just natural.
Understanding your product and needs for your home is the best way for buying wood floors confidently. We hope this helped you to learn more about buying wood floors and would like to invite you to continue to browse around our blog for all of your flooring questions and concerns.
