Real wood flooring is one of the most popular choices in flooring throughout the country. They are durable, always on-trend, and can take almost anything life throws their way. The wood floor industry has created so many types in such a wide range of colors, it’s possible to find the exact floor that’s perfect for your room if you know a little bit about this flooring choice before you ever head to the showroom.
Engineered hardwood flooring
Engineered hardwood is one of the two main types of hardwood floors. They are still made from real wood, just like natural wood flooring, but they are made from thin layers of wood attached rather than a solid plank. This engineering method makes them durable, and less expensive than real wood flooring options on the market today.
Natural hardwood flooring
Natural hardwood flooring utilizes solid wood planks, typically about 3/4 of an inch thick. These planks are glued to the subfloor of your space and are installed permanently. Although it’s often easy to tell the difference between natural wood flooring and engineered wood flooring, sometimes project budgets don’t have room for the natural product and engineered projects are the perfect substitute.
Unfinished hardwood flooring
Most hardwood floors are shipped already finished directly from the factory. You can find unfinished wood floors which will allow you to harness their natural look, or apply stain and sealant yourself. Unfinished options give you more control over the final look of your wood floors than prefinished products do.
Species of hardwood flooring
There are many types of wood used to make both real hardwood and engineered hardwood floors. Typical tree species uses include white and red oak, pine, cherry, pine, hickory, maple and walnut. Harder woods are usually preferred to make flooring that will bear the burden of heavy furniture, pets, shoes and other potentially damaging aspects of daily living.
Cork flooring
