Hardwood floors bring a sense of warmth and comfort to any home. When you choose the floors for your new home or remodeling project, you may encounter a wide range of choices in hardwood floors.

However, not all hardwood floors are created (or manufactured) equal. The style of your home, the climate in which you live, and even which floor you plan to install the materials on can affect your choices.

Here are some factors you should consider when choosing your next hardwood floor:

Solid Hardwood

A solid hardwood flooring panel comes directly from a sheet of lumber. You can choose from American classic lumber, such as ash, maple or oak, or more exotic textures, such as cherry, lapacho or tigerwood from South America. The solid construction allows for sanding and refinishing over the years, without the worry of losing its texture or integrity. While solid hardwood offers a beautiful surface for most living areas, manufacturers do not recommend its use in bathrooms, basements, or any room exposed to high levels of moisture.

Engineered Hardwood

An engineered hardwood panel uses thin layers of hardwood, known as “plies”, glued together. You can find many of the same types of wood found as solid hardwood panels are also available as engineered hardwood. The engineered hardwood gives you a more stable flooring surface, as well as added protection from moisture damage. This increased protection allows you to use engineered hardwood in rooms where solid hardwood may not be suitable.

Appearance

Another great benefit of hardwood floors is that you can match the appearance of the wood to the style of your home. For a more rural or rustic setting, a distressed or hand-scraped hardwood floor can add to the feeling of an old-fashioned country home. For a more modern setting, a traditional hardwood floor can offset the updated look of the room with a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Hardness

Not all “hardwood” floors are equal in their hardness. You should consider the hardness of the wood when making your purchase, especially if those floors will be installed in high-traffic areas. The Janka hardness scale measures the wood’s resistance to dents and scratches. Red oak, white oak, and white ash have similar measurements on the Janka scale. Brazilian woods, such as cherry, teak and walnut, are among the hardest materials in the industry, while American Black Cherry is one of the softest.

For more answers to your hardwood flooring questions, come see the experts at Direct Source Flooring. Our staff has a combined four decades of experience in hardwood floor sales, service and installation. We can guide your through the dozens of hardwood floor samples in our warehouse.

Before you choose a hardwood floor, make an appointment to see us. Fill out the form to the right and set up an appointment today!