When it comes to your home’s flooring, you want to make an educated decision. This is significantly important when it comes to hardwood flooring. If you’re considering going with a natural, wood look for your home, it’s imperative to know the different types of hardwood flooring that exist. Discover the four types in our helpful guide below.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood flooring is a type of flooring made from 100% real, natural wood. This feature draws many homeowners to it over other options such as carpet and laminate flooring. Solid wood flooring can come unfinished or finished, allowing the purchaser to choose whether they want to apply their own custom finish or purchase one that’s ready to be installed.
Some of the pros and cons of solid hardwood include:
Pros
• Provides ageless quality
• Variety of color and finishes
• Great long-term investment
Cons
• Susceptible to shrinking and expanding from moisture
• Can be noisy
• Prone to termite attacks
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring is also made from 100% real, natural wood. However, there are a few differences between engineered hardwood and solid wood. The first is the way in which it’s constructed. Engineered wood is constructed with multiple layers of cross-ply construction. It can also be installed over concrete, unlike solid hardwood.
Here are a few of its pros and cons:
Pros
• Resists the effects of moisture, such as shrinkage and expansion
• Requires little maintenance
• Easier to install than solid hardwood
Cons
• The veneers of engineered wood are thin. This hinders your chances of prolonging the flooring’s lifetime, because after the first attempt of refinishing, the flooring will become too thin.
• Can still fade if exposed to the sun and UV rays
• Susceptible to scratches and dents
Bamboo
Unlike solid and engineered hardwood floors, bamboo flooring doesn’t come from trees—it comes from a type of grass. Don’t let this fool you; bamboo flooring is just as strong as most wood species, and you can even refinish it in the same way.
These pros and cons will help you determine if bamboo flooring is right for your home:
Pros
• Termite-resistant
• More water-resistant than solid and engineered wood
• Can be installed over multiple types of subfloors
Cons
• Can be easily scratched
• Can become discolored and marred
• Prone to damage caused by humidity
Cork Flooring
Made with the bark of a tree, cork flooring is preferred due to the comfort, flexibility, and quietness it provides. You won’t have to worry about creaking floors with this kind of flooring. It’s also hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and environmentally friendly.
Here are some insightful pros and cons of bamboo flooring:
Pros
• Easy to install
• Resists mildew, bacteria, and insects
• Spongy nature makes standing on it better for your back
Cons
• Not pet-friendly
• Must be water-sealed
• Can be indented by heavy furniture
Each one of the four different hardwood flooring types will make a great addition to your home. However, the right choice is ultimately up to you. Be sure to pick an option that fits your lifestyle. By doing so, you’ll be sure to find the perfect fit for your home. For flooring inquiries in the Portland, Oregon, area, give us a call. Floors 55 has the expertise you need to achieve the flooring of your dreams.