All About Hardwood Flooring

About Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is well-known for its timeless beauty and elegance, making it the go-to choice of many home and business owners. Its one-of-a-kind features–such as the different species, grain patterns, stains and board widths–provide limitless options to suit any taste. You can find hardwood floors in nearly any room – living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms—just avoid humid areas with excessive moisture. The best part? With proper upkeep, these floors have a lifespan of several decades!

Types of Hardwood Flooring

Natural hardwood flooring offers a wide range of species choices with varying grain pattern, color and hardness. Encompassing both domestic and exotic woods, there are many commonly available US-grown options such as oak, maple, hickory, cherry and walnut. In particular, Red Oak is the most popular domestic due to its abundance. Further characteristics that make it ideal for flooring include affordability, beauty plus the ability to stain well with the proper amount of durability and workability.
Hardwood flooring is renowned for its durability. As it is more dense and takes longer to grow, hardwood may require greater labor to cut, install, sand, and stain. However, these higher initial costs of installation and materials may be offset by the possibility that this type of flooring will last longer with less frequent refinishing required. Refinishing is available to extend the lifespan of hardwoods floors should they become scratched or dented. All in all, hardwood flooring could provide an effective long-term money-saving solution.
Soft woods are not as dense and tend to grow more quickly, making them more sustainable and budget-friendly options. However, these materials are also more prone to scratches and dents. Depending on the needs of a project or space, some people may still prefer soft wood species due to their affordability and beauty. The price of hardwoods typically ranges from $5 – $15 per square foot when installed, though this can vary from project-to-project.
The Janka hardness scale is used to rate the hardness of different types of hardwood. The ten most common woods, in order from softest to hardest on the scale, are (list follows).

Types of Woods

  • Douglas Fir
  • White Pine
  • Black Cherry
  • Black Walnut
  • Teak
  • Heart Pine
  • Birch
  • Red Oak
  • Beech
  • White Ash

Pricing

  • 660
  • 690
  • 950
  • 1010
  • 1078
  • 1225
  • 1260
  • 1290
  • 1300
  • 1320

Types of Woods

  • White Oak
  • Australian Cypress
  • Maple
  • Hickory/ Pecan
  • Jarrah
  • Mahogany
  • Mesquite
  • Brazilian Cherry
  • Purpleheart
  • Brazilian Teak

Pricing

  • 1360
  • 1375
  • 1450
  • 1820
  • 1910
  • 2200
  • 2345
  • 2820
  • 2890
  • 3540

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood features a layer of solid wood bonded with layers of wood fibers and adhesive. This construction makes engineered wood more resistant to humidity and moisture changes in the atmosphere, unlike solid hardwood which can expand and contract due to temperature and humidity variations, causing boards to warp and form gaps. Suppliers offer numerous species choices for engineered hardwood flooring.
Engineered wood has many advantages as a flooring solution. Due to its excellent moisture resistance, it is well-suited for areas with heightened levels of humidity, such as bathrooms, mudrooms, and basements below grade. It can also be installed directly on concrete subfloors — no plywood required — and in those cases a moisture barrier should be used to ensure the highest levels of performance. Furthermore, engineered wood is one of the best types of floors for radiant heating systems.
Engineered wood is more cost-efficient than traditional hardwood; however, refinishing engineered wood tends to be limited. Materials with a top layer of half an inch or thicker hardwood can most likely withstand 1-3 refinishing rounds. Prices can range from $3-$5 square/ft for the material and an installation service could stretch that up to $6-$15.

Cork Flooring

Cork flooring is a great option for its renewable and eco-friendly properties. After the bark of the tree is harvested, it’s bonded with adhesive resins before being sold in solid or engineered construction forms. While walking on cork flooring feels quiet and soft, it has its downsides: Water exposure should be avoided since cork is less resistant to dents and scratches than other types of flooring solutions, making it not ideal for pet owners who may have their pet’s nails puncture and scratch the surface. Prices range from $3-$8 per square foot, with installation clocking in between $5-$11.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is an eco-friendly, rapidly renewable grass shoot that can be just as durable and long-lasting as hardwood. When prepared into planks, bamboo is even harder than some varieties of wood and highly scratch-resistant. Bamboo is available in a large selection of both prefinished and unfinished varieties. It’s important to pay attention to quality when selecting bamboo floors; many cheaper products can have VOCs that adversely affect air quality and provide poor wear protection. Fortunately, there are high-quality brands with air quality certifications to look for if you’re considering bamboo flooring. Additionally, bamboo resists mold and allergens better than other materials, with costs ranging from $3-$8 per square foot for the material alone or up to $12 for professional installation.

Laminate & Vinyl

Laminate and vinyl flooring materials offer an affordable, realistic alternative to hardwood floors. A photographically-rendered image is printed on layers such as wood pulp fiberboard or PVC plastic. While these surfaces may look and feel quite similar to hardwood, they cannot be refinished when the surface begins to show wear; this makes them less long-lasting than hardwood floors. Costs for installation range from $1-$7 per square foot, plus a $2-$15 installation fee.

Hardwood Flooring Options

• Prefinished or unfinished: For those wanting to do their own flooring project, prefinished planks are a great way to go. They come pre-stained and sealed with a UV-protected polyurethane that is more durable than standard finishes. The cost of the material may be higher than traditional wood types but this can often be offset by labor costs saved from the quick installation time—often without needing professional labor. Furthermore, you get an exact idea for how your flooring will look before it is installed. Traditional methods, such as on-site staining and finish sealing, allow for more color choices and additional protection from moisture, although they also leave seams where spills could penetrate through. On-site tests with multiple colors can help ensure you’re pleased with the finished product.
• Finish with penetrating oil, oil based polyurethane or water based polyurethane. Penetrating oil is often the DIYer’s go-to when it comes to treating wood surfaces; however, it doesn’t provide a hard protective coating like polyurethane. It’s effective at hiding scratches, but can also make the surface more vulnerable to dents and scrapes. Additionally, it requires frequent reapplications and patch-ups for small areas.
Polyurethane coatings are common choices for floor finishes. They’re available in both oil base and water base varieties, and each type creates a hard protective shell over the surface. Oil base is more economical to produce and easier to manage for DIYers due to longer drying time, permitting opportunity for mistake correction. While this offers its own advantages, it’s important to take note of the noxious fumes associated with oil base polyurethane that require use of a respirator while applying, and may linger in the area up to several weeks after. Additionally, application of oil base has been known to cause wood colors shift gradually over time into darker shades.
There is a debate among flooring professionals about which product – oil or water-based finish – is better at providing long-lasting results. While both can achieve similar durability of up to many years, some factors could make water-based finishes more ideal. Water-based finishes will incur fewer return trips during installed due to its faster curing time, while still requiring professional application. Also worth considering is that this product produces fewer fumes and virtually no odor when applied, making it suitable for condo applications in particular. Plus, with a clear finish that retains the natural color of the wood, you preserve the desired aesthetic.
• Plank Width
In terms of style, wider planks are the current trend. Ranging from 6 to 11 inches in width, they add a distinct flair. Of course, how you choose to design your floor is ultimately based on preference; the functionality remains the same between standard and wide boards. Floors made with several board widths offer an even more unique look. It’s worth noting that wider plans are typically more costly than narrower ones; however, with their popularity comes advantages. Visibility of any gaps formed by humidity or temperature changes will be lessened due to fewer boards used in comparison to standard planks.
• Wood Grade
Different grades of planks are sorted based on the number of defects in them. The ones with fewer imperfections are most expensive, while lower grade options can be chosen for more rustic settings. Depending on the type of wood, a high or low grade plank may have more knots than usual. Reclaimed wood is an option where used planks are reprocessed to obtain an aged and historic appearance. Despite being reclaimed, these planks may not be inexpensive due to extensive labor required in reclaiming them.
• Grain Patterns
Planks generally come in three cut angles, plain sawn, quarter sawn, and rift sawn; each results in a different grain angle. Different cuts have varying aesthetic qualities as well as distinct levels of durability. Plain sawn is highly common and offers an attractive grain pattern, but is the least expensive of the cuts. Quarter sawn is more expensive and provides greater stability than plain sawn boards. Last but not least, rift sawn boards are the most costly as they are rarely used and offer excellent strength overall.
• Hardwood Flooring Textures
Smoothed surfaces are traditional when it comes to floor planks. However, today a variety of textures are available, including scraped, wire brushed and distressed wood. Textured wood can add personality to virtually any interior design theme, whether contemporary, traditional, rustic, industrial or eclectic. Over time, small dents and scratches on textured woods will blend in with the pattern whereas they may be more evident on smoother finishes.
• Finish Color
Prefinished hardwood flooring planks come in a range of colors, and wood stains for unfinished planks offer even more natural shades—including brown, yellow, grey, tan and red. You may even choose to paint the planks any color you can imagine. When it comes to stain colors, lighter hues tend to be less prone to showing dirt, while darker colors will conceal the grain pattern for a more uniform look.
• Gloss Level
Polyurethane finishes come in a range of reflected sheen, from glossy at 70%, to satin at 40%, semigloss at 55%, and matte at 25%. Satin is the most popular option for its elegant look and easy maintenance, as it does not easily show dust, dents, or scratches. Glossy reflects the most light yet also shows dirt and scratches the most. Matte has low sheen but looks clean; however this finish may not always meet aesthetic expectations.
• Custom Design Patterns
Hardwood floor installations can be customized with an assortment of style designs. This includes straight boards, diagonal, herringbone, parquet and basket weaves. Additionally, there are borders available in popular patterns such as the Greek key design. Medallions and intricate designs can turn a room into something that looks fit for royalty.

Installation of Hardwood Flooring

Installing solid hardwood flooring is a complex task that often requires specialized tools and skills. To ensure your floor is installed correctly and to get the most out of it, we recommend leaving installation to the professionals who can offer warranties and expertise on this project. Additionally, if you’re looking for an easier DIY alternative, there are snap together click-lock floating floors available in engineered wood, bamboo, cork, laminate and vinyl varieties. That being said, improper installation of solid hardwood can lead to gaps, cracks, warping and squeaking – making experienced professional help a worthwhile investment.

Installation of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is a great choice for DIY installation, providing flexible options and easy installation. It can be glued, nailed, stapled or floated over plywood subfloors – or even installed without one. There’s also the benefit of placing it at, above or below grade level. All this makes engineered wood an ideal choice for any number of home improvement project needs.
A click lock floating floor presents a convenient and straightforward installation process, as no fasteners or adhesives are required in order to adhere it to the subfloor. These floors are designed so that they can simply be ‘floated’ over any type of existing subflooring, such as tile, vinyl, or concrete. The floor boards themselves connect using click lock fasteners that snap together, or by a thin strip of glue that is placed on the tongue & groove joint.
Engineered floors are an ideal solution for concrete installation, especially in below-ground and moist areas. They can be affixed directly to fully-cured concrete, tile, or a pad placed over the specified subfloor. The padding offers softness and quietness as well as serve as a moisture barrier. Before installation however, the subfloor must be completely dry and flat to ensure a successful installation that takes into account floor height and door clearance.

Hardwood Flooring Maintenance

For the most part, hardwood and engineered wood floors are relatively easy to maintain. Start by ensuring that dirt and grit don’t wear down the topcoat of your floor – this is best achieved by regularly sweeping or vacuuming using the vacuum’s hose and soft attachments. To further protect your floor, add door mats to entranceways, area rugs with high-traffic areas, and felt pads on furniture legs. Shoes should be removed when inside, particularly high heel shoes as they can cause dents in the floor. Additionally, you should avoid excessive usage of water and cleaning products (including ammonia and vinegar) on these floors as they can damage the finish. The best approach is to use specially designed hardwood cleaning products which usually come in spray form with minimal water requirements. Finally for a complete refreshment of your floor after about 7-10 years, sanding and refinishing is generally recommended in order to remove any slightly dents or scratches present.
Solid Hardwood Flooring Pros & Cons
  • can last a lifetime, some floors over 100 years (depending on wood species, maintenance & traffic
  • can be refinished multiple times to make floor look new again
  • can change sheen level & color when refinishing
  • adds beauty & resale value to any home• hypoallergenic, resists mold & allergen
  • 100% natural
  • easy to maintain
  • can be more costly than other flooring types
  • excess moisture or humidity can damage floors
  • not easy for DIY installation
  • not easy to replace a damaged section like a floating floor is
Engineered Hardwood Flooring Pros & Cons
  • water resistant, suitable for bathrooms, basements, laundry & mudroom
  • click lock floating floor installation easy for DIY
  • many installation options
  • better for radiant heated flooring
  • generally less costly than solid hardwood
  • all natural except adhesives, check for air quality certification
  • easy to maintain
  • hypoallergenic, resists mold & allergens
  • floating floor easy to replace a damaged section
  • can’t be refinished as many times as solid hardwood, may not last as long (20-80 years)
Factors To Consider When Buying Hardwood Flooring
  • DIY or pro installation 
  • species
  • solid or engineered
  • finished or prefinished
  • type of finish: penetrating oil, oil base or water base polyurethane
  • sheen level
  • hardness
  • price
  • color 
  • texture
  • grain pattern
  • borders, patterns, medallions
  • plank width & length
  • warranty
Contact Company Floors Services today to schedule a free consultation for hardwood floor installation in your home or business.