Hardwood flooring is an option that will often complete your home or office’s look. It is a visually appealing option that goes with most decor options. Selecting options like the best hardwood floor finish adds a level of coziness to your space, and there are countless colors and styles available for it. For those who wish to have it installed in their kitchen, it is a naturally beautiful choice that is durable, gentle on your feet, and easier to clean than ceramic or tile floors.

When choosing the option that is best for you, there are several styles and types of hardwood flooring to keep in mind.

Prefinished or Unfinished

To start, you can choose either prefinished or unfinished hardwood flooring. 

Prefinished

Prefinished hardwood flooring installation tends to be: 

  • Quicker since it already comes sanded and sealed by the manufacturer
  • Durable
  • Scratch-resistant (but not scratch-proof)

Using prefinished hardwood flooring has its drawbacks. These include:

  • Difficult to repair when scratched.
  • High-gloss finish which tends to give it a plastic look 
  • Highly reflective surface can hide the wood grain and can be slippery for pets with long nails
  • Difficult to remove and will likely require a professional’s help when it comes time to add another finish to flooring
  • More expensive than unfinished flooring, but the extra money spent on this type of flooring saves you time on installation

Unfinished

Unfinished hardwood flooring will require more time to install since it will need to be sanded. You can do this yourself or leave it to a professional, although this will raise costs for you.

An unfinished hardwood flooring may be a better option for you due to these reasons:

  • Less expensive 
  • Can be stained to match existing flooring
  • Can have as many finishing coats or more of a natural wood aesthetic as you wish

But unfinished flooring has these downsides:

  • May contain warped boards that may make installation difficult
  • Installation may take days, leaving the room where the flooring is being installed unavailable for the length of time it takes to install and finish it
  • Strong odor that may take a while to go away and can drive you out of your home, office, or space until the finish sets

The prefinished option is great for those who do not mind spending a little extra and want their flooring installed quickly. The unfinished option may be better for those with some experience in sanding or installation, wishing to save some extra money, or do not mind the extra time it takes to install this flooring.

Solid or Engineered

Next, your hardwood flooring can either be solid or engineered. There are a few key differences between the two to keep in mind when choosing which type of wood to go with for your hardwood flooring.

Solid Wood

Solid wood uses a solid piece of milled wood in its flooring. Deciding to go with solid wood over engineered wood has several benefits and cons that differ from engineered wood, including:

  • Easy to sand
  • Can be refinished several times in its lifespan
  • Can last anywhere from 30 to 100 years
  • Water-resistant but not waterproof
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Humidity and moisture can cause warped boards
  • Can boost your home’s price by 2.5%

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is different from solid wood in that it only uses a thin layer of hardwood rather than a solid piece of milled wood. It has a plywood core, and while it is also not waterproof, it is more water-resistant than solid wood. You can use a wet mop to clean engineered wood flooring, which you can’t do on solid wood flooring.

Engineered wood is also:

  • Identical in looks and feels to hardwood flooring
  • Do-it-yourself (DIY) friendly
  • Can last up to 30 years or longer
  • More flexible in terms of width
  • Usually cannot be sanded or refinished overtime
  • More budget-friendly than solid wood flooring
  • Better performance than solid wooding in humid environments

Both solid wood and engineered wood flooring are resistant to heat. Whether you decide to go with solid or engineered wood flooring may depend on your personal preference or several other factors.

Solid wood may be good for those of you who wish for flooring that is easy to clean and maintain, can boost your resale value, or for those who live in an environment that is not humid.

On the other hand, engineered wood may be better for those who live in a humid environment but still wish for hardwood flooring, are on a budget, or do not mind a DIY project.

Types of Species Flooring

There are also several types of species of wood you can choose that will affect the look and style of your hardwood flooring. Depending on the species you choose, your flooring can vary in color, grain, and hardness.

Common Wood Species

Examples of hardwood flooring based on common species types include:

  • Oak: Oak flooring is a popular choice that is often stained to the consumer’s desired color. It accounts for approximately two-thirds of hardwood flooring that is installed in America.
  • Maple: This flooring is sturdier and lighter than oak and has a more natural creamy color. Maple is best if you wish to achieve a whitewash or gray coloring for your floor.
  • Walnut: Another popular flooring option, walnut flooring tends to be chocolate brown but is sensitive to light, meaning it may get lighter with time.
  • Cherry: This flooring has a subtle grain and has a reddish-brown color. This is a popular wood flooring choice due to its warm color. American cherry becomes redder with time, while its more exotic cousin, the Brazilian cherry has a high color variation ranging from red to reddish-brown to reddish-blonde tones.

Exotic Wood Species

There are also plenty of exotic species to choose from for your hardwood flooring plans. A few examples of exotic species you can choose include:

  • Bamboo: This wood is popular in the “green” community due to its rapid regrowth, making it a great option for those concerned with being sustainable. This flooring comes in tones of manila or yellow.
  • Cork: Cork flooring is a popular choice for its sustainability, durability, and underfoot comfort. It is fire-resistant, resistant to mold, and antimicrobial. It comes in both light and dark shades.
  • Sydney Blue Gum: This flooring ranges in shades of pinks, burgundy reds, and medium-brown reds. It is a hard type of wood that needs to be cut with carbide blades.
  • Wenge: This wood is black with a fine grain and comes from Africa.
  • Bubinga: Another African wood, this one is also fine-grained but with a burgundy color.

Types of Finishes

Hardwood floor finishes help to protect the floor and maintain its beauty. The most popular types of finishes are water-based finishes, oil-based finishes, and wax finishes. 

Here is some more information on these finishes, and how you can choose the best hardwood floor finish for you:

  • Water-based finish: A water-based polyurethane finish is the most durable and offers a variety of sheen. Water-based finishes dry fast, have a low odor, and will go well with the natural appearance of maple flooring.
  • Oil-based finish: This finish requires fewer coats than a water-based finish and will leave an amber glow. This finish also requires less maintenance over time. On the downside, this finish will have a stronger odor and take longer to dry between coats.
  • Wax finish: A wax finish provides a high level of protection and longevity by penetrating deep into the wood floor’s layers. These finishes are also easy to apply and are environmentally friendly. However, wax can also be difficult to remove, is not durable as a polyurethane finish, and is not suitable for all floor types.

Ready to Choose the Perfect Hardwood Flooring?

It can be daunting to choose the perfect type of hardwood flooring for you, but it does not have to be. Whether you are choosing new flooring for your new home, a remodel, an office, or whatever else, we can help you choose the perfect flooring for your style, budget, and other preferences.

Contact us today for a free in-home estimate and design consultation.