Choosing Among the Hardwood Floors

There are many types of flooring materials but hardwood flooring is becoming one of the most popular choices recently. People looking for materials to replace their current flooring are deciding to use hardwood because of the unique appeal it gives off due to its nature-themed appearance. If you are a homeowner who wish to use hardwood floors, listed below are some of the tips that could help you choose among the numerous types of hardwood flooring.

There are two types of hardwood flooring: engineered hardwood floors and solid hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwoods are composed of fibers or other materials that are stuck together by glue. Two main types of construction when it comes to engineered hardwood flooring are three-ply and the multi-ply. Three-ply, as the name implies consists of three layers: the top veneer, the core layer and a balance sheet while the multiply makes use of a core made out of plywood which in turn consists of a total of 11 plys. Regardless of which type you opt for, the veneer or the top layer is always made out of finished wood. On the other hand, solid hardwood flooring consists of multiple planks and strips which are created from a single piece of solid wood. There are three main types of solid hardwood, these are rift sawn, quarter sawn and plain sawn. When the hardwood is said to be rift sawn, it means that the planks were obtained from the center of each log at slightly different angles. This results to planks which are very uniform in terms of appearance because of their similar grain patterns. Quarter sawn solid hardwoods are cut at right angles which are 1/16” wide or greater. These pieces of wood have decorative patterns because of the visible growth rings. Aside from that, this method gives floors greater stability regarding changes in humidity. Plain sawn is also known as flat sawn. This is the most common way that logs are cut because of the wide grain patterns shown in each plank.

Aside from determining what type of hardwood you wish to use for your home, you will also have to pick the right kind to use. Regardless of your overall theme of the house, you can rest assure that there will be a wood that will best suit it. The most common types of hardwood flooring are domestics and exotics. Domestics are North American hardwoods which have a warm and classic appearance to them. They are usually cheaper than exotic hardwoods which make them perfect for budget-conscious homeowners. The most famous types of domestic hardwoods are ash, alder, North American maple, beech, red oak, black walnut, hickory, white oak and North American cherry. On the other hand, exotic hardwoods are those not found in North America. They are called exotic because of their remarkable colors and unique graining patterns. These woods come from countries such as Australia, Africa, the Far East and Brazil. Famous exotic hardwoods are the African mahogany, Patagonian rosewood, cumaru, tigerwood, ipe, Brazilian cherry, zebrawood, etc.

Considering reclaimed hardwood flooring using Fir, Oak or Pine is also a good option when you are looking for durability and antique finish. There are several companies online that offer reclaimed wood flooring options.

Before you do your search for the type and kind of hardwood that you wish to use, make sure that you take note of these factors and considerations so that you are assured of choosing the one which compliments your home.