Hardwood flooring is a premium flooring option that comes in a range of styles and finishes. If you’ve recently decided to install this material in your home or business, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices you have. With countless manufacturing styles and wood species, which variety is right for you?
Like any renovation project, being well-informed is your greatest asset. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make a confident flooring purchase. With that, let’s dive in.
What You Need to Know About Hardwood Floors
Installing new hardwood flooring in your home is the perfect way to increase visual aesthetics, add functionality, and boost the value of your home. In fact, according to Forbes, adding hardwood to your house can increase its resale value by up to 2.5%.
Besides the monetary benefits, choosing to upgrade to hardwood also provides you with a long-lasting flooring solution that will likely outlive the rest of your home’s structure. While it’s an investment upfront, the advantages down the road far outweigh the initial ependiture.
What are the Types of Hardwood Floors?
When it comes to the types of hardwood floors, there is an endless variety. From the construction of the hardwood floor types to the species of wood that’s used, you’re bound to find an option that perfectly suits the design vision of your home or business.
Here are some of the most popular choices in use today, as well as some types of hardwood floor pictures to give as a reference.
BEACHFRONT HARDWOOD HOME
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwood planks are composed of a single piece of wood cut from a larger section of a tree. To tell if your flooring is true hardwood, examine it from the side. If the board is constructed of one continuous piece and lacks layers, it’s solid hardwood.
PROS: Durable, Authentic, Solid Wood, Natural warmth and beauty, Low Maintenance, Increases Home Value
CONS: Expensive Materials, Requires Professional Installation, Susceptible to Moisture Damage, Less comfortable underfoot than carpet, Fades
ENGINEERED HARDWOOD INSTALLATION
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood resembles the look of solid wood, but its construction is quite different. It’s comprised of multiple layers of more affordable wood (normally Plywood) and topped with a layer of authentic hardwood.
PROS: More Affordable than Solid Wood, Natural look and feel of solid hardwood without its natural limitations., Higher dent resistance than real hardwood, More environmental than real hardwood, More stable and less prone to warping and twisting than real hardwood, allowing for longer and wider planks, Easier to Install DIY, Many Design Styles, Low Maintenance.
CONS: Fades, Cannot be refinished as often as real hardwood, Susceptible to Moisture Damage
Wood Species: Which Type of Hardwood Floors is Right for You?
When it comes to wood species, there is an endless assortment of hardwood floor types. From cheap and readily available, to luxurious and difficult to source, there is truly an option for all budgets and design visions.
In general, though, there are some select varieties that are used more than others. Here are a few of the most popular choices.
OAK HARDWOOD FLOORS
Oak
Oak is hands down the most popular hardwood flooring choice amongst American consumers. It’s extremely affordable and comes in two main varieties: red oak, and white oak. Red oak provides a beautifully warm grain, whereas white oak has a cooler, dulled-down style that incorporates less intricate details.
Hardness Rating / Durability: 1200-1360; average durability
Availability: Widespread
CHERRY HARDWOOD HOME
Cherry
Cherry hardwood is acclaimed for its warm undertones that provide a smooth texture and finish to your floors. Over time, this wood type changes tone and becomes more pronounced, settling into the home décor around it.
Woods with a Janka Hardness Scale rating of under 1000 are generally considered to be “soft” – this means that they are more prone to scratches. Black and American Cherry is rated at 950. Brazilian Cherry, which is rated at 2350, would technically be the only “hardwood” cherry.
Hardness Rating / Durability: 900-3000 based on species
Availability: American Cherry is widespread, whereas Brazilian Cherry is harder to source
HOME WITH AMERICAN WALNUT HARDWOOD FLOORING
American Walnut
American Walnut provides robust, earthy tones to your home or business and is often highly regarded for its stunning wood grains.
Hardness Rating / Durability: 1000; soft
Availability: Widespread
MAPLE HARDWOOD FLOORS IN A HOME
Maple
Maple flooring is often a preferred choice amongst homeowners for its exceptional durability and easy-to-match color tones. It features light colors and little grain, making it fit seamlessly into a variety of existing home designs.
Hardness Rating / Durability: 1500; average
Availability: Easily sourced in North America
BAMBOO FLOORING
Bamboo
Bamboo is not a hardwood, it is grass. It is usually put under the “Speciality Wood” category and we put it here just for extra information. Bamboo is a popular flooring style – highlighted by smooth textures, colors, and maximum durability, this versatile flooring material adds light and airy energy to any home.
Hardness Rating / Durability: 2000-3000; exceptional durability
Availability: Needs to be imported
ACACIA HARDWOOD FLOOING
Acacia
As one of Gil Hardwood Floors most popular design options, acacia provides a rich, dark flooring tone that looks best in rustic, antiquated houses. Harder than other wood species like oak and maple, it boats impressive durability.
Hardness Rating / Durability: 2250, exceptional durability
Availability: Exotic, needs to be internationally sourced
What is the Best Type of Hardwood Flooring?
The best type of flooring for your home or business is entirely dependent on your desired style, appearance, and budget. With this being said, purchasing flooring that’s both durable and widely available is always the smartest option. This ensures your flooring will last for decades.
Additionally, always opt for hardwood that is sustainably sourced. By choosing domestic wood species with a quick growth rate, you can do your part to limit your environmental impact.
How to Choose Hardwood Flooring
Now that you’re well educated on all the flooring styles available to you, it’s time for the exciting part: choosing your hardwood floor type. Here, we break it down into five easy steps that get you from conceptualization to installation.
- Set a Budget
Determining your price range is the first step in choosing your hardwood flooring. Be sure to account for both the materials cost (in square footage), as well as the installation costs if your flooring job is being done professionally.
- Choose Your Flooring Type
Once you’ve determined your budget, decide on the flooring construction. If your budget allows, always choose authentic hardwood for its durability. To reduce costs, engineered hardwood is another fantastic alternative.
- Select a Wood Species
Deciding on which wood species to use is easily the most exciting part of the process. Carefully examine your home or business’s style and select a species that will accentuate its natural appearance. Wood grain, coloring, and durability are all important factors to consider, along with the price.
- Contact a Flooring Installation Expert
Once you’ve determined your flooring type and wood species, it’s time for installation. Hiring a reputable installer like Gil Hardwood Floors is the surest way to receive impeccable quality and craftsmanship.
FAQs About the Different Types of Hardwood Floors
What is the cheapest hardwood flooring?
Typically, engineered hardwood is the most affordable, but you’ll sacrifice the build quality that comes with solid wood.
What is the most durable hardwood flooring?
Brazilian Walnut is often regarded as the most durable hardwood flooring species because of its hardness rating on the Janka scale. At over 3,000, Brazilian Walnut is a long-lasting flooring type that’ll stand the test of time. True bamboo is also an incredibly durable type of flooring, but it’s not considered solid hardwood, being that it’s technically grass.
What is the most luxurious hardwood flooring?
The most luxurious types of wood floors are the ones that are the most exotic. Unsurprisingly, this also makes them the most expensive. Zebra wood is considered one of the most luxurious solid hardwood species out there, but due to sourcing and import costs, it can easily cost around $25 per square foot.
What is the most scratch-resistant hardwood flooring?
When searching for scratch-resistant solid wood floors, choose a species that ranks high on the hardness scale, as well as having deep wood grains to hide imperfections. Classic hardwood like hickory, white oak, and maple flooring are all great options that won’t break the bank. Avoid softer wood like pine and cherry.
Which is better, solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood?
Solid wood flooring is always the superior choice when it comes to visual appearance and longevity. However, engineered hardwood is better for homeowners looking for a more affordable option.
It also depends on the weather – if there is a moisture issue in the area, engineered hardwood might actually be a better choice. Consult your local flooring dealers as they are the expert in these types of questions.
In general, engineered will cost half as much as solid hardwood, but you will sacrifice small amounts of build quality and it can’t be refinished as frequently.
How many types of hardwood are there?
There are countless types of hardwood flooring that you can use within your home. From classic American Walnut to high-end Zebra flooring and Bamboo, there are over 25 different species you can use. Traditionally though, most people stick to the basics and choose between walnut, oak, and hickory. Even these species come in an array of styles, both domestic and international.
How can you tell the quality of hardwood floors?
The quality of your flooring material can be differentiated by a few characteristics, namely: thickness, grain imperfections, and base material. The thicker the board, the higher quality of the construction. If your flooring plank is made of solid wood, rather than composite wood, this is also a good sign. Finally, a lack of wood knotting signifies a high-quality floor.
Where to buy high-quality hardwood flooring?
The best place to purchase solid hardwood flooring is from a trusted distributor and installer like Gil Hardwood Floors. With ample style selections and first-rate installation expertise, you’ll know that you’re getting the very best service for your home. With over 30 years of industry experience, Gil Hardwood Floors is the company you can trust.
Does hardwood flooring grading matter?
Absolutely. No matter the type of solid wood flooring, grading determines its overall quality and durability. You’ll want to purchase solid hardwood flooring that not only looks good but can withstand decades of wear and tear in your home. By selecting solid wood floors with a high grade, you ensure you’re purchasing a quality product.
Choose From Countless Hardwood Options with Gil Hardwood Floors Flooring
Deciding on the correct hardwood flooring type can seem like a daunting task at first. However, armed with the knowledge to make an informed purchase, you can easily select the perfect hardwood floor for your application.
Whether you’re seeking maximum durability, or are after a stunning aesthetic, Gil Hardwood Floors has the diverse collection of hardwood styles you need for your next project. Browse all our options today.