What Are the Different Types of Hardwood Floors That Exist Today?

What Are the Different Types of Hardwood Floors That Exist Today?

Did you know that in the year 2019 over 926 million square feet of hardwood flooring was produced?

There are plenty of types of hardwood for you to choose from when trying to pick your next floors in your home. One of the joys of homeownership is making your home truly yours.

The way to find the best flooring for your home is by knowing all of the types of hardwood floors that you have to choose from. By knowing your flooring options you’re able to choose the floor that matches the appearance you want.

Continue reading to learn more about the different types of flooring and which types of hardwood floors best fit you.

Types of Hardwood: Finished and Unfinished

There are two different options when choosing the best flooring for your home. Unfinished hardwood floors are great if you want a higher degree of customization for your home. Because they’re unfinished, you get to pick the stain treatment they receive.

This is great because it allows you to match your new flooring to any existing flooring. Once the floor is installed and stained it receives coats of protective finish to ensure that it stays in great condition.

Unfinished flooring is your best choice if you’re putting new flooring into your kitchen. This is because the finish you choose for your floor will seep between the floorboards and seal them to prevent water from damaging them.

Finished hardwood floors come sanded and finished straight from the factory. This means that there is less work involved with them, but you sacrifice the level of customization available to you.

If quick floor installation is important to you then finished hardwood flooring is the best choice for you and your home.

Solid or Engineered?

You’ll also need to decide if solid flooring or engineered flooring is the best fit for your household’s needs. Solid flooring is entirely wood and is between 5/8 and 3/4 inches thick.

It is solid wood which means that you’re able to sand it and refinish it many times during its lifespan. While these perks are great, solid types of hardwood flooring are extra susceptible to the effects of humidity.

Engineered types of hardwood are veneered with real wood glued to several layers of less appealing wood, like plywood, beneath it. Engineered floors have a lot of stability over a long period of time when compared to solid wood floors.

This type of floor is a great choice for any part of your home, including below-grade basements. The versatility will make you a happy homeowner because it can enhance the look of any room in your home.

Due to the lack of thickness of engineered floors, you’re only able to sand and refinish them a couple of times during their lifespan.

Different Types of Hardwood Floor Species

Now that you’re up to speed on unfinished and finished floors as well as engineered and solid floors, it’s time to choose which species of wood is best for your home.

Oak

The most common type of oak hardwood flooring is red oak. Red oak is valuable because it is a very versatile type of flooring surface and works well in most types of rooms.

If you’re looking for warm tones from your home’s hardwood flooring then you’ll love red oak. The tones and colors range from pink to golden red to even rusty brown.

It also has beautiful swirling patterns to it, which provides an extra element of aesthetics to your floor. It fits many different styles of decor, from rustic to classical.

The other common type of oak used for hardwood flooring is white oak. White oak is popular for its fine grain and its much cooler tones. It is a harder wood compared to red oak, which makes it a great option for areas of your home that see a lot of traffic.

White oak has primarily gray and white tones to it and it has very smooth grains. This makes it a great option if you’re looking for classy flooring for your home.

Maple

Maple hardwood flooring is one of the most durable options on the market. It is a great option for most rooms in your home. Most times, maple flooring has light-colored tones to it.

The most common tones are light cream, beige, and tan. It also sometimes has a reddish tint to it. The grain pattern of maple flooring is very fine with dark streaks and speckles mixed in. These both add to the visual appeal of maple floors.

Maple flooring is best for homes that are going for a contemporary or eclectic style of decor.

Cherry

One of the softer types of hardwood flooring on the market, cherry flooring is loved for its warm hues of brown and its smooth grain patterns.

Cherry flooring is best suited for rooms that don’t see much foot traffic because of how soft it is. Places like bedrooms and dining rooms are great places to get cherry wood flooring in your home.

It is important to remember that cherry wood gets darker when it exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time. If you love the aesthetic of cherry wood then you should consider using wide floorboards to show off the beautiful grain patterns.

Walnut

Walnut is another popular choice for hardwood flooring. It is famous for its deep and rich chocolate tones and straight grain patterns. If you’re going for a sophisticated and classy look in your home then walnut might be the best option for you.

It is a bit softer of wood compared to oak, but it is still durable enough to use in areas that see moderate traffic. Areas that see high traffic will show damage after a few years.

It is a great option for your home’s flooring because the grain varies a little from one board to the next. This gives your floor a consistent and beautiful pattern.

Get the Perfect Floor for Your Home

Now that you know about the types of hardwood at your disposal, it should be much easier to pick out the best flooring for your home. You just need to decide between a finished or unfinished floor, and solid or engineered wood.

From there, it’s all a matter of what style you’re looking for in your home. There are plenty of amazing types of hardwood floors to choose from for the different rooms in your home.

For more helpful and informative articles be sure to explore more of our blog posts on our website.

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