Solid hardwood flooring is popular with homeowners who desire natural looks and feel of real wood. For such floors, the materials are purely made from wood from top to bottom, it’s made of solid wood which has been milled straight from a tree, featuring popular wood types such as maple, oak, and teak flooring amongst others.
Engineered wood, on the other hand, brings the same ambiance as hardwood, only that they come with a touch of human engineering brilliance which enhances their usability. Engineered hardwood flooring is manufactured with multiple layers of wood and laminate layer at the very bottom to stop moisture from affecting the floors. As such, they are not affected by changes in humidity or temperature as is sometimes the case with hardwood flooring.
Finished hardwood flooring refers to finished wood and could be either solid or engineered. It is a turn-key material that requires no additional work after installation. They don’t need any form of post-installation finishing. Finished hardwood flooring is available in a dozen types and in different colors to suit the demands of various homeowners.
For unfinished hardwood flooring, there will be extra work needed post-installation to make them look fresh and great. Some of the finishing that may be necessary include staining and sealing the floor to make them look attractive for decades to come. Homeowners who prefer these types of flooring materials are those who can’t find the exact finishing they need with the finished types, and so they decide to go and do the finishing by themselves. Additionally, unfinished hardwood flooring materials are relatively cheaper compared to their finished counterparts only that more money may be needed to do the finishing.
Classification of Hardwood Flooring
There is a superfluity of variety and types of hardwood flooring. If you want to get the most out of installing this floor type in your home, then it pays to have a solid understanding on the available types so that you are not confused at the time of making the purchase. Here is a brief look at the common classification of hardwood flooring-:
Available in Different Varieties
Hardwood floors are also available in a variety of options. They give homeowners the versatility to create a wide range of appearances with the available stains, colors, styles, and patterns. There is also the options for homeowners to choose between finished and unfinished hardwood floors. Irrespective of how diverse and unique your needs are, hardwood floors will always have something for everyone.
These may not be the only benefits of hardwood flooring, but the fact remains that hardwood remains to be one of the most preferred flooring materials in the world and will remain as such for many more years to come.