Types of Hardwood Floors
Choosing the Right Hardwood Flooring
When choosing hardwood floors one of the most important things to consider is where in your home you’ll be installing them.
If you’re installing your floors in your home and ABOVE grade or ground level, you can use solid hardwood flooring. If you’re installing your new floor in the basement or BELOW grade, you’ll need to use engineered hardwood as it is more resistant to moisture. Engineered hardwood is also the best choice for installing in condos.
If your subfloor is concrete, engineered hardwood is your best choice. If you have a wooden subfloor, stick with solid hardwood.
Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood
| Features | Solid Hardwood | Engineered Hardwood |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensionally stable | 35%-55% | 35%-60% |
| Suitable for basements (below grade) | ✓ |
|
| Can be sanded and refinished | ✓ |
✓ |
| Durable and long-lasting | ✓ |
✓ |
| Available in a variety of wood species | ✓ |
✓ |
| Radiant heat approved | ✓ **refer to manufacturers install guide |
If you’ve been wondering, “What is engineered hardwood?” or what the difference is between the two wood flooring types, we’ll walk you through some of the differences between them.
Species of Wood Flooring and Texture
The species of wood you choose will depend largely on the style of your room and personal preference. Oak, maple and birch are common in most homes, but all wood species are suitable for everyday living. Ultimately, you should try to choose your wood flooring by its appearance.
There are many physical textures now available that will give your room a specific look – bandsaw, wire-brushed and hand-scraped are some of the most common. There are also visual textures available (previously known as grading) that have larger knots, more mineral streaking, colour variation in the wood and richer grain structure.
Another factor to consider is the gloss level. There are many different glosses available: ultra matte (15%), low gloss (20%-35%) and high gloss (35%-50%). The gloss level you choose can change the look you are trying to achieve entirely. The number of coats of polyurethane does not have any bearing on product performance – the application is what matters.
Wood Types for Flooring and Considerations
Maple
Maple flooring has a whitish colour with light brown grain lines that are smooth to the touch. It can help create a clean, modern look or help brighten a dark room.
Birch
The light colour of Birch flooring helps brighten dark rooms while the light brown grain lines and knots give it a clean, modern look.
Red Oak
Red Oak flooring is brown with dark grain lines and a pinkish tinge. It is a perfect choice for traditional-looking wood floors.
White Oak
White Oak flooring is rich, brown with dark grain lines. It is also a perfect choice for traditional-looking wood floors.
Bamboo
Bamboo is technically a grass, but it has roughly the same hardness as oak wood. It is a durable, eco-friendly option when it comes to wood flooring. It can range in colour from a natural light brown to a deep cherry or mocha.
Walnut
Walnut is a strong wood and makes for attractive home flooring. It is brown in colour, but tends to lighten with age.
Texture and Appearance
There are different hardwood floor finishes to consider when choosing the right flooring for your space.
Widths of Boards
The most common width of solid flooring is 3 ¼” W x ¾” T. The most common width of engineered flooring would start at 5”. If your project needs 5” or wider, it is recommended to go with engineered wood. Narrower boards (e.g. 2 ¼") are still available in many markets that see extreme humidity ranges.
Parquet and Cork Flooring
Traditional wood floors are made up of wood strips and planks, but you can also choose parquet or cork tiles to give your wood flooring an alternative appearance.
Colour Trends
Selecting the perfect hardwood floor colour is important if you want the look you’re trying to achieve to be consistent. Keep your room décor in mind when selecting your wood colour. Think about the colours of your paint and furniture and how much natural light comes in through windows. You can choose anything from white-washed to ultra dark or almost any shade of grey.
Wood Flooring: Maintenance
When it comes to the best way to clean hardwood floors, there are a few things to consider:
- Use a pre-finished wood floor liquid cleaner to preserve the beauty of hardwood flooring for many years.
- Wood cleaners need to be alcohol-based. No oils, waxes, vinegar or standing water.
- Consider installing a hygrometer to control home humidity. Relative humidity should be maintained between 35% and 65%.
- Invest in a dehumidifier or a humidifier.
- Area rugs complement wood flooring well and add style and warmth to a room.
- Use felt pads underneath furniture to prevent scratching.
- Repairs can be made with touch up kits to fix small dents and scratches.
