Homeowners everywhere will be remodeling the floors throughout their homes this summer season while the good weather lasts. Many will decide on hardwood because of the beauty and warmth it lends to a room. The problem they may experience is trying to choose the right type of hardwood flooring for their home. There are normally two types of flooring to consider: hardwood and engineered wood materials

Things to Consider When Choosing Hardwood Floor Materials

Where will you place the flooring?

Some rooms aren’t suited for hardwood flooring, while other rooms can have this material although care must be taken to prevent moisture and high traffic from damaging the surface. Hardwood floors are beautiful, but the planks will warp if moisture soaks into the boards and they can get scratched easily. Engineered wood floors can withstand a fair amount of moisture and can stand up to heavy foot traffic. So they are perfect for rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens and even basements.

How are you installing the flooring?

The type of hardwood flooring you install will be based on the subfloor that is in your home. Wood subfloors can allow a number of installation processes that include nailing, stapling, gluing and locking the planks together. For subfloors that may be of concrete, you will not be able to nail or staple the planks down, as you will either have to glue the planks together or install a floating floor that relies on tongue-and-groove locking planks. Engineered wood flooring may be easier to install for homeowners looking to install it themselves.

How much maintenance do you want to perform?

Both engineered and hardwood floors can last a lifetime if properly maintained. But some are easier to fix than others if you encounter a problem. If your hardwood floor becomes dented and scratched, you can sand the surface and stain the floor. While some engineered floors can be sanded and stained, others will require you to pull up the damaged plank and replace it with a new one, which can become difficult when trying to match the plank to your old floor that can change color over time.

What species are you looking for?

Species of wood is something to consider when choosing the best type of hardwood flooring. The reasons can be varied from price, color, grain pattern and hardness of wood. Keep this in mind when shopping for wood flooring materials, because while pine flooring would look great in your rustic home, it won’t stand up to a lot of punishment from pets or kids as it will dent easily due to how soft it is. In addition, more exotic varieties can cost more since they can be harder to find in stores.

It’s important to look at all of your options before selecting a new floor. Whatever style you choose, if you do your research ahead of time, you’ll be sure to find the flooring of your dreams that will fit perfectly into your home and into your family’s lifestyle.

Arnold Norton has experience in home repair, renovations, and improvement. Mr. Norton has published several informative blogs and articles focused on helpful tips for new and current homeowners.