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The Beauty of Hardwood Floors
Wood floors have come a long way in the past few years. Today, there
are more styles, colors and species of hardwood flooring available
than ever.
Solid, Engineered, Exotic and Parquet flooring make up the four different
types of wood flooring. The type of wood selected for your flooring
can also have an impact on the overall look of your room.
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Softer wood types include Cherry,
Mahogany and Pine. |
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Hard types include White Ash, Beech, Red Oak,
Yellow Birch, Green Ash and Black Walnut. |
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Hardest variety of woods consist of Hickory,
Pecan, Hard Maple and White Oak. |
No matter what your décor, you’re sure to find a color
and style to fit your home at your Carpet
House showroom .
Hardwood Basics
Engineered Flooring
Engineered wood flooring is made from layers of
wood stacked and glued together under heat and
pressure. There are usually three to seven layers
(plies) stacked with grains running perpendicular
to each other. The top finish layer can be cut
from a variety of domestic or exotic hardwood species
and are generally factory prefinished with a polyurethane
or an aluminum oxide finish.
All woods expand and contract with heat and humidity.
Engineered wood is more dimensionally stable than
solid hardwood because the layers keep the movement
in balance. Because it is less inclined to swell
and shrink, engineered wood can be installed in
areas where solid wood cannot such as over concrete
or in high-moisture areas. It can easily be used
in kitchens, powder rooms and utility rooms.
Engineered floors will range from 5/16” to
9/16” in thickness
and from 2 ¼” to 7” in width.
Installation can be glued, floated, nailed or stapled.
Exotic Hardwood Flooring
Exotic hardwood is the term used to describe hardwood
species from around the world. The exotic hardwood
species come from Australia, Africa, South America
and the Far East. Exotic hardwoods offer unique wood
graining and color variations. Most exotic woods
are available in engineered wood construction, but
some are available in solid hardwood planks as well.
Bamboo, Amendoim and Jatoba are examples of exotic
hardwood.
Parquet Flooring
Parquet floors are made from custom-crafted wood
tiles that are used to create a patterned floor.
Solid Wood Flooring
Solid wood flooring is made from one continuous
piece of wood and is available in strips, planks
and parquet squares. Wood strips are anywhere from
1 ½” to about
2 ¼” wide. Planks are wider than 2¼”.
Generally, a solid hardwood floor is a ¾” thick
plank that is in narrow 2 ¼” strips.
However, they can be manufactured in a variety of
widths and thicknesses.
Solid flooring gives you a great opportunity for
customization. Your choice of species, stains, and
finishes all contribute to the personalization of
a solid floor.
You can get your wood floor either unfinished or
prefinished. Unfinished flooring offers unlimited
color stain options. Prefinished hardwood flooring
features a factory-applied finish.
Because solid wood is sensitive to moisture, Carpet
House does not recommend installing a solid wood
floor below ground level or directly over a concrete
slab. These floors are generally for nail down installations
only.
The experts at Carpet House can help
you find the right hardwood flooring!
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