Wood Flooring: Which One Is Best For You

Wood flooring installed in your home can add beauty and value to your residence. Numerous types of wood go into the making of home and commercial flooring products, most commonly, pine, cyprus, cherry and bamboo. There are several different types of flooring available, and each is suited to a different type of environment in your home.

The most common type of flooring currently on the market is called pre-finished, because the wood stain has already been applied, and it has been coated and buffed to its final finished look. The advantage to this style is that a homeowner only needs to select the color that best suits his needs, and has it installed. The opposite of pre-finished wood, of course, is unfinished. Unfinished wood flooring gives the homeowner the option to select the color and wood stain he prefers, and polish and buff it to the desired appearance. Either of these floors is ideal for use in living rooms, dens and bedrooms.

Engineered flooring is designed to have a high tolerance for moisture, which makes it an ideal choice for use in bathrooms, steam rooms and kitchens. The unique structure comes from the way the wood grains are layered in opposite directions. Between 3 and 5 layers of wood are glued together to create a single plank. In addition to being able to withstand higher moisture and humidity levels, the wood is a bit springier than other types of flooring, creating an ideal walking surface.

Solid hardwood floors are a very popular choice with homeowners, despite the fact that it is considerable more expensive than other options. Usually constructed from oak or maple, the planks are cut from a solid block of wood, and then trimmed to the desired thickness, often ¾ of an inch. These floors are highly sensitive to changes in humidity, so they are best suited for rooms that are on or above ground level.

It is important to remember that hardwood floors should not be mopped or cleaned with water, as this can permanently damage the wood and dull the finish. Should this occur, a wood floor finisher, available at most home improvement or retail stores, can be used to restore the original appearance. Many of the wood flooring choices available are also sensitive to large amounts of sunlight and heat, so homeowners should take into account the overall condition of the room receiving the new floor.