One of the biggest ways to make an impact when renovating your home is to upgrade your flooring. While carpet and tile are found in many houses, hardwood flooring has long been considered a very popular choice. Hardwood flooring is timeless, and since there is such a variety of options available, you can find hardwood flooring to suit any type of design aesthetic, whether traditional, contemporary, or modern. Buying hardwood flooring and having it installed does require a substantial upfront investment, so it is very important to be prepared. Before you purchase your hardwood flooring, consider the following things:
Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood
For many decades, hardwood flooring was always made from solid hardwood planks. But in this day and age, homeowners can choose from either solid hardwood flooring or engineered hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood flooring consists of a layer of hardwood adhered to layers of other material. One big benefit of engineered hardwood flooring is the fact that it looks incredibly similar to solid hardwood flooring, but it is typically a lot less expensive. However, if you opt for engineered hardwood flooring, make sure that the you choose a product with a thick layer of hardwood on top so it can be sanded down and refinished if needed.
Site Finished or Prefinished
When you buy your hardwood flooring, you will need to decide whether you want a site finished or prefinished product. If you choose prefinished, your wood flooring will already be stained and sealed, so you will know exactly what it will look like. Installation of prefinished hardwood flooring is also faster than site-finished flooring. When you opt for wood flooring that is finished on site, it is essential to work with a very experienced flooring contractor who knows how to properly finish a floor. With site-finished hardwood, you will have the ability to customize the final color; and, the overall finishing tends to be smoother.
The Type of Wood You Want
Hardwood flooring is made from many different types of wood, so you will have a lot of options to choose from. Oak tends to be a very popular type of wood used for flooring due to the fact that it is very durable, can be stained a variety of hues, and tends to be more affordable than other types of hardwood flooring. Other types of hardwood options to look at include walnut, hickory, ash, maple, and cherry.
