Hardwood Floor Types
There are several hardwood floor types. They range a wide variety of woods, finishes, and even materials. That’s
right, not all hardwood flooring is actually even wood. Fear not, they all at least look like wood. Let’s take a
closer look at the various kinds of hardwood flooring.
Hardwood flooring can come in a wide range of colors, materials, and finishes. There are three main kinds of
hardwood flooring manufacturing. Two of these kinds’ area actually a blend or materials while the third only wood.
The two composite blends are laminate and engineered.
Engineered hardwood floor type is one that has a veneer finish on top of what is basically a plywood. The veneer
is a somewhat thin layer of natural hardwood. Engineered hardwood flooring will have the appearance of solid
hardwood flooring but will have the benefits of the plywood backing. For starters, plywood is far more resistant to
warping due to moisture than solid hardwood could ever hope to be.
Laminate hardwood floor type is basically the same as engineered except that the top layer is not a natural
wood. The top layer in laminate hardwood flooring is a synthetic material that is made to look like wood. These can
be a good option if you want the appearance of hardwood flooring without the cost. Also, the synthetic top layer
can be extremely wear resistant and also last for many years. This may be important to some people.
The last hardwood flooring type is the real one. This is a solid wood of whatever kind that you pick. These
offer the authentic aesthetic for the full lifetime of the wood. These are commonly a hardwood of some kind, with
the harder the wood offering a longer lasting and tougher finish. These also offer the longest potential lifespan
for the flooring. Hardwood flooring can quite often require refinishing including sanding the flooring down until
it is smooth. Solid hardwood can be refinished more often than the other kinds.
The kinds of wood available are extremely varied. One way to look at it is to break them up into local and
exotic. Fortunately there are plenty of local American woods that are excellent for hardwood flooring. Some of the
exotics though are extremely durable and can offer a unique look. Finding a balance of the look that you want and
the cost can sometimes be tricky. The exotic woods can be stunning and offer an aesthetic that will surely be
unique for your guests.
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