ALL ABOUT HARDWOOD
WHAT IS HARDWOOD FLOORING?
Hardwood flooring is any flooring made from the timber of a tree. Simple, right?
Actually, choosing hardwood flooring means opening your home up to a world of options, from the type of trees to choose from to the processing style that gets your home the perfect look. Whether you have a clear-cut vision for your home or are just exploring your options, here are the need-to-knows about hardwood flooring.
Wood You Rather: Let’s Look at the Options
Domestic Woods
Any timber that comes from a species of tree native to North America. These include American Cherry, Ash, Birch, Hickory, Maple, Red and White Oak, Walnut, and Yellow Pine.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo is a plant – so, technically, it’s not true hardwood. However, Bamboo flooring is a great option due to its durability – and its rapid renewal rate makes it the most eco-friendly “hardwood” option available.
Exotic Woods
Any Timber that comes from a species of the tree not native to North America. These include African Teak, Australian Cyprus, Brazilian Oak and Cherry, Santos Mahogany, Tiete Chestnut, Rosewood, and Tigerwood (just to name a few).
Cork Flooring
Is made from the bark of a cork oak tree – so, again, not technically a true hardwood flooring option. Like Bamboo, cork is an eco-friendly alternative to hardwood due to its rapid renewal rate. While cork flooring is an extremely soft option, it tends to “spring back” after impact, avoiding permanent damage from heavy or sharp items.
Is All Hardwood Created Equally?
The short answer is no. There are actually two major types of hardwood flooring: solid hardwood and engineered hardwood.
Solid Hardwood Flooring is comprised of planks of solid finished or unfinished wood, each of which is made from a single piece of timber and then pieced together with tongue and groove sides and ends. Solid hardwood flooring can be nailed or stapled in place, but it should not be glued.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring is comprised of multiple layers of plies (very thin sheets of wood) that have been pressed together, each layer laid perpendicular to the next. This crossing of direction creates a single piece that is less sensitive to moisture and offers greater dimensional stability compared to solid hardwood. The top surface layer is called the veneer.
Featured Brands
When it comes to purchasing your new hardwood floor, it’s crucial to invest in brands you know and trust. This will guarantee the long-term quality, allowing you and your family to make the most of your floors. When selecting your new hardwood floors, always keep your lifestyle in mind. For more splash- and spill-prone areas, consider Armstrong-engineered hardwood flooring (it isn’t afraid of a little water and moisture).
At Bob’s, we only sell the highest-quality hardwood from the most respected distributors in the world:
Is Hardwood Right For You?
Choosing the perfect floors for your home can be overwhelming. Hardwood’s unique perks include a timeless look for your home, as well as resilience to wear and tear that’ll make them last a lifetime. A low-maintenance option, hardwood is easily kept clean. The best part? Though it can be a considerable investment, hardwood flooring increases your home’s value and provide a stunning, classic look to last a lifetime.
