When it comes to preferred flooring options for homes, hardwood is undoubtedly at the top of the list. Hardwood flooring offers a timeless look, durability and beauty that can be customized to suit any home’s style. With so many types of hardwood available, choosing the right option can be overwhelming. To help narrow down your decision-making process, here are the top three hardwood flooring options for homes.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood is an increasingly popular choice in today’s homes. It is constructed from multiple layers of wood with a veneer layer on top featuring the desired wood species, such as oak or cherry. The other layers are composed of plywood and other materials that give engineered hardwoods enhanced stability against changes in temperature and humidity levels. Engineered hardwoods also provide more support than solid planks since their construction allows them to span longer distances without sagging over time. This makes engineered hardwoods ideal for basements, kitchens and bathrooms where moisture levels may be higher than elsewhere in the house. Installation of engineered hardwoods is often quicker and easier than solid planks because they typically come with a click-lock system that allows them to fit together seamlessly.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwoods are made from one solid piece of wood throughout its thickness, giving it superior strength and longevity compared to some other floorings like laminate or vinyl. Solid planks are typically 3/4″ thick which makes them ideal for nailing or stapling down onto a subfloor. Solid woods can also be sanded and refinished multiple times over the years, allowing you to change their color or restore their original luster should it become scuffed or scratched up during everyday life activities. Solid planks require more maintenance than most other floorings as they must be treated with oil-based polyurethane several times per year in order to remain looking their best; however, this also contributes toward making them one of the longest lasting types of floorings available today–so while there may be more care involved now, you won’t have to replace them nearly as often later on down the road!
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has gained tremendous popularity in recent years due to its attractive visuals and ease of installation process compared to real hardwoods or engineered woods. Laminate floors generally feature photographs printed directly onto strong backing material such as melamine resin or fiberboard for increased durability against scratches and wear-and-tear; plus they come pre-finished so no additional treatments need be applied after installation like you would with real wood floors. Laminate floors are also significantly cheaper than real woods so if budget-friendliness is important factor when selecting your home’s flooring then this could make it an excellent option for you!
When choosing between these three types of hardwood floors for your home there are several factors you’ll want to consider: cost (both initial purchase price and long term maintenance costs), ease of installation (especially if you’re doing it yourself), environment (moisture levels specifically) along with desired aesthetic appeal all play into which type will ultimately work best in your space–but rest assured knowing that these three types combined offer plenty enough variety that you’re sure to find something perfect no matter what look you’re going for! Ultimately whether you go with traditional solid planks, modern engineered woods or laminate boards–a quality flooring contractor will ensure your final product looks beautiful and lasts well into the future!