When money isn’t a key factor and you are looking for natural beauty, hardwood flooring is difficult to beat. Not only are hardwood floors aesthetically pleasing, but they can also improve the value of your home. Wood flooring is a good investment because it typically lasts longer than other flooring materials, plus it offers safer, cleaner living areas because it does not trap particles that are harmful or may bother allergy sufferers. It is available in a variety of colors, widths, wood types and grains. Generally speaking, hardwood is categorized into four main categories: domestic wood from North American trees, exotic wood from outside North America that usually refers to tropical climates, cork flooring made from the bark of a cork tree, and bamboo flooring made from highly processed grass. To be technically correct, cork and bamboo flooring materials are not hardwood, but typically fall into this category. All hardwood flooring, whether domestic or exotic, is tested for hardness using a method called the Janka scale. The higher the number on the Janka scale, the harder and more resilient the wood.

If you’re considering installing hardwood flooring in your home, it’s important to understand the difference between the two primary types of hardwood: solid and engineered hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood can be made of finished or unfinished wood. What makes this type of hardwood so special is that each plank is made from one solid piece of timber. The second type, engineered hardwood, is unlike solid hardwood in that each plank of engineered hardwood is made of several thin sheets of wood that have been pressed together. Ultimately, this creates a very stable plank that, despite being less “natural,” is very resistant to moisture.

As with any flooring, hardwood floors offer their own distinct array of pros and cons. The pros include a classic, versatile look, highly resilient and built to last over time, easy to keep clean, and it increases the value of your property. The cons to consider include the susceptibility to scratches from furniture and animals and it is generally sensitive to moisture from humidity and the sunlight, which can fade the wood over time.

If hardwood is what you want expertly installed, let us at Supernova Floors help you decide which type of hardwood and method of installation is best for your home or office.