Choosing the Right Type of Hardwood Floor

Remodeling your house? When it comes to remodeling, you’ll quickly discover the endless options for each project. When it comes to hardwood floors specifically, the options are endless. Real hardwood versus other materials, color, texture, longevity – all of these factors go into choosing the type of floor that is perfect for you. One of the first things you should consider when thinking of what kind of floor to choose is if you’re a parent or pet owner. From natural hardwood to engineered hardwood and laminate flooring, each has its own pros and cons depending on your situation and budget.

Solid Natural Hardwood Floors

Natural hardwood flooring might be one of the easiest flooring types to maintain. They’re durable, long lasting and beautiful. With proper care, hardwood floors can last 100+ years! You can also choose from a wide variety of woods to fit your style. Because of their authenticity, natural hardwood floors are going to come at a cost. On average, you can expect to spend $3 or more per square foot; and that’s for unfinished options. Combine that with labor costs to install, solid hardwood floors are definitely an investment that should be carefully considered. Natural hardwood floors are also prone to squeaky floorboards as you walk across them.

what is the best qualified floor material type?

Engineered Hardwood Floors

Engineered hardwood flooring takes hardwood to another level. Engineered hardwood floors are designed to be moisture resistant, unlike their natural hardwood counterpart. Engineered hardwood blocks moisture, comes with added stability and is very low maintenance and more environmentally friendly. Engineered hardwood floors are still pricey, similar to natural hardwood. If the veneers used to lay your floor are too thin, this can cut down on the opportunity to sand and refinish the floor, thus reducing the longevity of the floor.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors are composed of composite wood that’s been pressed together at high temperatures. The next step in the process of creating laminate floors involves taking the image of hardwood floors and placing that over the composite wood, thus creating the laminate. Due to this process, you can enjoy the look of natural hardwood floors at a fraction of the cost! On average you can expect to pay 50% less for laminate floors compared to natural hardwood. Laminate is also more durable against scratches and moisture, which would be better suited for homes with pets and small children. Although durable, laminate floors may need repair at some point. Repairing laminate floors can pose a challenge especially when it comes to matching colors.

Give the professionals at Flooring Outlet & More a call to learn more!