Know Your Solid Hardwood Floor

Long the champion of elegance and beauty, solid hardwood flooring has had more competition recently as technologies advance and alternatives become more plentiful. Laminate, cork, bamboo and a host of others have risen to take on and take out hardwood from spaces around your home.

Still, these competitors would be hard pressed to combine the warm style and endurance of a premium solid hardwood floor. Reacquaint yourself with what has drawn so many homeowners to this type of flooring over the years.

The Make-up

Solid wood floor is what it says - a solid piece of wood from top to bottom. Generally, the thickness of a wood floor ranges from 3/4 to 5/16 of an inch, though this can vary depending on your preference or the type of wood you choose.

Hardwood comes in strips and planks - strips being narrow and planks wider. Each can be finished and unfinished in various grades. The attraction of unfinished boards is that they may be stained and varnished to suit the nuances of your home while finished boards just require installation. The grade you choose may depend on your budget; however, a clear grade offers a top of the line option with few flaws and uniformity in color. Meanwhile, a common grade with a few knots and more variation in color will be less expensive, and still may work in your home.

The type of wood you select for your home adds a striking presence to a kitchen or dining area. Ranging from light to almost black, the various types can be adapted to your needs as well. Oak is a top choice among many homeowners, while maple provides a harder alternative and parquetry and inlays using mixed woods are seen in many upscale homes. Finding the type you love is always important, and sometimes simplicity in wood choice offers versatility as well.

Staying Power

Resiliency is one of the chief advantages of solid hardwood over competing alternatives, including engineered wood flooring. Maintenance is relatively easy if you give your hardwood floor regular attention and the option of re-sanding creates a whole new experience for your spaces.

Solid wood flooring has a wear layer, or a layer of wood that can be sanded down over the years. This layer is thicker than engineered wood flooring, increasing the number of times you can sand and refinish your floor. Typically, this is not done but a handful of times as the amount is limited to the thickness of your floor along with the time and dedication it takes; however, it is a variable of hardwood that can't be matched. Ten years after installing your hardwood, you may decide you want to freshen up your flooring. Instead of pulling it up, with solid wood flooring you can sand and refinish, essentially producing a new floor.

Sweeping or dusting regularly in addition to the occasional mopping - keeping in mind the products you use must not be corrosive to the wood or your finish - will make your hardwood flooring remain beautiful.

Hardwood has been a mainstay in the flooring industry and in homes because of its refined elegance and endurance. While the alternatives have begun to rival wood, the benefits of new hardwood flooring continue to make it a desirable option for your home.