There are plenty of considerations to make when choosing a hardwood floor. Not all wood floors are solid wood, and some of them aren’t even wood at all, like laminate flooring. The type of floor determines the way the wood is cut and installed, or engineered and installed. Meanwhile, different varieties of wood are vastly different regarding look, feel, durability, and longevity. Adding all of these factors together is the best way to choose the best type of wood flooring for a home.

Types of Floors

Hardwood floors San Jose come in three different varieties: solid wood, engineered wood, and floating or longstrip floors. Each type is manufactured differently and is installed differently.

Solid Wood

Solid wood floors are what people traditionally think of when they think about wood flooring. There is no special engineering here; solid wood floors are planks of wood cut in varying widths and thicknesses (strip flooring and plank flooring), or wood slats adhered together in geometric design patterns (parquet flooring).

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is produced with layers of wood along with a laminate veneer. The layers are stacked and adhered together with heat and pressure.  Engineered wood is more humidity-resistant than solid wood, and can be installed on, below, or above ground level. This contrasts with solid wood, which cannot be installed below ground level.

Floating or Longstrip Flooring

Longstrip plank floors are made to look like smaller individual wood planks once they are installed, but these smaller pieces are glued together on one larger plank, making the look of smaller planks easier on the installer. Additionally, these are engineered wood floors that can be installed to “float” over the surface they’re covering. They can also be glued-down or stapled-down to a wood sub-floor.

Varieties of Wood

Wood varieties come in a myriad of shades and tones. There are also varying levels of hardness and softness of the wood. Hardwoods are obviously the most durable and sturdy choice, which leaves some of the softer types best for specific applications. Popular wood varieties for flooring include beech, white oak, red oak, pine, birch, cherry wood, and Douglas fir. These varieties range in color from the reddish tone of red oak, to the light brown of cherry and white oak, to the yellowish brown of pine and fir. Naturally, applying a colored or dark stain can alter the original color of the wood.

In San Jose, Hardwood Floors and Varieties Should Be Considered with Care

When choosing a hardwood floor, homeowners must think about aspects such as where it will be installed, the look they want, and the durability they will need. This will help them choose the best type of floor and variety of wood for their particular situation. Each option is not a one-size-fits-all. For instance, solid wood shouldn’t be installed in a damp basement, and a soft wood like Douglas fir is inappropriate for installation on an entire floor, as it will not hold up to regular wear-and-tear.