COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION WITH KAREN GEORGE
Top-Five Questions to Ask When Buying Wood Flooring
1 . Which type of wood floor is right for me , solid or engineered ?
That depends on where you want to install it . Both solid and engineered wood floors are made using real wood , so both are environmentally friendly .
Solid wood flooring is a solid piece of wood from top to bottom . The thickness of solid wood flooring can vary , generally from 3 / 4 ” to 5 / 16 ”. It can be used in any room that is above grade ( above ground ). One of the many benefits of solid wood is that it can be sanded and refinished many times .
Engineered wood floors are real wood floors that are manufactured using multiple layers of wood veneers . The layers that aren ’ t seen can be of the same species , or of a different species . The grain of each layer runs in perpendicular directions , making it very dimensionally stable . The wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring during fluctuations in humidity and temperature . The top layer consists of high-quality wood . Engineered floors can be used above or below ground in a basement .
2 . Which wood species is right for me ?
Choosing the right species of wood flooring for you is a matter of your style , budget and personal preference . More than 50 domestic and imported species of wood flooring are available .
Exotic species can offer even more color options . As examples : Bubinga , which originates in Africa , can appear pink , red , or reddish brown with purple streaks or veins ; Australian Cypress ranges from cream-colored sapwood to honey-gold heartwood , with dark brown knots holes throughout and Purpleheart , which originates in Mexico , has a brown heartwood that will age to a deep purple or purplish brown . >>
Opposite page : Mohawk American Designer Collection 3 ⁄ 8 ” × 5 ” engineered hardwood in Fashion Gray ; at right : Stunning Hickory from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors .
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