Wood Flooring Selection Tips

The grain of each veneer layer runs in an opposite direction to the layer above and below it. In addition, the veneer layers often are of different wood species. The top layer has the specific wood species and finish desired. Laminate wood flooring is constructed out of a wood chip composite base layer with a plastic / resin infused paper top coat.

Solid wood flooring offers the benefit of being able to be refinished many times over the life of the floor. Engineered wood flooring offers the benefit of being a very stable product that does not expand and contract as much as solid wood flooring products. Laminate flooring is very durable and is ideal for high foot traffic areas, however it is very susceptible to water damage and thus should not be used in wet areas. In regards to wood finishes, solid wood flooring can also be purchased finished or unfinished. Today most people choose to go with a finished solid wood flooring product as there is no work and mess of having to finish the flooring after it’s installed.

When selecting wood flooring it is important to consider the room that it is going to be used in. For example, in heavily utilized rooms such as a kitchen or family room area you may want to go with a solid hardwood flooring product. For less utilized rooms you may instead want to go with an engineered wood flooring product. Keep in mind that both solid and engineered wood floors can be refinished. However, with engineered wood floors the number of times they can be refinished is limited due to the thin veneer top layer.

It’s also important to select a wood flooring species and color that complements the room’s interior design. The last thing you want to do is install a wood floor that clashes with the rest of a room’s interior. Wood Flooring Installation Tips Always make sure to install wood floors on a suitable subfloor that is solid, level, and free of moisture. If you have a concrete subfloor then either go with a laminate wood floor or build a wood subfloor on top of the concrete floor for installing solid or engineered wood flooring products.

A click together wood flooring product can be tackled by the DIY weekend warrior. For solid wood and engineered wood flooring products hire a professional wood floor installation contractor, unless you have the experience and tools to do it yourself. The material cost of these types of wood floors is just too expensive for on the job training.