Understanding Your Hardwood Flooring Selection

As your old floor has become harder to clean,floors over 100 years old are still in thriving condition.
matted, and simply ready to give up, there is aEngineered hardwood flooring is manufactured with
practical alternative to restoring life back into thesheets of wood laminated together after being
room. Hardwood floors add a certain type of warmthstacked on top of each other to form one flexible
and style to any room that other floors can only trystrip of wood. Because engineered hardwood uses a
to imitate. But as you make the decision to installcross-ply construction, it does not shrink and expand
your hardwood floor, you must first understand howwith humidity like solid hardwood does. Engineered
and why some types will last longer, are easier tofloors of most types can be nailed down, glued,
install, and why it is a fitting choice for you.floated, stapled, and installed over concrete.
Fortunately, hardwood floors are better producedLongstrip plank floors have similarities to the
with quality finishes and more advanced constructionengineered floors in that there are several wood
today than ever before because the consumerstrips glued together. One plank of longstrip is bigger
demand for them has increased.and wider than the other types to give the
There are three types of hardwood flooring: solidappearance of multiple rows wide and several planks
hardwood, engineered, and long-strip hardwood.long. This type of floor is available in a wide variety
Because solid hardwood is moisture-sensitive, it is notof wood species and if damaged is easy to replace.
used directly over a concrete slab, but rather nailedUnderstanding the hardwood flooring options will help
down. There are many finishes that are available toyou be a smarter shopper when it comes to the
recoat your beautiful solid hardwood floor over andexciting time of replacing, remodeling, or adding value
over again which adds to their attractiveness forto your home.
their long life span. Remember, some solid hardwood