| Wood flooring is one of the nicest home | | | | showing to much wear and tear, it can be refinished |
| improvements that can be done in a home. There | | | | to give it back a brand new look. |
| are so many different choices when it comes to | | | | Because wood is porous, hardwoods can easily soak |
| Hardwood Flooring that it is difficult to pick out | | | | up moisture causing mold, rot and bloating. Because |
| exactly what it is that you need, especially since | | | | of this issue, it is not recommended to install |
| hardwood flooring and engineered wood flooring are | | | | hardwood floors over concrete. It is recommended |
| so readily available. | | | | to install hardwoods over plywood, subflooring or |
| Make and Durability Issues | | | | other hardwood floors. |
| Hardwood Floors | | | | Engineered Hardwood Floors |
| Hardwood floors are basically floors that have been | | | | Engineered hardwood floors are thin pieces of wood |
| cut directly from the wood into slats, much like | | | | that are cut from other wood and than glued or |
| regular lumber, and are treated for use as floors. | | | | laminated together. The visual part of engineered |
| These floors can come finished or unfinished. Many | | | | hardwood floors is the actual wood and not an image |
| homeowners choose to have unfinished wood | | | | of the wood like with laminates and vinyl. |
| installed because they have more control over the | | | | Engineered hardwood floors are also very durable |
| final look by finishing the wood actually inside of their | | | | and last for years. However, over time engineered |
| home. | | | | hardwood floors do tend to show more wear and |
| Hardwood floors are very durable and are made to | | | | tear than normal hardwoods that have been well |
| last for many years. With proper care and | | | | maintained. Due to the manufacturing process, |
| maintenance, hardwood floors can actually improve in | | | | engineered hardwoods are not as susceptible to |
| appearance over time. The biggest drawback is | | | | water so it can be installed practically anywhere |
| maintenance. Hardwoods require special chemicals to | | | | indoors without worrying to much about moisture. It |
| clean and protect, however if the floor starts | | | | is also very easy to maintain. |