7 categories of hardwood flooring you need to know

There aren’t many treatments that give a room – any room, in any setting – a warmer look than a hardwood floor. The good thing is that the enduring and enticing look of hardwood flooring is available in myriad types and styles. Regardless of what decor you are working with – traditional, modern, country, etc. – ,many different categories of hardwood flooring can provide a natural, durable, customizable and sustainable flooring option.

These are 7 categories of hardwood flooring Pros need to know to help clients choose the right flooring when navigating the selection process.

Unfinished vs.  finished

Unfinished hardwood flooring is the option to use if there is any custom staining that must be done before the final finish is applied. It’s applicable in areas where you want to match a color scheme or existing flooring, and in kitchen areas, where the finish will penetrate and seal the seams between the boards, which helps prevent water from seeping between boards.

With prefinished hardwood flooring, the material is delivered sanded and sealed, so there are no odors and VOCs from finishing on-site. The floor is ready for immediate use.

Solid vs. engineered

Solid hardwood flooring, or flooring made entirely of wood, is available in thicknesses of 5/8 to  3/4 inch, which means it can be sanded and refinished over and over again.  On the down side, it can be susceptible to changes in humidity, so avoid installing these products in damp environments such as below-grade basements.

Engineered hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is a veneer of real wood that has been glued to several layers of wood underneath. This provides solid stability over time. Unlike solid hardwood flooring, engineered is ideal for below-grade basements, but depending on the thickness of the veneer, you can only sand or refinish engineered hardwood flooring once or twice during its lifetime.

Reclaimed hardwood

Despite its well-worn look, which can include dents and even holes from old machinery, reclaimed hardwood flooring tends to be a premium product due to finite supply, reclamation and refinishing costs. When properly reclaimed from abandoned barns, factories and even cargo containers it can provide a beautiful, one-of-a-kind and highly sustainable floor with authentic ties to history.

Domestic vs. Exotic

When it comes to wood, species that are native to North America are considered domestic, while non-native species are called exotic. Fortunately, ash, cherry, maple, oak and walnut are among the domestic hardwoods that make excellent flooring. Exotic hardwoods such as jarrah, mahogany and teak remain popular due to their hardness and beauty, but may not appeal to environmentally-minded homeowners concerned about sustainable forestry practices.