Types of Hardwood Floors

Styles of Hardwood Floors

Parquet flooring is a series of wood flooring pieces that create a geometric design from 5/16"(glue down) up to 3/4" (nail & glue down)

Oak parquet-alternating finger pattern

Plank hardwood flooring is  linear, and is wider in width. Common widthsof plank flooring are 3", 4", 5", and 6", and wider products are not uncommon although the wider the more concerns for effects by moisture.

Legacy plank heart pine select by GOODWIN Heart Pine

Strip flooring is also linear flooring that is usually 1 1/2",  or 2 1/4"(most commonly used). Creating a linear effect, strip hardwood floor in a room often gives the illusion of a larger and more open space.

Select Strip ( 2-1/4" wide X 3/4" X random length) White  Oak...

Types of Hardwood Floors

Acrylic Impregnated- a process where acrylics is injected into the wood itself, creating a super-hard, extremely durable floor. Often used in commercial installations, like common public areas, shopping malls, and restaurants. They also work well in high traffic areas of the household, such as kitchens and adjoining family rooms. (see maintaining an acrylic impregnated floor)

Engineered-Construct consisting of layers of wood pressed together and glued. The grains run in different directions for added stability (unlike solids). This product is available several ply thickness with 3 and 5 ply being the norm. Engineered hardwood flooring can be used in those areas of the house where solid wood flooring installation is not suitable. The most common areas are basements, and areas with moisture concerns like kitchens, powder rooms, and utility rooms. 

Engineered hardwood floor construction cross section Solid hardwood flooring cross section

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Engineered ( t&g) Solid ( t&g) Cutting method -Solid vs Engineered
  • Solid-All hardwood flooring that is one piece of wood from top to bottom regardless of width or length, is considered to be solid hardwood flooring. Solid hardwood flooring gives you ability to have a custom, one-of-kind hardwood floor in any room of our home or office. You many choose from many species, whether domestic or imported exotics, colors of stains and finish types. Adding accents, borders, medallions or even a painted hardwood floor can make your floor truly a work of art. The product is a good choice for any room in your home from the ground level and up. Solid hardwood floor products normally can be professionally refinished 4-5 times. See Types of finishes

       Prefinished vs Unfinished    Learn More >FAQ's: Prefinished vs Unfinished

  • Unfinished-This product whether solid or engineered must be job site finished. This can be a very dusty experience unless a dust containment systems is used. Job site sanding and finishing can take several days to over a week according to square footage, stains, and number of coats of top finish. This process needs to be done after ALL other trades have completed their work, allowing enough time to complete the job such that finishes can cure properly. Maintaining these finish are very important in providing a long life for your hardwood floor products. The cost of this process  vary around the country, but on the average can range from $2-$4 per sqr. ft., which includes a three course sanding and three coats of finish, with additional cost for prep (furniture and carpet removal), moldings and more expensive finishes. See Installation methods.

  • Prefinished-These products are produced in acrylic impregnated, engineered and solids. They are becoming the main stream of the "new" hardwood floor products. These new tough factory finishes are one of the main reason for making this type of hardwood floor product so popular with home owners, builders and diy'ers alike. The other reason is the ease of installation and the elimination of dusty sanding procedures. These products can cost from $2-$7 per sqr. ft. not including installation cost, prep, moldings and added accents, borders, and custom work. See Installation methods. 

 

Installation Methods
(most commonly used)

What Hardwood Floor for What Room?

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Floated -  engineered

 

Glued -  engineered

 

Nailed/Stapled  engineered or solids

Installing Wood Floors

Installing Wood Floors

Step by step procedures, layout, design, specialty installation, handling, storage of material & proper nail sequence

Custom Wood Floors:

Installing Wood Floors

Step by step procedures, layout, design, specialty installation, handling, storage of material & proper nail sequence

Painted Wood Floors

Installing Wood Floors

Custom 1-of-a-kind, faux finishes painted onto wood floors, faux marble, brass inlays, exotic wood floor species, and painted oriental carpets

Finishing Wood Floors

Finishing Wood Floors

Step by step how to refinish old & new wood floors, types of finishes, application techniques, do's & don'ts

Exotic Wood Floors

Exotic Wood Floors

Imported exotic wood floors with more than 90 species, hardness, color samples

Plank Wood Floors

Plank Wood Floors

An old American tradition, wide plank wood floors of many species from 3" - 10" planks

Prefinished Wood Floors

Installing Wood Floors

gives you an insight of this factory finished product vs unfinished hardwood flooring, room setting photo gallery

Bamboo Floors

Installing Wood Floors

This wood floor product that can be laid on any proper subfloor including concrete. Prefinished or unfinished.

Engineered Wood Floors

This wood floor product that can be laid on any proper subfloor including concrete. Prefinished or unfinished.

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Hardwood Floors
Online Directory

Accents

Borders

Choosing a Wood Floor Contractor

Domestic Species

Exotic Imported Species

FAQ when Buying

Finishing Wood Floors

 

Hardwood Floors
Online Directory

History of Wood Floors

Imported Hardwoods- Exotics

Inlays- Feature Strip

Installing Wood Floors

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Maintenance

Medallions

 

Hardwood Floors
Online Directory

Moldings, Trim, Stairs

Pricing

Purchasing Direct

Quote-Pricing

Recoating Wood Floors

Specialty Products

Styles/Types of Hardwood Floors

 

Problems & Cures
Online Directory

Crowning - Cupping

Flooded Hardwood Floors

Gaps: Abnormal & Normal

Grading Problem

Greenhouse Effect

Insects in Hardwood Floors

Picture Framing ("Halo")

Radiant Heat Under Hardwood Floors

Problems & Cures
Online Directory

Shellout/Dishing

Slivers/Splinters

Squeaky - Loose Floors ("Popping")

Sticker Stain

Types of Finishes

Wood Cuts & Grades

Wood & Water

 

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