Types of Hardwood Floors

Understanding some of the basics of hardwood floors will help you make the right choice. There are 2 basic types of hardwood floors, Solid and Engineered.

Solid Wood Floors

Construction: Solid hardwood floors are cut from a wood log into a solid plank and range from 5/16" to 3/4" thick. You can buy solid wood flooring in a variety of domestic and exotic hardwoods including red and white oak, American cherry, hickory, maple, and many more.

Environment: Because solid hardwood floors are sensitive to tempurature and humidty changes, they are only recommended for on or above ground level installation. Solid wood floors must be nailed or stapled down over approved wooden subfloors.

Engineered Wood Floors

Construction: Engineered hardwood floors are produced by laminating several hardwood plies together to form the planks. The plies are glued together using heat and preasure. The top ply of an engineered wood plank is called the finish layer and can be any hardwood specie, both North American or exotic hardwoods.

Environment: Engineered wood floors have cross-ply construction which reduce their sensitivity to tempurature and humidity allowing these floors to be installed on any level of the home. Engineered wood floors can be glued-down, stapled down, or floated over wood subfloors. Thay can also be glued-down or floated over other hard surfaces like concrete, and some types of vinyl flooring.

We Can Help!

Choosing the right hardwood flooring can be confusing, but we can help. A Bill's Carpet Fair flooring professional can help you select the right hardwood floor for your situation and budget. If you have a question about hardwood give one of our stores a call - see our Store Locations for store contact information - or use our convenient Contact Email Form. All emails are answered promptly.

Our stores are conveniently located throughout the Baltimore and Central Maryland area. Find a location near you at our Store Locations page. If you prefer Shop At Home then we'll "Bring the Showroom To You"!