Hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for anyone looking to increase the value of their home with a beautiful, durable floor. With proper installation and maintenance, hardwood floors can be a wise financial investment, providing lasting benefits for homeowners and business owners alike. These floors are not only long-lasting but also environmentally friendly, as they are made from natural materials that are renewable and sustainable. In addition to being a practical choice, hardwood floors offer an elegant and timeless aesthetic that never goes out of style, ensuring they remain a desirable feature for generations to come. Whether you're renovating a home or upgrading a commercial space, hardwood flooring offers both functional and aesthetic advantages that make it a smart decision for any property, with some considerations in mind.

Solid hardwood flooring consists of a single, solid plank of wood that is crafted into a flooring piece, typically with a tongue and groove design along the edges and ends, allowing the pieces to fit together seamlessly. While it is available in various thicknesses, the most common size produced in the U.S. is ¾ inch, which is typically nailed to a wooden subfloor. Thinner versions, such as the 5/16 inch profile, can be directly glued to surfaces like concrete. The width of the planks can range from 2 ¼ inches for narrow strips to 8 inches or even wider for larger planks. Popular species in the U.S. include red and white oak, hard maple, ash, hickory, pecan, walnut, and cherry. Solid hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished, though extra care is needed with thinner profiles. Regardless of the type of hardwood floor, ensuring the installation surface is clean and free of moisture is crucial to prevent future issues related to expansion or moisture damage.

Unfinished solid hardwood flooring is delivered directly from the mill and is sanded and finished on-site. This type of flooring is commonly used in new home construction, with the initial sanding happening early in the building process and the final coating applied just before move-in. Thanks to modern dust containment sanding systems, homeowners can now enjoy the benefits of site-finished, custom hardwood flooring at almost any time during construction.

Prefinished solid hardwood floors, on the other hand, have already undergone a multi-step finishing process before leaving the factory. They are ready for immediate installation and use. This type of flooring typically comes with an extensive factory warranty, and with a wide range of species and color options available, homeowners have nearly limitless choices.

Engineered hardwood flooring is made by bonding together seven to ten layers of thin veneers or sheets to form a plywood-like structure, topped with a solid hardwood wear layer. It can be installed directly over concrete or most other subfloors. The primary advantage of engineered hardwood is its enhanced stability, as it doesn't react to moisture changes the way solid hardwood does. This makes it a better option for wider planks. With the right thickness of the wear layer, engineered hardwood can perform similarly to solid hardwood flooring.