When choosing a hardwood floor for your home, there are three factors to be considered; time, money, and preference. Some floors will take a lot more time, money and precision than others. You must also decide what kind of hardwood floor you would like to install, and which kind of wood you would prefer for your home. You’ll find these factors effect one another quite heavily. It is best to discuss each flooring type in detail, giving you an idea of the time and money to be spent in installation. Next we can outline some of the choices you have for types of wood.
Parquet: A parquet wood floor is made up of thin strips of hardwood cut into squares. It was originally a wooden replacement for tile in France, which is where it gets its French name. The wood strips can be made to form an appealing pattern or mosaic. This kind of flooring is relatively cheap and easy to install, since it can be glued down over a concrete sub floor. Many parquet floors snap together for a tight fit. It is usually laminated and therefore easy to maintain and clean. It is also a relatively short-lived floor when compared to other hardwood flooring.
Unfinished Hardwood: An unfinished wooden floor comes in rough, unvarnished strips. It has to be nailed down to a wooden subfloor. This kind of floor can be found in a variety of woods. For a non-parquet hardwood floor, this is the least expensive option; however, hand varnishing and staining can be costly and time consuming, and must be done at the sight, causing unpleasant chemicals to permeate the air for a few days. Once installed and finished it produces a very durable floor.
Pre-finished Hardwood: A pre-finished hardwood floor comes varnished, stained and ready to install. It gets nailed down directly to the wooden subfloor, and requires very little time, but will require maintenance, and has the potential to last a lifetime.
Engineered Pre-finished Hardwood: Developed specifically to be installed over concrete subfloors, engineered hardwood flooring is designed to be the same width as a strip of hardwood. Rather than a long, single piece, it is a thin piece of hardwood glued down on top of a layer of plywood. These floors are durable, low cost and easy to install.
Once you have chosen what kind of hardwood floor to install, you must choose which type of wood you want your floor to be made out of. Since all hardwood is relatively equal in strength and durability, this choice should be mostly about the particular color and grain pattern you prefer for your home. Here are a few common hardwoods to choose from: American Cherry, Walnut, Yellow Birch, Red Oak, Beech, White Ash, Maple, Santos Mahogany, Brazilian Cherry.
Whichever you choose, installing a hardwood floor is going to improve the overall feel and appeal of your home.
