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Hardwood Flooring Choices

With so many hardwood flooring choices and hardwood flooring types on the market it is hard to know what is available to you in the hardwood flooring industry. Here, you will find descriptions of your basic hardwood choices, from solid wood floor to man made floor coverings, and explanation on where each type of flooring can be used.

The most popular type of hardwood flooring available on the market today, is prefinished hardwood flooring. With numerous species and endless array of stains, sheen levels and superb finishes, the décor possibilities are endless. This kind of flooring can be used in most areas of your home or office.

Less Popular Hardwood Flooring Choices

A less popular option on the hardwood flooring market, but one that offers you limitless possibilities is the unfinished hardwood flooring. This product allows you a far greater kaleidoscope of on-site finishing options; from Tung-oil finishing, that will produce an incredible soft patina with old-world charm (but has to be re-applied every year), to durable, long-lasting finishes, in both water-based and polyurethane.

Some people refrain from this option as it normally comes with a dust cloud and a major clean-up after it is completed unless you choose to hire a company like Gerber Hardwood Flooring who offer the dustless refinishing option.

Once you get past the sanding and finishing, you will end up with a beautiful floor that with proper care and maintenance will last for years to come.

The finishes currently available on the market still that are applied to this type of flooring still will not compare to those of the prefinished hardwood flooring. Unfinished hardwood flooring can be used in areas with less traffic. For a detailed description of unfinished hardwood flooring please follow this link.

Other Flooring Options

Among other hardwood flooring options available to you is the engineered flooring. Engineered flooring looks like real wood, offers an incredible selection of species, colors and finishes, and can be used in areas like basements, bathrooms and condominiums. Here is a short interview with Joanna Gerber in National Post about your flooring options for the condo living.

It does however have some limitations and drawbacks.

It can be substantially more expensive than hardwood and life expectancy of the product is relatively short (depending on use and maintenance of course).

To find out more about engineered-flooring, please visit this page. If you would like to learn more about solid wood flooring, you need to here.