Are You Familiar with Different Types of Wooden Flooring?

You will always find wood flooring to be pleasing aesthetically. They are also very easy to install where the natural pattern of the wood grain can add a little element of richness and warmth to your overall appearance of the interiors.

However, wooden flooring can be found in several options, and therefore before you go for wood floor installation, you must learn about the various characteristics of all types of wooden flooring so that you can select the right material that suits the best for your home.

The following are a few different types of wooden flooring material about which you must have a piece of brief information.

1.     Laminate flooring

This is a synthetic type of flooring material and offers a photographic image of any real wood. They are quite inexpensive and easy to maintain. The lifespan is, however, very limited and also may swell due to moisture.

2.     Solid hardwood flooring

Usually, solid hardwood flooring materials are a single wood piece having 18 – 20 mm thickness. It has got a classic appeal and is long-lasting. You can periodically sand and polish it for restoring its original look.

3.     Composite wooden flooring

Also, known as engineered wood flooring can be highly durable, and also offers good resistance against moisture and scratch. They are factory-manufactured having chemical binders and having protective surface coatings. You can also sand and polish them.

4.     Parquet flooring

They are decorative wooden flooring and made with both engineered and solid hardwood. It will include small wooden strips that are used for creating flooring patterns like herringbone, basket-weave, and any other geometric patterns.

5.     Bamboo flooring

Very sustainable material and grows faster than any hardwood tree. This material is resistant to moisture and inhibits mould and mildew. Bamboo is a kind of grass, but larger bamboo has a tree-like appearance.

6.     Cork flooring

This kind of flooring is made from a cork oak tree. This flooring material has got a soft underfoot and offers good insulation against heat and sound. This is also resistant to mould and mildew. They are also eco-friendly.

While buying your wooden flooring you must also check the following:

Unfinished or finished

If you are thinking to add hardwood flooring for your kitchen, then unfinished flooring will be a good choice as the finish can seal and penetrate the seams between the boards and prevent water to seep between boards.

With finished hardwood flooring, you will get it sanded and sealed, and hence the installation job can go quickly.

Solid or engineered

The flooring with solid hardwood will come in 5/8” to 3/4″ thick. You can sand them many times. However, due to humidity, it can change, and hence not recommended for any below-grade basement purpose.

Engineered hardwood flooring will be a veneer of any real wood that is glued to many layers of wood like plywood. Based on your hardwood veneer’s thickness, engineered hardwood flooring only can be sanded/refinished in its lifetime once or twice. You can get various details from the flooring domain about your hardwood before you buy.