Hardwood is quickly becoming one of the most popular flooring options for homeowners all over the world. With numerous benefits – durability, affordability, easy to clean and maintain, environmentally friendly – hardwood has recently begun competing with tile and carpeting as the best flooring option.

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Yet, choosing to install wood floors is only the first step. There are many other decisions that homeowners must make in order to guarantee that the hardwood will best suit the area or room in which it will be installed. Some of these variables include:

• Prefinished vs. Unfinished: Prefinished wood is processed by the manufacturer and will require little to no maintenance during the installation process. Unfinished wood, on the other hand, will require site-finishing, which means that installers will sand and finish the floor once the wood has already been laid. Prefinished wood floors are easy to install and will keep homes virtually mess-free but will leave the cracks between the wood vulnerable to dirt and grime. On the contrary, the installation of unfinished flooring will create a mess in homes but will seal the cracks between the wood.

• Style: There are three different types of wood styles to choose from when installing hardwood floors. Strip wood flooring generally has a width between 1.5 inches and 2¼ inches. Planks are similar to strips but have a width over 3 inches. Finally, parquet floors consist of large pieces of wood that are constructed to fit a specific pattern or design.

• Type: The three types of hardwood floors are solid, engineered, and acrylic impregnated. Solid hardwood floors use single pieces of wood, each of which is less than 1 inch thick. Engineered floors use more than one layer of hardwood, with each layer being stacked upon one another in a cross-grain formation. Thirdly, acrylic impregnated hardwood floors are injected with acrylic, making the wood extra hard and durable.

Traffic volume, price range, and interior design are only three of the numerous things to consider when choosing what type of hardwood floor to install. Homeowners should never hesitate to contact a hardwood floor expert to learn more about which wood to install and how to refinish hardwood floors.