HARDWOOD
Wood floors have come a long way over the years. There are more styles, colors, and species of hardwood flooring available than ever. Technological advances in manufacturing have made it possible for hardwood flooring to be used in many areas that it was not previously feasible. The type of wood you select can also have an impact on the overall look of your room and adds additional equity to your home.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TYPE
With some basic understanding of the different types of wood floors, you can be more confident in your selection. Wood floors are produced in both solid and engineered planks and strips and come in many varieties of wood species. To help determine which type of floor will work best for your situation depends upon the location in your home and the type of subfloor.
SOLID WOOD FLOORS
Solid wood floors are one solid piece of wood and are usually 3/4″ thick. Solid Hardwood Floors are produced from domestic and exotic hardwoods including red & white oak, American cherry, hickory, maple, and Asian Walnut, and are available in several widths. Because solid hardwood floors are more susceptible to humidity and temperature changes than engineered wood floors they should only be installed above grade over approved wooden subfloors.
ENGINEERED HARDWOOD
These floors are produced by laminating several plies of wood together to form the planks. Most engineered floors can be glued-down, stapled-down or floated over a variety of subfloors including wood, dry concrete slabs and some types of existing flooring. Engineered hardwood floors have cross-ply construction which reduces the expansion or contraction of planks caused by variations in humidity. These floors can be installed on any level in the home.
EXOTIC HARDWOOD SPECIES
Today wood flooring is also offered in a variety of hardwood species that are not found in North America. Hill's Carpet & Flooring offers exotic hardwoods from all over the world. These floors offer many unique and visually striking appearances that are distinctly different from the North American hardwoods. Many of these exotic species are sensitive to light and may change color over time. Please refer to sample panels for the level of sensitivity of each product.
