Hardwood/Engineered

"The prefect hardwood floor design provides an air of permanence and importance, even if the house is new"

Woods natural beauty is warm and inviting, both to the eye and to the touch. Wood enhances - never overwhelms - your furnishings. The wide variety of wood species to choose from, coupled with a spectrum of stains, gloss levels, special edge details, widths, and textures, ensures that your hardwood floor design will complement any style of decor.

Design Tips

Consider the species of wood - every type of tree has a unique grain that can have a big impact on the look of the floor
Think about how wide a board you'd like, whether you want each board to be flat of beveled, and if you'd like a special finish such as hand-scraping or wire-brushed
Light colored woods tend to make a room appear brighter and larger. Darker-colored woods create a more dramatic environment
Don't be afraid to match the species or graining of your furniture or cabinets. The interplay of different woods can add visual interests and personality to your room
Wide-width planks work well and are scale-appropriate in mid-size and large rooms
Using the same species and color hardwood flooring from room to room makes your home look bigger and creates a pleasing visual continuity
Area rugs can enhance the drama of your hardwood floors, create focal points and help define spaces. Be sure the rug has a soft, non-abrasive back or use a "breathable" under-pad to protect the hardwood floor

Lifestyle/Performance

Both solid and engineered hardwoods are among the longest lasting flooring options and, with proper care may never need replacement. However, hardwood is susceptible to scratching, especially in high traffic areas, or in households with children or pets. Different types of wood are more durable than others. If you want a floor that stands up to heavy use, choose a species equal to or harder than oak, such as Maple, Brazilian cherry, or Ash. Another option is to choose a floor with distressed visual that simulates an aged look, or a hand-scraped product.

Care/Maintenance

Waxing, once a necessary evil for wood floor owners, is not necessary on floors with a polyurethane finish. Simply sweep and touch up periodically with a no-wax floor cleaner, in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Any solid hardwood or an engineered hardwood floor with a top layer 1/10" thick or more: When these floors begin to scratch or gouge, it's time to sand and refinish. Refinishing can make a floor look brand new. It also presents an opportunity to change the look by choosing a different stain color. Refinishing should only be necessary every 15 to 25 years.
Engineered wood with a top layer thinner than 1/10"thick: These floors cannot be fully sanded and refinished. However, they can recoated with a fresh layer of polyurethane whenever necessary. This will refresh the look of the floor and eliminate surface scratches. With this process, you cannot change the color of the wood.

Key Points

Pros

Appearance Improves with Age~ Hardwood improves with age because it acquires a desirable patina over time.
Long Lasting ~ Hardwood is among the longest lasting of all flooring types
Great Investment ~ Although hardwood can initially cost more than some other flooring options, it's an investment that pays off, increasing the value of your home.
Can Be Recoated~ All hardwood can be recoated, allowing you to refresh your floor to its original look.
Easy Care & Maintenance~ Hardwood is an easy to care for as most other floors - waxing is not necessary for urethane finished.

Considerations

May Scratch~ A hardwood floor's finish is susceptible to scratching from traffic or pets nails
Limited Below Grade Installation ~ Solid hardwood cannot be installed below grade level; engineered hardwood can.
Full Bath Installation Not Recommended~ Hardwood should not be used in a full bathroom because it is sensitive to humidity and pooling water.
Transitions to Other Floors~ A new hardwood floor may be different height than the floor it adjoins. Thinner profile wood and transition strips will help to equalize the difference.