If you are faced with the task of selecting hardwood flooring for your home, you may feel a bit overwhelmed due simply to the fact that there are so many options available! Rather than getting in over your head, you should take some time to understand the different types of hardwood flooring materials available in order to have a better feel for what will best suit your needs.
Terminology
There are some different terms to be aware of when you are considering your flooring options. In Austin, wood flooring can be a great way to bring the natural beauty of the outdoors right into your indoor living space. But you can only do this effectively if you understand some of the associated lingo. The word “species” refers to the type of wood itself—cherry, oak, mahogany, etc. A “plank” is an individual piece of the hardwood flooring. Planks come in a variety of widths, with widths between 2 ¼ inches through 7 inches typically being the most common.
Solid vs. Engineered
When it comes to flooring, Austin wood flooring can be either solid or engineered. Both are true wood floors, but they are constructed differently. With solid wood flooring, each plank is made of one solid piece of lumber. Solid wood flooring can be refinished numerous times without any problems, which gives you the option of changing things up a few years down the road. On the other hand, if you purchase a home with solid wood floors and are not too thrilled about the finish, it should not be a problem to refinish the solid flooring so it matches your style and preferences.
Engineered wood, on the other hand, is a thin layer of the real species wood on top of laminated hardwoods. It is still considered a hardwood floor because it is made of all wood. The entire plank, however, it not made out of the same type of wood, and the thin layering can make it very difficult to refinish.
Are you considering installing a wood floor in your Austin area home? Visit today to learn about the variety of options available to people just like you.
