Hardwood floors are a versatile interior material. This material is used in commercial, retail, hospitality, healthcare, wellness, and residential interior design. Hardwood floors are a natural and renewable resource.

As a sustainable product, refinishing vs. replacing floors is estimated to result in a 70% carbon reduction in the atmosphere. It is also possible to find manufacturers that supply environmentally responsible and FSC certified wood.

After installing hardwood floors, you still have a number of possible modifications. You could sand and refinish to renew. You can stain the lumber to change the color. You have almost unlimited options with paint. You can even add borders and medallions.

Hardwood floors are also easy to maintain. Maintenance mostly involves sweeping and vacuuming the floors using a proper cleanser. In addition, you should schedule periodic deep cleaning and recoats. Furthermore, hardwood floors are a good value economically because they add value to a space. This value can last the lifetime of the floors.

Some builders and homeowners may prefer to install engineered/prefinished floors instead of hardwood floors. Engineered floors are sometimes referred to as “laminate” floors. These floors have a potential faster project completion and are extremely stable. Deep cleaning and recoating are methods for renewing the finish. However, engineered floors may have a razor-thin veneer layer. This allows limited to no sanding. Color options are also limited after installation.

Bonded layers of solid/prefinished floors are another popular flooring selection. These floors have a potential faster project completion. Solid/prefinished floors have an advantage over engineered/prefinished floors because the veneer layer is thicker. This means that solid/prefinished floors can withstand up to six to eight sanding sessions and increases available color options after installation.

Face grain is a typical part of wood used for hardwood floors, but end grain is stronger than typical face grain. End grain is also good at absorbing abrasions and cuts. The grain is variable with unique and attractive patterns. Although end grain can be stained, the results are unpredictable. Installers of end grain material should have experience.

Besides solid/prefinished floors, hardwood floors are available as unfinished floors. Some of the wood species available for hardwood floors are ash, bamboo, birch, Brazilian cherry, maple, Brazilian walnut, bubinga, cherry, cork, cumaru, cypress, Douglas fir, hickory, oak, pecan, iroko, jarrah, mahogany, and merbeau.

Two of the most popular wood species used for hardwood floors is red oak and white oak. White oak is considered by some to have a lasting appeal because of the color and grain pattern. Other popular species are domestic woods, maple and birch; followed by imported exotics. There is some use, but less common of bamboo (uses similar to hardwood, but is actually a grass plant) and American cherry.