Whether you are building your home or replacing the floors in your current one, the best flooring you can have is hardwood. You can do the installation yourself or hire a hardwood flooring contractor in Rockville, MD to do the work. Before you get to the installation point, you need to figure out what type you want such as the style, the species, the type, and more.
Solid or Engineered
Solid—this is what most people think of when considering hardwood flooring. It is made from solid pieces of wood from the species you choose. This wood is made into a plank. They like this type of hardwood because of its natural beauty. It is durable and will last a lifetime if it is installed right and maintained. The two cons with this choice are its susceptibility to damage from moisture and the high price
Engineered—this hardwood is constructed from several layers of wood that have been pressed together. Once this is done, one layer of actual hardwood is put on the top and bottom. Being made this way will make it less susceptible to damage by moisture because it can contract and expand with no negative problems as humidity levels change. It is less expensive than a solid hardwood floor. The cons of this selection are that it is not as durable and long-lasting and cannot be sanded and refinished. It does not add much resale value to your home.
Wood Species
Many different wood species can be used for hardwood floors including exotic species imported and domestically grown. Some of the species are harder and more durable than others. Here are some of the species that homeowners generally choose.
Cherry
Walnut
Oak—red or white
Maple
Hickory
Ash
Douglas Fir
Teak
Birch
Pine
Hardwood Flooring
Style—for the style you can choose site-finished, which means that the flooring comes in its raw condition and it has to be sanded and finished by you or the contractor. If you do not want to do that, you can choose pre-finished, which comes with the finish applied and dry, ready for installation.
Dimensions—in regards to dimensions, hardwood flooring comes in two main varieties, which include planks and strips. Planks are boards that are wider than three inches and strips are usually less than three inches wide. The width has a big effect on the atmosphere of the room. For large, open rooms you should use wide boards but in small rooms, the wide boards can be overwhelming. Another consideration is the thickness; most are five-sixteenth or three-fourths inch.
Finish, gloss, texture, color—the color generally comes from the natural color of the species. If you add a gloss it will help to prevent damage over time and scratching along with making them look brighter. The textures include hand-scraped, distressed, smooth, and wire-brushed.
In addition to these factors, you also need to consider your budget so you do not go over what you can afford.
