Photo: Armstrong Prime Harvest Maple Solid
When updating the flooring in your home, it is best to choose a material that will not only make the space beautiful but also be an attractive option that will appeal to future buyers in the event of a resale. One of the most timeless flooring choices available is hardwood. It gives any home a natural look that will never go out of style. Trends will come and go, but home-seekers will always love the look that hardwood brings.
Hardwood flooring is available in solid or engineered form. Solid hardwood is made entirely of a single piece of refinished wood whereas engineered hardwood has a solid wood core with a hardwood veneer on the surface. Both have their benefits, so it depends on which area of the home you wish to install this type of flooring.
Solid hardwood has the benefit of being able to be sanded down and refinished if you ever want to change its look. Engineered hardwood is a great choice for easy installation. Solid hardwood performs well in low moisture areas while engineered hardwood can withstand a little more wear and tear because of the way it is constructed.
Once you’ve decided which type of hardwood installation you want to use for your home, it’s time to choose your material. Here are a few great suggestions:
Red Oak: A popular choice for its durability and longevity, it’s unique grain pattern and bright color gives the room character while working well with traditional decor.
White Oak: White Oak has more subtle, golden tones, but it is harder on the Janka scale than it’s red counterpart. It is also better at absorbing stain color.
Black Walnut: This is a darker wood for a more exotic or dramatic look in your home. It is very durable as well as shock resistant.
Hickory: This choice in flooring has the largest amount of color variations. Installing wider planks will bring out its beauty and distinct look.
Maple: A durable choice in flooring with a light color, some boards can vary from straight, uniform lines to distinctive “birdseye” patterns in the grain.
Cherry: It’s rich, reddish-brown hue adds warmth to a room while it’s uniform, straight grain provides continuity in a room’s design.
My wife and I are thinking about installing new floors in our living room but we aren’t sure where to start. I like that you mention how buyers will always find hardwood floors attractive. We want to raise the resell value of our home so this sounds like a great option. Thanks for sharing!
You are very welcome, Derek! Let us know if we can be of any help!
Thanks for giving us ideas in choosing hardwood floors. Very nice.
Thank you for your kind words!
Really informative post on choosing the right hardwood flooring. This is a dilemma faced by many users and being in the floor installation industry, I do my best to make them understand the pros and cons of each. This article will help people clear their minds on which to go for. Greta work.