Hardwood Flooring

HARDWOOD GRADING: HARDWOOD VS SOFTWOOD

Another variation by species is the wood’s natural hardness. Listed below are some key differences between what are called hardwoods, and what are referred to as softwoods:

Hardwoods

• More durable in the face of heavy foot traffic
• Longer lifespan
• Often come prefinished and feature darker tones
• Higher cost
• Examples: maple, oak, walnut

Softwoods

• Soft & flexible
• More prone to dings and scratches over time
• Often lighter tones
• Lower cost
• Examples: pine, spruce

SOLID HARDWOOD VS ENGINEERED HARDWOOD

What’s the difference? Solid hardwood is the traditional version of hardwood flooring, with planks each made from a single, solid piece of real wood. Engineered hardwood is a layered wood product, consisting of a thin slice of hardwood layered on top of another piece of high-quality wood composite, such as plywood. Engineered wood is less durable, but much more versatile – it can be installed on any grade, even in basements.

The durability of your hardwood (and therefore, its longevity) is determined largely by the thickness of each plank, in addition to other factors such as the wear layer and finish.

Standard hardwood planks come in a few different thicknesses. A ½-inch or 3/8-inch thickness is common for engineered hardwood planks, for instance. Solid hardwood floors, on the other hand, are much thicker – often ¾-inch with an added wear layer. This extra thickness allows for repeated refinishing, one of the chief benefits of solid hardwood over engineered. Engineered wood can still be sanded down, but only once or twice during its lifetime.

If you’re looking for an especially unique-looking floor, you may want to try a distressed wood look. Manufacturers put their floors through certain processes to give them the look of antique or reclaimed wood, a much sought-after style that isn’t always easy (or affordable) to obtain.

Distressed hardwood styles solve both of those problems by making the antique look more accessible and adding another level of customization – you can choose exactly the color, species and look you want, right out of the box.

Hand-scraped and wire-brushed are both examples of distressed styles that fit in with rustic, country-inspired homes. Ask the experts here at Shans Carpets & Fine Flooring for more info about the differences between each!

UNDERLAYMENT: IS IT NEEDED FOR HARDWOOD FLOORS?

Underlayment is invisible once a floor has been installed, but it plays a critical role in your floor’s health and performance. While not technically necessary, at Shans Carpets & Fine Flooring, we always recommend it for hardwood floors. A few of the many reasons include:

• Evens out imperfections in your subfloor
• Adds cushion and reduces noise when walking
• Keeps hardwood warm and insulated
• Adds moisture resistance (key for porous materials like natural wood)

Still have questions about hardwood flooring? Reach out to us online or visit our experts at the Shans Carpets & Fine Flooring showroom! We’re happy to help with all of your flooring questions and needs.