Flooring your house is not just about improving its curb appeal.
You need a floor thats durable, easy to maintain, and cost-friendly.
This means you should only choose the best materials.
There are manytypes of flooring materials, but if you choose hardwood, you wont regret it.
When you have hardwood flooring, youll have an easy time cleaning it.
And the cost of maintenance is also cheap meaning youll be saving on costs in the long run.
But not all types of hardwood will work for you.
Youll be better informed to make a good choice after reading this article.
Dont limit yourself to hardwood flooring before exploring various types.
you better choose only the best and that means you must take the time to find it.
Lets have a look at different hardwood flooring and their prices.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwood consists of one piece of wood measuring about 18-20mm in thickness.
To fit solid hardwood, you need tongue and groove.
For your flooring to be strong, it will depend on the punch in of wood its made of.
But you should find out if the depth of the tongue has room for it.
The beauty can attract potential buyers or residents if its for commercial use.
The disadvantage of solid hardwood flooring is its capability to swell when its cold.
It can even reduce its size if not dry up.
Also installing it is never easy since the boards keep changing shape and size.
So, when installing solid hardwood ensure you put it on dry areas.
The prices of solid hardwood flooring range according to size and key in of wood.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood consists of three or four layers which form a 14mm board.
Engineered hardwood can withstand harsh weather conditions like high temperatures and dampness.
you could put it in any room of your choice.
Installing this flooring doesnt need an adhesive because all you better do is to click and lock.
However, you’re free to still use tongue and groove technology.
you might buy engineered hardwood from as low as $19 to $166 per square meter.
Distressed Hardwood
If you love the rustic look on your floor, consider distressed hardwood flooring.
Distressed hardwood passes through a particular process that makes it strong and unique.
If you use distressed hardwood on your floors, it will give you the perfect wood-like.
you’ve got the option to also change its look easily.
This is because distressed hardwood comes with a natural look that you could control as you like.
The best part of having distressed hardwood flooring is that it can make your work easy when cleaning.
You wont strain cleaning daily because its capable of hiding dirt and dust.
Expect the prefinished distressed hardwood in various designs with a natural look.
Hand-Scraped Hardwood
The name Hand-scraped is because it was hand sanded before the invention of machines.
As you expect, a hand-scraped hardwood will have ununiformed patches and scratches.
Hand-scraped flooring was common years back, but its making a major come back now.
If you have hand-scraped flooring your home will be a sight to behold because its the in-thing now.
Although hand-scraped flooring will make your house beautiful, installing it is never cheap.
It also takes time to do the fitting.
you’re able to spend $3 to $8 per square foot for installation.
The labor charges are also expensive meaning youll spend a lot of money getting the desired look.
The price also varies according to the wood species you choose.
Prefinished Hardwood
If youre looking for flooring that has a permanent new look, its prefinished hardwood.
Prefinished hardwood is durable and capable of changing its look anytime as you wish.
It comes in various colors that you’re free to choose from.
When you buy prefinished hardwood, expect to spend more money as its expensive.
It costs at least $3-$20 per square foot.
But youll save on cost when installing as its a bit cheaper to install.
you might save up to $5 per square foot.
Fixing prefinished hardwood will save you from constant dust and dirt on floors.
The best thing about prefinished hardwood is its installation.
Prefinished hardwood comes in various sizes ranging from 3-4 inches wide.
So, you’ve got the option to pick on any size according to the rooms size.
Unfinished Hardwood
When you prefer installing your flooring from scratch, consider buying unfinished hardwood.
The finishing of unfinished wood can take place at the building site.
Youll have a variety to choose from if you pick unfinished hardwood.
The unfinished hardwood also comes in different colors, shapes, and texture.
The common bang out of unfinished hardwood is red oak and boardwalk which are 21/4 inches thick.
To install unfinished hardwood per square foot, youll spend around $14 to $25.
Well when you buy reclaimed hardwood, youll be using pre-used flooring.
you might fit the flooring anywhere in the house, except in the kitchen and bathroom.
Avoid these places because theyre too dumb and this can cause the floor to burst.
Suppose youre budgeting for reclaimed hardwood spare $25 to $100 per square meter.
But the prices can vary according to your location and their condition.
Once you buy the reclaimed hardwood, you could change the color or sand it.
Each hardwood species has different colors, grain design, and toughness.
So, it would help if you scrutinized before settling for one.
Here are the different wood species and their prices.
Oak
Youve certainly seen oak flooring as most people prefer installing it in their homes.
There are differenttypes of oaks, like red and white oaks.
The perfect choice for flooring is red oak with a Janka rating of 1290.
It has many colors ranging from creamy pink to rusty brown, giving you a variety to choose from.
White oak is stronger than red oak with a Janka rating of 1360, making it a high-quality choice.
It has grey pigmentations with various color and grain ranges.
White oak will give your floor a gentle and classy look suitable for any house design.
Oak cost per square foot is $3-$14.
Mahogany
Mahogany has a high value because of its beauty and cool color combination.
You should install mahogany on your floors because its strong and can repel water.
Mahogany wood also has high durability.
Youll never regret having mahogany flooring as it will give your house a new and unique look.
The least you could spend per square foot on mahogany ranges from $8 to $14.
The only difference between the woods is pricing.
Lyptus is a strong wood that doesnt give a hard time milling or finishing.
It will cost you $5 to $11 per square foot.
Hickory
You should choosethe hickorybecause of its outstanding strength.
It will also be with fewer damages if you maintain it in good shape.
The color range of hickory is between light tan to reddish-brown.
But you might also get its creamy white color though rarely.
This one features a bright color that requires cleanliness.
It contains an agile wood grain design that makes it have a beautiful look.
Ash gives you a gentle feel on your feet hence no need for a rug.
The disadvantage of ash wood is its not very strong.
Youll have to do regular maintenance and keep it clean always.
Ash hardwood flooring goes for $7 to $18 per square foot.
Pine
Havingpine flooringisnt the best option as its not hardwood.
However, its marketable because of its features.
If you want smooth flooring, pine will be a great pick.
It costs around $4-$6 per square foot relating to thickness and size.
It scratches fast and its very challenging to install.
It appears nice after you sand it.
Cherry flooring per square foot can cost you around $3-$ eight.
This depends on the place you buy them from and their size.
Brazilian Cherry
Popularly known as jatoba, Braziliancherry is wood with deep burgundy color.
Its common in areas like Peru and Mexico.
Its a hardwood that requires expertise when installing.
you might buy a square foot of Brazilian cherry at $4-$9.
Walnut
If youre looking for durability for your flooring go for walnut hardwood.
But be ready to spend more money.
Walnut comes in a dark brown color with a perfect shine.
Buy a square foot of walnut at a price ranging from $4 to $9.
Rosewood
Rosewood contains rare grain designs, and its either in light yellow or purple color.
Before turning into a flooring board, rosewood was great in the furniture world.
It makes your home have a sweet smell just like the real rosewood scent.
Rosewood one square foot goes for $5-$10.
Maple
Maple is one of the well-known hardwoods with good quality grains.
Most bowling alleys consist of maple flooring.
Its a strong hardwood with a fine-grain design that can hide stains well.
With time Maple changes its color to yellow.
you’re able to buy one square foot of maple at $6 to $14.
Bamboo has two major color shades like the carbonized and light-colored.
Its cost per square foot varies from $2 to $7.
Birch
There are two main types of birch hardwood; yellow and red birch.
The yellow birch consists of sapwood which has a yellow shade, but the main color is creamy white.
The red birch comprises the heartwood whose main pigmentation is golden brown.
However, it can have some red patches.
Birch has smooth curls that are hard to spot.
The average cost of one square foot of birch falls at $2 to $11.
Teak
Suppose you prefer flooring that is strong and would last long enough, go for teak.
Teak is gaining fame in the hardwood flooring species.
Be sure that yourteak flooringwill give your home the desired look.
The disadvantage of having teak hardwood is youll need to oil it to maintain it in good shape.
The price of teak per square feet ranges between $5 to 10.
But you should know that alder is a soft hardwood.
Alder has other names like western alder, Oregon, and red alder.
It has a smooth and uniform surface with a perfect grain pattern.
The great designs will make your floor beautiful.
Ebony
Ebony is one of the toughest hardwoods youll love to have on your floor.
Although its heavy, it can still float on water, and its found in Africa and Asia.
The fact that its a rare species makes ebony hardwood very expensive.
It costs about 40-60%, more than teak.
Poplar
Poplar has other names like Tulip poplar, and its the longest hardwood species.
Its creamy to yellowish-brown with patches of green.
Poplars grain is level and even with medium touch.
Most people refer to it as soft hardwood, and its not heavy and very cheap.
you might match it with any decor since you might paint it in your best color.
This means its a hard and strong wood.
you’re able to install acacia wood on any floor since its water repellant and strong.
Having acacia on your floors will save you on maintenance costs since they hardly scratch or peel off.
Cork has high impermeability making it a good choice for the floors.
When its impermeable, it wont allow water to pass through.
Its also a durable wood that takes time before it starts having dents.
Thewood has many colorslike its sapwood has a light pigmentation.
At the same time, the heartwood colors range from pale yellow to reddish-brown.
You wont stress about your floors rotting as the cypress is waterproof.
Cypress has a Janka score of 1750, and it costs 48 per square foot.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus has varying colors like the heartwood is between red to reddish-brown.
In contrast, the sapwood is light cream.
Its durable and capable of repelling water.
Pecan
Pecan is a common wood species in North America and is well known for its durability.
Its features can make your floor attractive and unique.
Pecan has various colors ranging from white to reddish-brown.
it’s possible for you to change the pecan look by painting.
Pecan and hickory are always mixed, and then theyre sold as hickory.
The price of pecan falls at $4 to $7 per square foot.
Beech
Beech trees grow around Asia and Europe and take time to mature.
Beech has various colors like pink, brown, or a lighter shade of creamy.
The prices range from $4 to $10 for each square foot of installation.
Douglas Fir
Douglas fir is strong softwood that has a heartwood color of reddish-brown and creamy white.
Its a strong wood that is waterproof meaning it will make your floors last longer.
Fixing Douglas fir wood is easy, and you could sand it to give it a new look.
you’re able to buy Douglas fir per square foot at $8.
Most people use it to build their homes because of their strength and waterproof property.
Get cedarwood for at least $1 for each square foot.
Every throw in of hardwood flooring has a unique feature and that all you need.
But not every feature appeals to everyone.
Lets compare the different features to help you choose the best.
Solid vs. Laminate Hardwood
The main difference between the two types of flooring is their thickness.
Also, theres a difference in their material composition.
Solid floorboards are 34 inch in thickness and have a smooth texture.
Solid floorboards have tongue and groove ends that hold the boards.
Solid hardwood is durable.
Its made from a piece of wood that is crafted to different shapes of boards.
Laminate is 12 inch thick and comes with click and lock ends.
It has different layers that have a coating which prevents it from getting scratches or dirt.
The durability of the laminate is greater than that of solid hardwood.
Unfinished vs. After fixing the hardwood, you might paint theflooring to protect it from damage.
The painting option makes it a good choice for the kitchen.
The paint coating will stop water from squeezing through the boards.
Finished hardwood comes ready to fix flooring since its sanded and sealed by the manufacturers.
So it will take less time fixing.
it’s possible for you to also walk on it immediately after installation.
Bamboo vs.
Engineered Hardwood
Bamboo is still new in the flooring world.
But because of its outstanding features like its strength, it has managed to gain a lot of popularity.
Bamboo is environmentally friendly and withstands any weather condition.
Engineered hardwood comprises different layers which makes it thick and strong.
Its many layers make it a good pick for areas with problems like dampness and high temperatures.
Engineered hardwood is expensive, but it lasts longer.
Floorboard Patterns
When youre building your house, you want every detail to count.
And for it to be the best floor pattern has to be part of the plan.
You should ensure that the floor design is attractive and capable of matching with another decor.
Read along to know the floorboard patterns you might use on your floors.
Straight Pattern
The straight pattern is a popular method which people prefer when fixing their floors.
The straight pattern gives an easy time when arranging decor and when playing around with the theme.
Diagonal Pattern
In this pattern, the boards cover the room from one corner to the other.
Installing it is never easy as it requires keenness and expertise.
Once you plant the pattern, it will enhance the beauty of the room.
It will also bring out the distinctive features of the room.
you could use this pattern in any room of your choice, especially the bathroom.
Herringbone Pattern
Herringbone is gaining popularity with many people opting for the pattern.
Its not fit for small rooms since it makes them look tiny.
it’s possible for you to install Herringbone either in parallel or diagonal position.
Chevron
There are some similarities between Chevron and Herringbone.
For example, theyve got the same size and zig-zag pattern.
Then put their edges side by side to make a herringbone.
Chevron is common with the decors of Versailles of any room.
Parquet
Parquet is one of the oldest flooring patterns that were meant for the rich class only.
However, its now coming back into the market.
It entails different designs in one look and varieties.
For example, Herringbone, brick, and basket weave.
Here are the options for every room.
Kitchen
When choosing hardwood for your kitchen, look for the water-resistant one.
It should also be moisture tolerant since this room is full of water use.
you could opt for solid unfinished boards.
The solid unfinished boards allow you to fix then paint the surface giving it a strong water seal.
Engineered boards are capable of floating on top of surfaces after installation which makes them good for the kitchen.
Living Room
The living room is the center stage of the house.
Therefore, your living room should have hardwood that can make it beautiful and attractive.
The flooring should also blend well with the throw in of decor you intend to put in place.
it’s possible for you to pick any color of hardwood according to your taste.
With hardwood flooring, youll have a variety to choose from.
All depending on the size and pattern you prefer.
Some of the species you’ve got the option to pick are walnut, oak, or cherry.
All it’s crucial that you ensure is regular maintenance of the floor to add its lifespan.
You also need to have the bathroom floor uniform to prevent flooding, which can damage them.
Engineered hardwood also has many layers making it strong and durable.
The properties of engineered hardwood make it fit for the bathroom.
Basement
To make your basement floor strong, you should first put a subfloor.
The subfloor layer comes before installing the hardwood.
The subfloor will prevent hardwood flooring from moisture or water.
One of the hardwoods for your basement is laminate.
Laminate wood has a plastic coating that makes it water-resistant.
Its also easy to maintain and fix.
you might also install engineered wood because its durable and water-resistant.
This hardwood enables your floor to withstand extreme dampness.
Hardwood Pros and Cons
Like any flooring option, there must be its good side and disadvantages.
You should consider both before choosing the punch in to fix in your home.
Below are the pros and cons of installing hardwood on your floors.
Pros
When you install hardwood flooring, it will save you from the ongoing cost of maintenance.
Hardwood can last up to a hundred years if you keep them in good shape.
The flooring comprises the best types of woods, making your floors strong and durable.
The woods are also of high quality with great features that can withstand any condition.
With hardwood flooring, you have various species to choose from.
Some hardwood species also allows you to paint them to the color of your choice.
The species you could choose from are Brazilian cherry, oak, or cypress.
Hardwood also doesnt hide much dirt and dust, giving you easy work as you clean.
With a wooden floor, you wont worry about pests or water on the surface.
Wooden floors are capable of repelling the pests since theyre from hardwoods.
Cons
If you compare hardwood to other flooring types, youll realize its much more expensive.
The installation and buying price are also high.
It also requires a subfloor to make it durable, which is an extra cost.
The maintenance cost of hardwood is also high.
When your floors have scratches, your family members are not as safe as they can get injuries.
You also need to be extra careful with the dents as they can harm your children.
When the fungi are all over the floor, you have to change them, giving you unnecessary expenses.
FAQs about Hardwood Flooring
What Is the Most Scratch-Resistant Flooring?
Pure wood flooring cant resist having scratches, though the timing for getting them might be different.
It will depend on how you maintain the floor.
But you might paint the wood to protect it from scratches.
The most scratch-resistant flooring, in this case, should be strong and durable.
What Is the Best Hardwood Flooring?
Some of the strong hardwood floorings include oak, cherry, or maple.
What Is the Most Beautiful Hardwood Flooring?
As you know, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
So, it means the most beautiful hardwood flooring depends on your taste.
But most people prefer exotic hardwood such asmahoganyorBrazilian cherry.
What Is the Most Durable Hardwood Flooring?
If youre looking for the most durable hardwood flooring, pickbamboo.
Bamboo wood goes through a rigorous manufacturing procedure that hardens it.
The process makes it stand out between other species if you consider durability.
What Is the Best Waterproof Hardwood Flooring?
Dont expect to get a hardwood that is purely waterproof as the marketers say.
But there are some species which give a shot to meet the credential likebamboo.
Engineered hardwood flooringis also waterproof.
The two are capable of resisting water and moisture over time.
What Is the Best Hardwood Flooring for Radiant Heat?
Suppose youre looking for the best hardwood for radiant heat pick on eitherbambooorengineered.
The unique feature of the two hardwood species makes them the best hardwood for radiant heat.
What Is the Best Value of Hardwood Flooring?
Oak also has high durability, which will not make your floors scratch fast.
Conclusion
Hardwood flooring is gaining fame with most homeowners opting for it.
When you want to buy hardwood flooring, ensure you do a serious search.
It will help you get the best wood species which will make your floor have a unique look.
Dont forget to check on their pricing to enable your budget well.
You should also remember that each room can have different flooring.
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