Choosing the perfect floor for your home or business is simply a matter of having the facts, comparing the types and selecting a wood flooring professional to do the job.

Let’s start with the wood itself. There are three categories of wood flooring on the market today. Following is a comparison that will help you choose which wood is right for you.

Solid Flooring

All wood flooring regardless of width or length, that is one piece of wood from top to bottom is considered solid flooring.

Solid flooring gives you a great opportunity for customization. Your choice of species, stains and finishes all contribute to the personalization of a solid floor. Adding borders, medallions, corner treatments, etc., can further customize a solid wood floor.

In most cases, solid flooring is nailed down to 3/4" exterior grade plywood, and is excellent in most areas of a home on the ground level or above. Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and great rooms are excellent for solid wood flooring.

Laminated or engineered flooring is available in 3" and 5" ply. It is a wood flooring product that consists of layers of wood pressed together, with the grains of the the wood running in different directions.

Laminated wood flooring is perfect for areas in the home where solid flooring may not be suitable, such as basements, kitchens, utility rooms. Because the grains run in different directions, it is more dimensionally stable than solid wood. This means that it will expand and contract less than solid wood during fluctuations in humidity and temperature.

Many species and colors are available on the market. Most laminated wood flooring products are finished at the factory, and several finish options are available.

Acrylic impregnated is a process where acrylics are injected into the wood itself, creating a super-hard, extremely durable floor. Acrylic impregnated flooring is available in solid parquet and laminated strip and plank.

Acrylic impregnated floors are often used in commercial installations, like shopping malls, restaurants, etc., however they are right at home in busy households, as well. Acrylic impregnated floors are very durable, and serve very well in areas of high traffic and heavy activity.

A wide array of colors and styles are available in acrylic impregnated, often lending a very modern touch to a traditional product.

Wood flooring is available in several styles. The style you choose is strictly a matter of personal preference. Below are brief descriptions of the options available.

A) Strip Flooring: Flooring generally is 1-1/2 thru 2-1/2" in width and 5/16" thru 3/4" in thickness. Strip flooring is linear flooring and creates a linear effect in a room., often allowing an illusion of a larger space.

B) Plank Flooring: Plank flooring is also linear, but it is wider in width. Widths range from 3" thru 7" normally, but planks can be wider. Plank flooring is often preferred for a more traditional or country look. However choices in stain or color have a lot to do with appearance in the look.

C) Parquet Floors: Parquet flooring is a series of wood flooring pieces that create a geometric design. Parquet offers a variety of design options, when linear is not your preference.