Hardwood floors, often a favorite flooring option, are easy to maintain and add warmth to a home's interior.

Hardwoods come in a vast variety of species, both domestic and exotic. Whether it's the look of rich exotic hues or a honeyed tone from a more traditional wood, the color of the wood chosen will help narrow the field.

Texture can also create a dramatic look. From silky smooth to heavily distressed, the character of the floor says a lot about your personality.

Produced in a multitude of colors and plank widths, hardwood provides a unique and visually striking appearance.

When considering hardwood, keep these things in mind:

Ply: The individual layers of wood veneer that are glued together to make engineered wood floors. The plys are cross-laminated to create dimensional stability.

Width: The measurement across the width of the individual hardwood boards. Boards with a width of 2 1/4" or less are referred to as Strip Flooring. Boards with a width of 3" or greater are referred to as Plank Flooring.

Thickness: Refers to the total thickness of the plank or strip, from top to bottom or from face layer to back layer. Most solid hardwood is 3/4" thick while the thickness of engineered floors can range from 5/16" to 1/2".

Edge Profile: The process of finishing hardwood floors includes creating a profile for the edge treatment. There are three basic profiles for edge treatments:

• Square Edge: Edges that are not eased or beveled resulting in a finished wood flooring surface that appears level and smooth.
• Eased Edge: Edges that are cut at an angle - a very slight bevel. Enhances plank definition.
• Kissed Edge: Edges that are cut at an angle with about 1/2 the bevel of an eased edge. Designed to give the same benefits of an eased edge floor, but with the look of a square edge.

 

Learn more about hardwood types