18 Dec How to Choose the Best Hardwood Flooring
So you’ve fallen in love with the idea of hardwood flooring. Real hardwood floors bring warmth and beauty to any room.
With so many options today in plank width, color, and texture, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Part of choosing the best hardwood flooring depends on the mood you want to set, and the look you are going for. Things to consider:
Plank Width
Wider planks (5” and up) can give a room a more casual, country look. But depending on the finish, they can also create a sophisticated look. Wide planks can also make a room look more spacious. Narrow planks (less than 3”) can create more of an Old Victorian feel. Mixed-width planks can give a modern look.
Color
A warm honey tone creates one mood. By contrast, a red tone, grey or black color creates an entirely different mood. The color can make a room feel comfy and cozy, or bold and modern. Select your color carefully, because hardwood floors are meant to last.
Texture
Distressed wood and hand-scraped wood give a more natural, weathered or rustic look to a room. Smooth and polished gives a sophisticated look.
Sheen
Glossy or matte or something in between? Gloss sheens reflect the most light, and will show any speck of dust or smudge. Matte sheens absorb the light and are pet friendly.
All of these things go together to create the look and feel of your hardwood floor, and by extension, your room.
Types of Hardwood Floors
Not all hardwood floors are the same. Even among solid hardwood, the individual softness or hardness characteristics make certain types of hardwood a better choice than others. And there is solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, hardwood tiles, and much more to consider.
Solid Hardwood
When you choose solid hardwood flooring, each plank is a solid piece of wood. Planks come from both domestic and exotic hardwoods, depending on the look you are going for. You may be looking for a rustic feel with a distressed hardwood floor. Or you may want an exotic hardwood with a glossy finish. Real hardwood flooring costs more up front and requires a certain amount of maintenance. But you can’t beat the beauty of a hardwood floor.
Solid hardwood flooring is not a good choice for a room that is subject to moisture such as a basement, kitchen, or bathroom.
Engineered Hardwood
Like the name suggests, engineered hardwood flooring uses real wood, but it is man-made. Engineered wood planks consist of several layers. The top layer is 100% natural wood and the bottom layer is also wood. The middle core consists of 5 to 7 layers of plywood that crisscross in different directions. Engineered hardwood floors are less likely to expand, contract or shift when exposed to moisture or changes in temperature. This makes engineered wood flooring an option in rooms that are subject to moisture, such as basements. Engineered wood flooring can also be installed over a concrete slab or radiant heating system.
Hardwood Tile
Hardwood tile, also known as parquet tile, is another beautiful option. Parquet tile allows you to add some personality to your hardwood floors. Parquet flooring tiles create an exquisite contrast to standard hardwood flooring. You have a dizzying array of patterns and colors to choose from with parquet tiles and you can get them installed in a huge variety of patterns. Common styles include herringbone, basket weave, chevron, as borders, and more.
Get the Look of Hardwood Flooring on a Budget
So you love the look of hardwood flooring, but the price tag of the real thing just isn’t in your budget.
There are options that give you the look of hardwood flooring at a fraction of the cost. You have an incredible amount of colors, styles, textures, and plank widths to choose from, just as you do with real hardwood flooring.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Luxury vinyl plank flooring, or LVP, is luxury vinyl flooring designed to look like hardwood flooring. Of course, it’s a manmade material, but if you want the look of a wood floor but need it to be waterproof, then luxury vinyl plank is your solution.
LVP flooring is suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, and basements – any location where you’re concerned about possible water damage. for in stock, we can place a special order, at no additional cost to you.
Get Inspired
If you’re looking for inspiration, consider visiting flooring manufacturer’s websites, Pinterest, or leafing through design magazines. Save the photos of what you like, and we can recommend several options to achieve that look. You may also want to take photos of existing features that will remain the same, or bring photos of samples if your new flooring is part of a remodel.
Guaranteed Low Price on Hardwood Flooring
Premier Flooring Installation offers a low price guarantee on hardwood flooring to homeowners and commercial interests in the Baltimore area, as well as the Ocean City area. We install products from some of the top names in the industry, including Bruce, Triangulo, Armstrong, Mohawk, and more.
Come visit our showrooms to see all of your flooring options or schedule a consultation at your home or business. If we have the hardwood flooring or LVP flooring you want in stock, we can install it for you the next day. If we don’t have exactly what you’re looking