Hardwood floors are incredibly beautiful, highly durable and extremely affordable. Gorgeous colors and rich, natural grains make them a stunning feature in almost an area of your home. We can lay the floor in traditional lines, or you can work with our designers to create your own unique look with patterns and borders to create visual interest. With a wide variety of styles from traditional to exotic hardwoods and high gloss to hand-scraped or machine distressed pieces, you are sure to find a perfect fit.
When buying wood floors, there are four main features to consider: wood species, construction, finish and plank width.
Wood Species
Traditional
STANDARD HARDWOODS
A distinctive grain and durability have made oak the most popular choice for traditional homes. The clean finish of maple makes it perfect for a more contemporary home. Other species include cherry, pine, walnut, poplar, birch and ash. Choose natural hardwood tones or beautiful stains that add depth and character.
Make a Statement!
EXOTIC HARDWOODS
Exotic woods transform your home into a showcase. Stunning hardwoods from around the globe include Teak, Brazilian Cherry, Afzelia, Santos Mahogany, European Oak, Kambala and Curupixa. Choose natural wood tones or a rich, illustrious finish.
ECO-FRIENDLY SPECIES
Cork and bamboo flooring are fast-growing, readily renewable plant materials that are beautiful alternatives to standard flooring material.
- Cork
Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree without harming the tree. This unique flooring is durable, comfortable, sound and thermally insulating, and easy to maintain. Cork is available in both neutral and bold colors and can be sealed for extra water resistance.
- Bamboo
As the fastest-growing woody plant in the world, bamboo forests are rapidly restored with no replanting and little fertilization or pesticides. Bamboo flooring gives a sleek, stylish look to almost any room, is available in a variety of colors, and can be harder, more durable and less expensive than many hardwood species.
Construction
SOLID WOOD
Solid wood flooring planks are constructed from a solid piece of wood. Because they can be re-finished many times, solid wood floors can last over 100 years and still look stunning. However, they are susceptible to moisture. For this reason, they should always be installed over a wood subfloor and never installed directly over concrete or on floors below ground level. Solid wood floors must also be installed with an appropriate expansion joint around the perimeter to prevent buckling.
ENGINEERED WOOD
Finish
FACTORY PRE-FINISHED
Most manufacturers apply six to 10 coats of an ultra-violet (UV) cured urethane, in a variety of gloss levels, which serves as a protective coating. They are durable, water-resistant and require minimal maintenance.
UNFINISHED
With unfinished floors, the floor is installed and then sanded, stained and finished in the home. The process takes longer, and can be messier, but you get a floor finished to your exact specifications.
What Else to Consider When Buying Wood Floors
- Hardwood flooring does not retain dust, pollen, and other allergens.
- Periodic refinishing and scuff/scratch repair may be required to keep hardwood flooring looking its best.
- Footsteps and ambient echoes can cause rooms with hardwood flooring to be noisy. Area rugs can be used to counter this effect.
- In general, wood flooring is not recommended for rooms or areas subject to water or moisture exposure.