No matter the design scheme, wood flooring can add elegance and class to any room where it is installed. If you have your mind set on hardwood flooring near Baltimorefor a home or room remodel, you may be wondering what options are available. While there are many colors, finishes, and varieties to choose from, hardwood floors are broken down into two primary categories: solid wood and engineered wood.
Solid Wood Floors
As implied by the name, this type of flooring is made from planks of solid wood. Hickory, American cherry, maple, ash, pecan, and oak are all popular species used for solid wood flooring. These floors often come unfinished, but pre-finished options are available as well. While more expensive than engineered wood floors, solid wood can repeatedly be refinished, making it a long-lasting option for your home. This type of hardwood flooring can only be installed on or above grade over proper wood subflooring. Because it can be affected by moisture in the air, solid wood is not recommended for spaces such as kitchens, baths, or laundry rooms. Instead, this type of flooring is ideal for areas that benefit from controlled humidity and temperature.
Engineered Wood Floors
Made using real wood, engineered wood flooring is composed of wood or multiple wood composite veneers. These layers can be of a single type of wood, or a combination of species. This variety of flooring benefits from added stability thanks to the veneers being stacked with the wood grain flowing in alternating directions. This feature makes engineered wood resistant to warping, contracting, or expanding along with any fluctuations in the humidity in your home. Engineered wood floors offer versatility because they can be installed on, above, or below grade, and do not require any particular subflooring. These hardwood floors can be installed over your current flooring and in any room of the home, including the bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen. Perhaps one of the most attractive features of this type of flooring, it is often significantly more affordable than solid wood floors.
Solid Wood Floors
As implied by the name, this type of flooring is made from planks of solid wood. Hickory, American cherry, maple, ash, pecan, and oak are all popular species used for solid wood flooring. These floors often come unfinished, but pre-finished options are available as well. While more expensive than engineered wood floors, solid wood can repeatedly be refinished, making it a long-lasting option for your home. This type of hardwood flooring can only be installed on or above grade over proper wood subflooring. Because it can be affected by moisture in the air, solid wood is not recommended for spaces such as kitchens, baths, or laundry rooms. Instead, this type of flooring is ideal for areas that benefit from controlled humidity and temperature.
Engineered Wood Floors
Made using real wood, engineered wood flooring is composed of wood or multiple wood composite veneers. These layers can be of a single type of wood, or a combination of species. This variety of flooring benefits from added stability thanks to the veneers being stacked with the wood grain flowing in alternating directions. This feature makes engineered wood resistant to warping, contracting, or expanding along with any fluctuations in the humidity in your home. Engineered wood floors offer versatility because they can be installed on, above, or below grade, and do not require any particular subflooring. These hardwood floors can be installed over your current flooring and in any room of the home, including the bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen. Perhaps one of the most attractive features of this type of flooring, it is often significantly more affordable than solid wood floors.
