Which is Best for your DFW Home?
Determining which type of flooring to is best for your needs can feel like a daunting task. There is a myriad of flooring materials, colors, and styles out there and if you aren’t exactly sure what you’re looking for it can make you want to stop before you’ve even begun. To help ease the decision-making process and determine which type of wood floors you would like installed in your home, we are going to discuss the differences between hardwood and engineered wood flooring. Hopefully this will help you narrow down the types of flooring that will work best for your DFW home.
What is Hardwood Flooring?
Hardwood flooring is made of planks of solid wood. As the name suggests these wood planks are made of hard wood species. You will typically find that hardwood floors are made of maple, oak, and cherry. You will also see from time-to-time hardwood floors made of oak, walnut, ash, and mahogany. Hardwood floors are installed on a level subfloor and can last for many years with regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. The maintenance for hardwood flooring is regular sweeping and cleaning with a damp cloth, you will go a long way towards extending the life of your floors. Additionally, you will want to have your hardwood flooring resurfaced every few years. This means they will be sanded down and refinished. The wonderful thing about resurfacing is that it will look like you have brand new floors, without having to fully replace the flooring throughout your DFW home.
What is Engineered Wood Flooring?
Engineered wood floors are much like hardwood floors, however they consist of two layers rather than being made of one piece of solid wood. The bottom layer of engineered wood flooring or the core is typically made of a good strong plywood. The top layer is a thin layer of hardwood and is typically made from the same woods used in hardwood flooring. Engineered woods are a bit more durable than true hardwood floors because of that sturdy core layer. The construction of engineered wood flooring is such that it does increase the stability of the flooring over hardwood floors. If your engineered wood floors have a nice thick wear layer, resurfacing can also be accomplished with this type of flooring. The beauty of engineered wood flooring for your DFW home is that you get the same stunning aesthetic as you do with hardwood floors, but with a bit more stability.
Commonalities Between Engineered and Hardwood Floors
Since both types of flooring are made from natural wood, they do share some things in common. Both are susceptible to water damage. It is not recommended that wood floors be installed in bathrooms or elsewhere where flooding or humidity levels can be higher as this can cause warping among other issues. Also, both are more easily scratched and dinged than some of their counterparts. Being aware of these nuances to any type of wood flooring is important as it will help you know how to care for your floors properly. Living in a place where there are four seasons, you can expect to see gaps between your planks at certain times during the year as they expand and contract due to the climate, though you may not see as much gapping in engineered wood floors.
There is a lot to be desired with both types of wood flooring. They are stunning and wood flooring is the most sought-after floor by far in America. Knowing the ins and outs of both types will help you determine which would work best for your home and lifestyle. If you want a bit more stability, considering engineered wood floors may be a better fit for your DFW household. If you desire to have a true solid hardwood floor in hopes at improving your property value, then hardwood may be the best choice for you. At Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings right here in DFW we are experts in flooring and would be more than happy to assist you in further understanding the intricacies of both types of wood flooring so that you can be informed and choose wisely. We want you to get the best flooring installed in your home.
