Flooring Matters - Understanding the Different Types of "Wood" Flooring
Wood flooring has long been the top choice for homeowners. Who doesn’t love the character and texture that wood flooring adds to a space. It may seem insignificant but, after all, flooring materials are some of the most noticeable and widespread within a home.
Whether you're house hunting, selling your place or are just thinking about replacing what's under your feet, you'll want to carefully consider how it is made and how the material will hold up.
WHAT IS TRENDING
While good quality engineered hardwood can cost the same as solid wood, engineered takes the cake as the flooring of the moment. It’s our top choice for look, feel and durability. Next up is vinyl. Basically indestructible and able to provide the warm look of wood, it is an incredible option for basements, busy households and cottages. We won't shy away from giving it a thumbs-up in a main space as well, as long as it is a high quality product with a thick underlay so it feels like you are walking on a cloud.
ENGINEERED HARDWOOD
Engineered wood allows you to have the beautiful look and feel of real wood while being constructed to withstand more than solid wood, offering easier care and maintenance. These planks are made up of many thin layers of wood, positioned in alternating directions to strengthen the board against warping and bowing. The top layer is REAL WOOD giving these floors all the natural beauty that real wood flooring does. They can even be refinished depending on the thickness of this top layer which ranges depending on quality. It’s also a great option to use if you want to continue your flooring down to the basement. It can be used below grade whereas solid wood should never be used in such a moisture-rich environment. With so many durable, high-performing qualities it is no wonder why engineered hardwood is so popular.
HARDWOOD
Solid wood floors make everyone swoon. There is nothing like original hardwood floors that have been lovingly restored in a century home. Real hardwood can be refinished a number of times and the character, depth and warmth that solid wood planks bring to a home is immeasurable. However, solid wood is not necessarily the easiest to care for and can often be really easy to damage. A BIG factor when choosing solid wood is that it expands when it’s humid and contracts in the cold. With our extremely hot summers and extremely cold winters, think about your hardwood floors shimmying about in their rows. To solve this, stick to indigenous woods from our unique climate like Oak, Pine & Maple. These trees already weather our temperature swings successfully.
VINYL
You may be thinking, “PLASTIC floors?!” But stick with me on this one. Vinyl flooring can come in a variety of qualities, some of which are extremely beautiful and textured just like real wood. Picture hardwood without ANY wear and tear. Do you have kids? Dogs? Wear stilettos in the house? Vinyl could be for you. It is especially great in areas that are prone to moisture because it’s 100% waterproof! The key with vinyl is making sure that the vinyl flooring planks have a good underlay thickness that so that it feels soft to the foot.
https://blog.scoutandnimble.com/blog/step-by-step-guide-to-refinishing-outdated-floors
LAMINATE
This is another composite materials made to look like wood. The realistic wood-look of these planks have come a long way as a result of advancements in imaging and printing. The top layer of each board is an actual printed image adhered to a core of compressed fibreboard. On higher end models texture is sometimes added to the coating of the plank in order to mimic wood grain. Durability can be an issue so it is important to look for something that has a tough protective coating to protect against scratches.
