A Complete Guide To Types Of Hardwood Flooring

Flooring can make or break a home renovation. The right kind can breathe life into a drab room, whereas the wrong hardwood floor can cause a room to feel darker or more cramped.

At Straight Edge Tile & Flooring, our flooring installation contractors can help you decide on a hardwood flooring type suited to your needs. Contact us today for more information, or to schedule an appointment for hardwood floor installation in Gainesville, FL.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

With its layered composition, engineered hardwood offers durability, moisture resistance, and affordability—without sacrificing the aesthetics of traditional hardwood.

Engineered hardwood flooring is created through multiple layers of plywood or fiberboard, with a thin slice of real hardwood on top. These layers allow the flooring to prevent unwanted expansion and contraction in response to fluctuating humidity levels. As such, this quick-to-install flooring type is an excellent choice for Florida households.

Walnut Hardwood Flooring

Derived from the Black Walnut tree, walnut hardwood flooring can add a dramatic flair to any dining room, bedroom, or entryway. This hardwood offers a rich, chocolate-brown hue, making it ideal for rustic and traditional-inspired homes that are seeking a natural flooring to tie their interior space together.

Homeowners looking to invest in walnut flooring should consider that this is one of the softer hardwood options. As such, walnut tends to be more susceptible to scratching and dents. We recommend placing rugs over the floor in areas with high foot traffic, along with pads underneath heavy furniture, to minimize potential damage.

Hickory Hardwood Flooring

If you are seeking the beauty of classic natural hardwood, with the durability of engineered flooring, look no further than hickory. Compared to most other flooring types, hickory is highly durable and can withstand decades of wear if properly cared for. Additionally, hickory hardwood flooring is also known for its breathtaking variation in shade and grain patterns.

Because of this, it should be no surprise that hickory works best as wide plank flooring. The large size of each plank allows for the grain pattern and natural hue of hickory to be fully showcased.

Oak Hardwood Flooring

Oak is a popular flooring choice in the U.S. Depending on your preferred color, oak can come in two shades—white oak or red oak. White oak has a bright, almost gray tone, allowing it to fit in perfectly with minimalist decor and polished spaces. On the other hand, red oak is warm and slightly pink. When used, red oak can make any room feel cozy and inviting.

Like engineered hardwood, oak floors are built to withstand high humidity. Oak flooring is resistant to excessive moisture—meaning you can relax and enjoy the appearance of your new floors, without the worry of swelling or warping.

Maple Hardwood Flooring

Maple is for more than syrup—this hardwood flooring type is smooth, dense, and bright. In Florida, where sunshine is plentiful, maple’s light colors can truly shine. Place this hardwood in a room with large windows—such as a sunroom or study—to instantly open up the space and make it feel larger.

In the event that you prefer darker colors, do not fret, Maple hardwood flooring easily takes to stains, so you can truly customize the wood however you please. For advice on stain options, contact Straight Edge Tile & Flooring about custom hardwood flooring.