Hardwood Inspiration
Transitional Dining Room, Vancouver
Solid Wood Floors
Solid floors are made with planks of solid wood, usually ¾ to 5/16” thick. Because they are solid, they can be sanded and refinished many times, giving them a long life span. They can be installed over a plywood subfloor at or above grade. They are not suitable for installation in basements.
Engineered Wood Floors
Engineered hardwoods are made with layers of wood veneers bonded together. The top layer is a finished wood that can be resanded a limited number of times depending on its thickness. Because it features multiple sublayers laid in opposing directions, it is more stable than solid hardwood and resists warping and damage from moisture better. For that reason engineered wood floors can be laid over concrete subfloors in addition to wood and are suitable for use in basements.
Wood Species
Color and Grain
Hardwood floors are produced from the wood of many species of trees, each offering different qualities that affect their appearance and performance. Some woods such as oak have prominent grain patterns; others, like cherry, have very mild graining. Every variety of wood also has unique natural coloring that affects its finished color when stained.
In addition, woods vary in their hardness, which affects how easily they will dent and scratch under regular use. In general, the harder the wood, the greater its scratch and dent resistance.
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