Hardwoods are easy to care for, and can be installed in all of the primary living areas of any home, except the bathroom. Other advantages of hardwood flooring include its environmentally friendly makeup, and its ability to increase the value of a home or office. Hardwoods also are great for those who have allergies, since it doesn’t hold dust like other flooring. And, wood flooring gives a little underfoot, making it easier on those who must stand for long periods of time.

When purchasing hardwood, understand that you have a wide range of colors and grains to choose from. For instance, it’s important to know the difference between red and white oak, the two most common wood products. White oak is denser and used for high traffic areas. Red oak is more expensive, however, and sports a trendy pinkish tone.

Hardwood is perhaps the most historical of all floor covering, and today remains one of the most popular. Residential and commercial projects each choose hardwood to achieve casual, professional, modern, antique and many other styles. And every time, hardwood delivers. The benefits of hardwood flooring are many. Hardwoods come in many styles and colors, are affordable, are the top choices for those suffering from allergies, are easy to maintain, and are environmentally friendly. Did you know:

• Wood floors increase the value of a home
• Wood flooring should not be waxed, but instead only need vacuuming or dry-mopped
• Wood flooring increases the air quality of a home by eliminating dust particles that typically reside in carpeting
• Wood flooring comes from carefully harvested timber grown specifically for the industry

Variety of styles

Hardwood comes either pre-finished or unfinished, depending on how much the customer wants to control the end product in terms of color and texture. There are four popular styles of hardwood flooring:

• Natural: Also called “solid,” this style is truly cut from a piece of hardwood lumber into wood planks, using mostly ash, maple, or red or white oak
• Engineered: This method involves gluing several pieces of hardwood together, making them easily manipulated so that can be offered in a variety of colors, textures, and grains. Engineered hardwood is also very durable
• Long-strip: This style is simply a larger version of the engineered variety, but with larger strips or pieces of hardwood included. The advantage of long-strip gives the appearance more intricate flooring pattern, while in reality an entire section is present on one board
• Exotic: Called exotic because the wood does not originate in North America, this style is mostly the engineered variety and comes in a range of colors and styles
• Hand-scraped: Also called “sculpted,“ this variety gives a floor an antique look but in reality it possesses a modern finish. Hand-scraped wood is available in solid or engineered.

Selecting a location for your floor

Not all hardwood floor varieties are ideal for all levels of a home or commercial building. For instance, solid hardwood does not do well when placed over concrete or below ground level because it can change its characteristics based on environmental conditions such as humidity and moisture. Conversely, engineered hardwood styles can be used over concrete and react more favorably to humidity and moisture, making them a good choice for basements.

Thinking about the “finished” product

One of the best new assets of hardwood flooring is the new finishes available that remove the need for waxing. When choosing a hardwood flooring ask about its finish. Some of the more popular finishes include polyurethane and acrylic-urethane, a chemical that gives hardwood a clear, durable coat and can be put on the wood using water or oil base; or ceramic — using this finish puts a coat on hardwood that allows for more resistance to wear. Paying attention to the finish — assuming your floor has a polyurethane finish, hardwood floors should not be waxed, because a sticky film will develop and dirt and dust will stick to the wood’s grain.

Tips for buying a wood floor

Before going to the retailer to purchase your hardwood floor, give some thought to the following:

• Compatibility: Will the style, pattern and texture fit with the environment it will be placed into? Remember that darker colors are used for formal settings, while light colors are usually used in casual environments.
• Performance: Will the finish, wood species, and type of floor hold up under the men, women, pets, children, customer and employees who will walk over it every day?
• Cost: After the flooring cost, be sure to consider installation and maintenance costs.

Janka Hardness Scale Organized by Wood Flooring Species

Brazilian Walnut, Ipe, Lapacho Flooring	3680
Cumaru Flooring	3540
Ebony Flooring	3220
Brazilian Redwood Flooring	3190
Angelim Pedra Flooring	3040
Turpentine Flooring	2967
Conduru Bloodwood Flooring	2900
Red Mahogany Flooring	2697
Spotted Gum Flooring	2473
Brazilian Cherry Jatoba Flooring	2350
Santos Mahogany Flooring	2200
Bocote Flooring	2200
Pradoo Flooring	2170
Brushbox Flooring	2135
Karri Flooring	2030
Sydney Blue Gum Flooring	2023
Bubinga Flooring	1980
Tallowwood Flooring	1933
Cameron Flooring	1930
Amendoim Brazilian Oak Flooring	1912
Jarrah Flooring	1910
Purpleheart Flooring	1860
Tigerwood Flooring	1850
Hickory Pecan Flooring	1820
Afzelia, Doussie Flooring	1810
Rosewood Flooring	1780
Merbau Flooring	1712
Kempas Flooring	1710
Wenge Flooring	1630
Timborana Flooring	1570
Hard Maple Flooring	1450
Australian Cypress Flooring	1375
White Oak Flooring	1360
White Ash Flooring	1320
American Beech Flooring	1300
Red Oak Flooring	1290
Caribbean Heart Pine Flooring	1280
Cocobolo Flooring	1136
Teak Flooring	1000
Cherry Flooring	950
Cedar Flooring	900

Definitions and Frequently Asked Questions

The grade of an installation site is determined by the relative elevation of the subfloor compared to the ground level around the house. On grade is the most standard grade, representing a subfloor of elevation at or very close to ground level. With this in mind, above grade then is the elevated status of a subfloor, such as a second floor or attic in which the installation site is significantly above the surrounding ground level. Below grade usually refers to a basement, sometimes specifically with a concrete subfloor.

To determine where your floor can be installed, you would refer to the manufacturer's recommendations. Usually, engineered hardwood floors are compatible with any of the three grades, while solid hardwood floors are only for use on or above grade. The reasoning behind this recommendation is that basements are extremely moisture retentive.

Solid hardwood floors, while being durable and attractive, are not as fundamentally stable as an engineered hardwood floor. Thus, they are vulnerable to moisture related issues that will cup and damage solid wood floors below grade. Manufacturer warranties will almost always be voided if a solid hardwood product is installed below grade.

"Which room should I install my hardwood floor in?"
A question like this is subjective; in truth, so long as compliance with the manufacturer's warranty and recommendation for the grade in which a floor should be installed, it is truly a matter of preference. However, for the sake of convenience, we will go over a few options for the area of your hardwood flooring installation site.

Probably the most popular choice for a hardwood flooring installation is the largest room in the house, which usually is the front room (also referred to often as the living room) or den. This is usually the room that "greets" anyone who walks in, and is preferred to present an atmosphere.

The next most popular choice is a bedroom, where a personal touch is preferred for comfortable relaxing periods. The right floor can set the mood for a comfortable book read before bed, or relay a sense of peace.

Dining rooms are a fine choice for hardwood flooring, especially if company for dinner is something that occurs often. A conversation over a fine meal about the wonderful new floor can liven up any dish.

Another significant option is a hallway, such as one leading from or to a bedroom or dining room. Connecting two rooms with a beautiful floor has the ability to impart a sense of travel that can really deliver someone into a new room the right way.