Hardwood Flooring Buying Guide: What to Know
So, you’ve settled on hardwood flooring for a room in your home…now what? You’ve chosen an extremely beautiful and versatile product that will stand the test of time; however, there are many different types of hardwood to navigate. Here are some tips on what to know throughout the hardwood floor buying process.
Different types of hardwood flooring are good for different types of sub-flooring. Find out which type you have, while considering the level of your home, to come up with the best hardwood to install.
Think about moisture. With changes in moisture comes warping and sagging. Make sure you stay within manufacturer parameters for moisture when installing a particular type of hardwood. You may need to install a moisture barrier for additional protection if the room in question gets a lot of humidity.
The main sub-floors include:
- Basement or concrete below ground level
- Concrete at ground level
- Plywood at or above ground level
Consider the construction. Take a look at these four difference types of hardwood floor constructions:
- 3/4-inch solid
- 5/16-inch solid
- Engineered
- Locking
Let’s break each one of these down further:
3/4-inch Solid
This is the most popular sizing, designed for installation over a plywood subfloor at or above ground level. This […]