Why Do I Need to Know The Difference Between Wood Flooring Types?

Is it any wonder why so many Greenville homeowners are choosing to install wood floors? Just think about their durability, beauty, and simplicity to maintain. All of these factors and more are exactly why wood floors add value to virtually any home. But it’s important to remember that there are different types of wood flooring, and each one can and will be damaged over time. Those damages significantly affect the value of your floor and subsequently your home. 

The kicker is that even though the damage is basically the same i.e. deep scratches, staining, discoloration, warping, etc., the way you treat the floor to correct the damage needs to be different. That’s why it’s so important to learn the difference between all of the types of wood flooring before installing or restoring one. As the hardwood floor renewal experts of Greenville, the team here at N-Hance Wood Refinishing of Greenville is here to explain those key differences between the most common types of wood flooring.

Solid

These are floors built straight from the tree and not a factory per se. The most common woods used are cherry, oak, maple, and mahogany. A solid or hardwood floor is supposed to be durable. Heck, you can even find some colonial homes with their original hardwood flooring still intact.   Solid hardwood floors can also be sanded down and refinished several times throughout their lifetime to erase years of damage that has become clearly visible. A major drawback is the price and complex process required to install a hardwood floor, especially a more exotic species like mesquite. They are also susceptible to shape-changing and warping when shifting from wet to dry. But these visibly stunning floors will be well worth the effort to install and maintain if you choose to do so.

Engineered

Though these floors are produced in a factory, they are quite solid. An engineered wood floor plank is built up of thin layers of wood that build up into a thick and solid plank. Typically the top or surface layer is a couple of millimeters thick to allow for refinishing in the future. It’s a little cheaper than a solid wood floor but the overall life of the floor may also be a bit shorter. But for people who are okay knowing that their floor might only last 25-50 years with a couple of refinishings in-between rather than 100-200 years engineered wood is a great option.

Laminate

A laminate floor is very similar to engineered wood in that the planks are made up of layers. The key differences are that laminate floor layers are built out of fiberboard and the surface is typically just a photo made to look like wood grain. The biggest benefit of laminate is that it’s on the cheaper side of things. But without a thick surface, it can be pretty hard to actually refinish because sanding is out of the question. That means you’re going to have to replace it every so often or give us a call. The team here at N-Hance Wood Refinishing of Greenville has developed a way to refinish floors that don’t require sanding.

Bamboo

The craziest thing about the bamboo wood is that it’s actually grass and not a tree. This makes it a more green option for environmentally conscious homeowners because it’s much easier to regrow bamboo than a full tree. Bamboo floors are also highly moisture resistant and extremely durable. But like any wood floor they do will eventually get scratched and dinged. That’s where the downside of a grass-type wood comes into play. Bamboo is nearly impossible to sand without causing damage. 

Cork

Cork is another environmentally friendly option for floors. That’s because cork wood is very renewable and easy to produce. A cork floor is also very durable and absorbs the shock of foot traffic well. It actually even absorbs sound which makes it attractive for people living in noisier neighborhoods here in Greenville. But similar to bamboo, cork is difficult to sand and actually quite expensive to install.

Wood Floor Refinishing in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Asheville

We hope that we gave you some good information to think about in regard to your wood flooring. Whether or not you’re installing one right away, or you’re waiting a little bit longer, it’s crucial that you understand the differences, especially when it comes time to refinish. Please keep us in mind once you start to notice damages. We can refinish virtually any kind of wood floor and service the greater Greenville, Spartanburg, and Asheville areas. Give us a call today at (864) 558-1000 to set up a free consultation.