One of the top trends this year is choosing hardwood flooring. But sometimes, it can be not very clear since there are plenty of styles and colors available. Our advice is to discuss your needs and concerns with a flooring specialist. In this way, you’ll receive useful information depending on your home’s needs and your preferences. If you need some extra help in choosing the best wood flooring, this article is for you. Next, our experts share their tips on what to look for when getting hardwood flooring. Let’s see how you can choose your next flooring today!

Subfloors

The first thing you need to do before choosing wood flooring, is assess your home. There are three types of subfloor over which you can set up hardwood flooring: concrete below ground level, concrete at ground level, and plywood subfloor. For each, you can choose one of the following constructions—¾ inch solid, 5/16 inch solid, engineered, and locking. To make an informed decision, we recommend you speak with a hardwood flooring expert.

Style

Another important aspect to consider when buying hardwood flooring is style. Almost all species of wood are available in different colors and shades. Rare wood isn’t stained because its natural color stands out. Moreover, each hardwood flooring comes with a different texture, ranging from smooth to distressed to hand-scraped. These are some of the style considerations you need to follow to make the best decision for your home.

Hardness

Hardwood flooring comes with distinct hardness species and ratings. Choosing the right one will ensure you make a long-term investment. You can opt between domestic and exotic species. Each comes with different hardness ratings to ensure they support a specific type of indoor traffic.

Installation

If you decided to purchase hardwood flooring, you should know that a major aspect is the installation process. Each wood type requires specific locking, glue, and installation practices. Hence, it would be best if you collaborated closely with a flooring expert. We advise against DIY projects, as these might reduce the lifespan of the product if done in an inadequate way. Only a hardwood flooring expert can install the product as the manufacturer indicates.

Finish

The finish will boost the style of your new hardwood flooring. And this will determine the level of maintenance required by your flooring. For example, high-traffic areas benefit from a lacquered finish since it protects the wood from scratches. You can receive insights on the best choice for your home by discussing it with a hardwood flooring specialist.

The bottom line

These are some of our insights on how to choose the best wood flooring. Make sure you spend plenty of time researching and analyzing all the available options. We recommend you avoid DIY installation approaches so that you don’t compromise the integrity of the product. A flooring expert can assess your home, suggest the best flooring replacement and perform a professional installation. Remember that hardwood flooring requires some attention to maintenance to prolong its lifespan.