Solid Hardwood Flooring

Solid wood flooring is the staple of wood flooring in North America. Solid wood flooring is available Unfinished (Square Edge) or Prefinished (Beveled or Eased Edge), in Strip (2 ¼" and 3 ¼" Wide) or in Plank (3" – 7" Wide), and in a wide variety of wood species.  There are various grades available in all lines ranging from free of character and defect in the appearance of the wood (Clear or 1st Grade) to a lot of character (#2 Common or Rustic/Cabin Grade).

This style of flooring is tongue and groove on all 4 sides, and is usually random length 1′-7′, with average lengths running 2′-3.5′ depending on grade.  A 3/4" thick solid product usually has a 5/16" wear layer above the tongue and groove with a small recess where the head of the nail or staple fits leaving you with about a ¼" of sandable hardwood.  This is your wear layer.  A thinner overall thickness will usually yeild a thinner wear layer. The most common installation of style of flooring by fastening it using a 45 degree nailer or stapler to a plywood subfloor.

• View all Prefinished Solid Flooring
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Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered wood flooring is a style of flooring that has a hardwood wear layer mounted on an engineered or plywood substrate.  Engineered wood flooring is available Unfinished (Square Edge) or Prefinished (Beveled/Eased Edge) in a wide variety of wood species and widths.  This is a more stable option than solid wood flooring, meaning it will not shrink and expand in service as much compared to a solid piece of wood due to the added stability of the plywood backer. The deciding factors on the quality of this type of product are the thickness of the hardwood wear layer, the quality and layers of the plywood substrate, and whether or not the hardwood wear layer is sliced or peeled.  This style of flooring can be glued to a concrete or wood subfloor, or fastened using a nailer or stapler to a plywood subfloor.  It can be installed on, above or below grade, and most species can be used over radiant heating systems.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring is also considered more environmentally friendly than solid because it uses less hardwoods. Hardwood trees take much longer to grow than the softer wood trees used in plywood production. Since the wear layer is all hardwood, and what is below that wear layer has nails or staples in it, you are not loosing any actual floor by using an engineered.

• View all Prefinished Engineered Strip Flooring
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Floating Engineered Wood Flooring

Floating floors are a type of engineered flooring that is glued only to itself in the tongue and groove, or clicked together using a click tongue and groove.  They are multi-ply products that have a hardwood wear layer mounted on a wood backer. A very stable product, a floating floor can be installed on plywood; concrete; on, above and below grade; even over radiant heat. This flooring is "floated" over a foam or cork underlayment and moisture barrier.

It is the easiest install, and is the most stable type of wood flooring install.  Since the floor is glued only to itself, it can shift and breath with the added presence or loss of moisture.  A 1/2" gap is left around the room, covered by the base board and quarter round allowing the floor to expand. The quality of this flooring is decided by the quality of the hardwoods, the precision of the milling, and the type of wood used in the core.

View all Prefinished Floating Engineered Flooring