How to Choose Hardwood for Your Arlington, TX Home
Benefits of Choosing Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring offers many benefits to homeowners. Flooring brands have been able to create more hardwood flooring options than you can ever imagine, making it easy for every customer to find the style they want. In addition, with over 1,000 different species of wood available, you can find a material that meets your needs. Furthermore, wood is long-lasting and will add value to your home for many years to come.
At Hiltons Flooring, we’re available to discuss all of your flooring options at our showroom in Arlington, TX. As you compare different hardwood flooring options for your DFW home, consider the characteristics below to find the choice that is perfect for your needs.
Wood Species
Birch
Birch wood offers two primary colors of flooring: red and yellow. Both types of birch flooring will have some color variation within from one board to the next. Birch flooring has a fine grain that may be nearly invisible on some boards. Birch is considered one of the harder wood choices available, so this type of flooring tends to be durable.
Suitable for: High-traffic areas, homes with pets
Cherry
Cherry hardwood flooring is best known for its coloration, which tends to be reddish or pinkish. The grain of cherry wood is usually straight, and this wood has a fine texture. Cherry wood is not one of the harder choices available and may be marred more easily than another type of wood. It is commonly chosen for its elegance and beauty.
Suitable for: Homes without pets, formal styles
Hickory
Hickory is one of the hardest flooring options available. It’s available in a wide range of colors, so it can match just about any kitchen decor. The dark, pronounced grain on hickory makes it well-suited for rooms where you’re going for a rustic look. Hickory floors are easy to clean and stand up well to wear and tear.
Suitable for: High-traffic areas, homes with pets, homes with children.
Maple
Maple is one of the paler, lighter options available. The center of the maple tree tends to be reddish to dark brown, while the majority of the outer wood is cream or off-white. The grain of maple wood is typically wavy or straight. Maple wood has an even texture and is one of the hardest options available, making it a more durable choice.
Suitable for: High-traffic, heavily used areas
Oak
The color of oak flooring can range from white to light brown when sapwood is used, while the heartwood produces a pinkish to reddish brown color. Oakwood comes with a straight grain and a coarse texture that is easily visible to the eye. Although not as hard as maple, oak is still considered a tough, durable wood.
Suitable for: High-traffic areas where durability is needed
Pine
Pine flooring is available in a variety of colors, from light gold to darker browns. Its texture and the presence of knots throughout give it character that makes it an ideal choice among customers looking for a rustic appearance. However, pine is a softer wood and may be more susceptible to damage than many other options.
Suitable for: Rustic looks, light to moderate use
Walnut
Walnut is the darkest hardwood flooring choice available, with a deep brown coloration. If you choose walnut flooring, you will see a straight or wavy grain pattern, as well as a moderate texture. Black walnut is not as hard as some other flooring choices available and may be more likely to become damaged under pressure.
Suitable for: Formal spaces, lower-traffic areas
Types of Flooring
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood flooring is composed entirely of wood. Because of its composition, solid hardwood must be nailed or stapled to a subfloor. Although generally durable, solid hardwood will shrink and expand when exposed to extreme temperature changes or excessive moisture. For this reason, it is not usually installed below grade or directly over concrete.
Engineered Hardwood
Like solid hardwood, engineered hardwood is also 100% wood. However, it’s construction is different, with multiple layers of solid wood bonded together permanently in a cross-ply pattern. Engineered hardwood is made with a cross-ply construction to provide more durability and versatility. This type of wood flooring can be installed directly over concrete, above grade, or below grade. In fact, this is the only type of hardwood that is recommended for below-grade installations. Engineered hardwood will not dramatically contract or expand when exposed to changes in temperature or humidity. It can be installed using several different methods, including floating it over an existing floor, stapling it down, or gluing it down.
Cork
Cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork tree. It may be manufactured in the form of either planks or tiles. Cork flooring is hard and sustainable. It can also muffle noise, and it offers more flexibility and comfort than some other wood flooring options. This type of flooring will resist bacterial growth, insects, and mildew. However, cork flooring should not be used in high-moisture environments. It is also more vulnerable to indentations and scratching than many of the other wood flooring options available.
If you want to learn more about the different hardwood flooring options available, visit the Hiltons Flooring showroom in Arlington, TX. Our friendly staff is available to discuss your options and schedule installation at your DFW home or business.
