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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(NAPSI)-Hardwood floors can add style and flair to most any room in the home. But the number of hardwood materials available can sometimes cause homeowners confusion. Fortunately, there's no reason to be floored by all your options. Here's an explanation.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is manufactured from a solid piece of wood. Most solid hardwood floors are 3/4" thick, but budget-conscious people can find thinner-profile solids. Both thicknesses offer the same beauty, but 3/4" solids have higher dimensional stability and can be sanded and refinished more times. Solid hardwood is typically nailed to a wood subfloor. It's usually recommended for installation at or above ground level because it is sensitive to shrinking and expanding from excessive moisture or temperature changes.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood is genuine wood flooring, just like solid. It is manufactured in multiple layers of hardwood and offers superior strength and moisture/ humidity resistance. The flooring is typically 3/8" to 1/2" thick and can usually be sanded and refinished if necessary. Engineered flooring can be installed at any level in the home and can be glued, stapled or "floated" over wood, concrete or other existing floors. Floating floors are only attached at the seams, without glue or staples. Engineered hardwood is ideal for multilevel construction and basement renovations.
Solid Or Engineered?
Which genuine hardwood flooring is right for you depends on where you plan to install the floor; what the subfloor is; the moisture level of the underlying surface; how you want your floor to look; and, of course, your budget.
To request a complimentary handbook, "The First Steps To Hardwood Flooring," sponsored by Bruce Hardwood Flooring, Robbins Fine Hardwood Flooring and Armstrong Hardwood Flooring by Hartco, visit the Web site www.armstrong.com.
• Mr. Cohler is a featured designer on HGTV and was described by House Beautiful magazine as one of the "best of the best" in the next wave of interior designers. He was named 1998 and 1999 Designer of the Year by Traditional Home magazine and received the D&D Design Award in 2000 and the IFDANY Circle of Excellence Award in 2004.
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