Before deciding on Solid, Engineered, Plank or Longstrip hardwood flooring you must
consider these factors:

Solid wood floors live up to their name. They are precisely milled from a single piece of wood and cut 3/8” or 3/4” think in random lengths up to 7’. Widths of
2-1/4”, 3-1/4”, 4-1/4”, 5-1/4” are available in a variety of species and pre-finished colors. Solid floors must be nailed down on or above ground level over OSB board or plywood sub floor.

Engineered, Multi-Ply floors Engineered wood floors are actually produced with three to five layers of hardwood. Each layer is stacked in a cross-grain configuration and bonded together under heat & pressure. As a result, engineered wood flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity and can be installed at all levels of the home.

Longstrip floors Featuring all the benefits of engineered plank flooring plus even more installation versatility, the standard 7-1/2” width by 9/16” thickness by 8’ length makes this multi-ply floor a popular choice. Float, glue or staple down over almost any sound, flat and dry sub floor above, on or below ground level. Generous single board surface widths are particularly suited to large, open spaces, while triple board surface widths complement any decor.

Why Hardwood? Hardwood floors add beautiful and natural touch. They also add value to your home and are highly praised in the resale home market. Today’s hardwood floors have made advances in style, durability, maintenance and care, making them more widely usable throughout the home. With simple sweeping or vacuuming and occasional spot cleaning, wood floors will last a lifetime. There are hundreds of choices in style and color with today’s options even spanning into exotic hardwoods. Most wood floors are available in several grades in a wide range of prices.

Do-It-Yourself or Not? Professional installation is generally recommended. However, depending on the type of wood floor, the size of the job, and how handy a homeowner you are, you may be able to do the job yourself. For example, if you’re very handy and looking at installing a factory-finished floor in a small to medium-sized room, doing it yourself would probably not be too tough and will save you the cost of hiring a professional. For bigger, more involved projects, it would be worthwhile to leave it to a professional.