Two Most Common Types of Wood Flooring (And Which to Choose)

While you might be set on hardwood floors, you might not know the different types of wood flooring and their characteristics. That’s where we come in. In this blog, we’ll learn the different types of hardwood, the most common species (hint: there’s five), and the benefits of the most common types of wood flooring. 

What are the Different Types of Hardwood to Choose From? 

There are 5 different types of hardwood floors to choose from: solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, bamboo, acacia, and gray hardwood. Bamboo is not only an eco-friendly option, but it is slightly harder than most hardwoods, making it scratch-resistant. Acacia is another type of wood flooring that is low maintenance and highly durable. Gray hardwood flooring, although it is wood, is used to create the look of stone floors.

While bamboo, acacia, and gray hardwood are popular types of wood flooring, the most common types of wood flooring found in homes are solid hardwood and engineered hardwood. Let’s learn more about solid and engineered hardwood to find out why.

2 Main Types of Wood Flooring: Solid and Engineered Hardwood 

Solid hardwood flooring is an entire board of wood cut straight from a tree. While you can find solid hardwood in many different rooms of a house, it isn’t recommended for below-grade basements as it’s susceptible to humidity. Engineered hardwood flooring is when a thin board of real wood is glued to layers of a thinner wood, like plywood. This provides stability over time and makes it more adaptable to be used in any room of your house. 

Boards made of solid hardwood tend to be more narrow than engineered hardwood boards. They also have tighter seams and more colors and species to choose from. You can choose between both pre-finished and unfinished boards when choosing from solid hardwood options. Some boards made of engineered hardwood have beveled edges, which allow more space between boards. Most engineered hardwood options are only available pre-finished.

When it comes to price, engineered hardwood is usually a bit more budget friendly.  And when it comes to comfort and sound, it’s really based on preference. Solid hardwood floors may not be as noisy as engineered hardwood flooring, but engineered hardwood floors are softer with a bit more bounce to them.

When you compare the cleaning methods of solid hardwood vs engineered hardwood, there isn’t really a difference. Both require sweeping and cleaning with an approved wood cleaner. You should not use water or steam to clean any wood flooring.

If you’re DIYing your flooring, then engineered hardwood may win out over solid hardwood. Many people find the click-lock or glue-down methods of engineered hardwood easier to install than having to nail down solid hardwood flooring. And if you’re not into DIY and want a professional job done, , don’t worry. Flooring stores, like Floor Concepts, provide professional flooring installations to get the job done well for you..

With all that in mind, it can be hard to determine which type of wood flooring is best. We’ve covered a few more frequently asked questions to help you decide whether solid hardwood or engineered hardwood is the way to go.

What Kind of Wood Flooring is Best? 

When determining which type of wood flooring is best, you’ll want to consider the different species flooring is available in. There are 5 hardwood species that are most commonly used in wood flooring: oak, hickory, cherry, maple, and walnut. Species determine the color tones, grain patterns, and durability found in different types of wood flooring. 

• Oak

Oak flooring is available in both red and white oak options. Red oak is the most common choice available, with colors ranging from a brownish-pink to rusty brown. Red oak can vary in color and grain pattern from one board to the next but complements many decor styles.

White oak is harder than red oak, making it commonly chosen for high-traffic areas. It has finer grain patterns and cooler hues with no hints of red. The grain and color of white oak only varies slightly from one board to the next, creating a smoother, more sophisticated effect than red oak. 

• Hickory

Hickory is another popular choice for high-traffic areas as it is durable but also comes in a variety of colors. Hickory is available in beige tones with hints of red to rustic brown with hints of a darker brown throughout the boards. Hickory boards can vary in color from board to board, so it fits best in rustic and country style homes.

• Cherry

Cherry is chosen by many for the smooth grain pattern and the warm brown hues. It does tend to darken overtime, however. Cherry is softer than other types of wood flooring, so it’s best used in areas that don’t see a lot of traffic. 

• Maple

Maple is another type of wood flooring that holds up over time and is suitable for most rooms. It’s a lighter colored wood, with hues ranging from cream to tan. Because of its range in colors and a fine grain pattern, maple complements many decor styles.

• Walnut

If you’re looking for deep, rich tones, walnut flooring is a top choice. Its color, along with its straight grain patterns, make it popular with homeowners wanting to display a dramatic and sophisticated decor. Walnut is best used in areas of your home that see medium-to-light traffic as it may show wear after a few years in high-traffic areas.

What Type of Wood Flooring Lasts the Longest? 

Both types of wood flooring, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood, typically last about 30 years. However, solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished many times, allowing it to remain in your house for as many as 100 years. Engineered hardwood can only be sanded and refinished once or twice before it needs to be replaced, but it can last up to 30 years when properly cared for. Both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood can durably suit your home for years to come, but remember that quality matters and so does the installation process. We recommend sticking to professional flooring stores and installations for longer lasting hardwood flooring. 

What is the Most Durable Wood for Flooring? 

Pre-finished types of wood flooring are the most durable, and both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood are available in pre-finished options. Pre-finished is most durable because of the factory-applied finish. However, it’s also important to consider which is stronger, as different types of engineered hardwood can be stronger than solid hardwood. Overall though, solid hardwood is often considered more durable because of its ability to be sanded and refinished more than twice throughout its lifetime.

What is the Best Wood Floor That Doesn’t Scratch?

While solid hardwood and engineered hardwood are great wood flooring options, they are not the best option when looking for scratch-resistant flooring. If you want scratch-resistant wood flooring, you’ll want to learn more about bamboo and acacia floors. Or, you’ll simply want to consider another type of flooring that is more scratch-resistant than hardwood.

Whether you’re leaning toward solid hardwood or engineered hardwood, we have all the different types of wood flooring options covered. At Floor Concepts, we provide both solid and engineered hardwood, however we do not carry gray wood, acacia or bamboo. Floor Concepts provides local flooring solutions to greater Pittsburgh, PA and the North Hills, free in-home measurements and estimates, and worry-free installations. Visit our Wexford, PA showroom or contact our team today to book your free in-home estimate or start the process of picking out the best type of wood flooring for your home.