Hardwood - Expert Advice


Learn about different species of wood and new technologies making hardwood flooring perfect for any room in your home, including that unfinished basement.
 
Increase the Value and Beauty of Your Home with Hardwood

There's nothing like a hardwood floor for natural beauty, warmth and ease of cleaning. Its distinctive grains and swirling burnished figures add a classic touch throughout your home. Hardwood's rich character never goes out of style. Good looking, long lasting and a great investment in your home's overall value, hardwood flooring is the perfect marriage of practicality and elegance when it comes to home improvement.

 Wood flooring is available in several styles:
   
 
  Strip Flooring
The flooring comes in strips with widths that range from 1 1/2" through 2 1/2" and thicknesses of 5/16" through 3/4". Strip flooring creates a traditional look, and can produce an illusion that a room is larger than it is.
     
  Plank Flooring
Plank flooring also comes in strips, but they are wider, usually from 3" through 7. Plank flooring can be used to create a more rustic or earthy look as well as a historical appearance with antique applications.

 
New advances in technology afford engineered hardwood floors the flexibility for installation above, at, or even below grade. Several layers of construction are bonded together to prevent bowing/shrinking in cool, moisture prone areas.

Select Hardwood for Any Room

All our hardwood floor selections are clearly labeled for performance in a variety of conditions and applications. Our Quick-Pick icons indicate where they are best used - Below Level (below grade and at ground level, grade) or Above Level. You'll also see icons indicating a style's suitability for residential or commercial settings.
 
   

 
 Explore a Wide Array of Looks with Hardwood
 
You'll probably want to decide on the species of wood you prefer early on in your home design process. Our Quick-Pick icons immediately identify the species that interests you: beech, cherry, hickory, maple, oak, pecan, walnut or exotic imports.
 
   
 
 Understand Product Variations
 
Many factors determine how your floor will look. Consider how much natural variation there is in the grain and coloring of a wood, a range that contributes to wood's endless appeal. How shiny the wood appears varies according to a gloss level rated as matte (low), satin (medium) or gloss (high). A matte finish helps to maintain your floor’s appearance in high traffic areas, while high gloss finishes will add elegance and grandeur to a formal space.
 
   
 
Choose Your Ending
 
Even the configuration of the strip's edge contributes to the look of the installed hardwood floor.
Many strips (or planks - the wider version) offer you the choice of square edge (smooth and flat surface), micro bevel (mild bevel that can be felt with the fingertips), or full bevel (forming a strong groove to visually separate the strips and focus your eye on grain line).
 
   
 
 
Blot Up Spills and Spots Immediately
 
The best cure for a spill is a fast response. Blot and clean spills and spots immediately to prevent staining. Begin at the outer edge and work toward the center to prevent the spill from spreading. Caution: Hard surface floors can be slippery when wet. Use extreme caution when walking on a wet floor.
 
 
 
 

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