Hardwood Flooring Types to Consider When Renovating a Room

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An industry veteran and leader in renovation and remodeling, 7G Contracting provides resources and installation services for tiling and engineered hardwood in Hamilton, Ontario.

Choosing what type of flooring to use for a room is essential, but it needs to fit the needs and requirements of the space. Since it became relatively cheaper and more accessible, a consistent trend has been towards hardwood flooring. This type of flooring has a glut of options to choose from, with many different structures, profile types, and finishes.

WHAT ARE HARDWOOD FLOOR TYPES OUT THERE?

When talking about hardwood floor types, it is essential to remember that what is referred to is the way that the material is being put together. It is about the composition of the floor type rather than what wood species is the main component since some hardwood floor types may be composite products using a variety of wood species to achieve some desired result. This flexibility and range of options allow hardwood floors to match any dominant theme, whether the room is attempting a modern, traditional, commercial look or everything in between.

There are five main hardwood floor types: vinyl, laminate, parquet, solid, and engineered hardwood flooring.

• VINYL FLOORING—this is among the more fashionable floor types because of its adaptability and diverse selections. Vinyl is durable and highly resilient, meaning it can imitate other designs like ceramic or marble. Due to its composition, vinyl flooring is slip-resistant. Generally, it avoids permanent scrapes and marks, which makes it appropriate for interior spaces that expect the presence of children and pets. Although heavy loads tend to distort vinyl floors, making them inappropriate for industrial areas. Because of its relative inexpensiveness and ease of installation, vinyl flooring is a popular preference for many homeowners.
• LAMINATE FLOORING—this is a synthetic floor type with multiple layers blended through a complicated lamination process. The photographic applique layer beneath its protective covering allows it to mimic the patterns and color of a wooden floor. The artificial aesthetic of laminate flooring provides spaces with the look of having a natural base but without the inconvenience of maintenance and high costs. Its synthetic quality also makes it durable, but when severe damage or distortion, e.g., moisture, sanding, or refinishing, is not applicable and the affected surface has to be replaced.
• PARQUET FLOORING—this is also known as mosaic flooring due to its geometric and angular style that incorporates square, lozenge, or triangle patterns. Despite being an invention of the 17th century, parquet flooring still retains a broad appeal for its distinctive design and style that provides an elegant and warm beauty to the space. Although parquet flooring generally only needs a routine cleaning, it is essential also to have regular maintenance work like polishing, sanding, and sealing to prevent it from looking dull and tired. The nature of parquet flooring also means that it is pretty vulnerable to scratching and scuffing, especially from sharp objects, and needs thorough repairs to restore damages. Despite all these, parquet flooring remains a preferred choice for many homeowners because of the objective value it adds to spaces.
• SOLID HARDWOOD FLOORING—this type of hardwood floor, as it is exactly called, is made of solid wood, thick boards of single hardwoods that can outlast other types of hardwood floor. Solid hardwood flooring comes in many variations, each rated with a hardness score to tell how vulnerable they are to damage, dents, and wear. Although it has a tricky installation process involving glue or nails, solid hardwood flooring is very durable, and scuffs and scrapes can quickly be restored after proper sanding and refinishing. Despite its longevity and toughness, solid hardwood flooring sees limited use because of its expense.
• ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORING—this flooring type comprises three or more layers of wood that are bonded together to assemble a thick plank. Engineered hardwood floors are more resistant to moisture than solid hardwood and more stable. Because of its composition, engineered hardwood floors can be installed at any level, including basements. There are a few drawbacks to engineered hardwood floors, but their installation presents problems for some homeowners.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

For those looking for tiling and engineered hardwood in Hamilton Ontario, 7G Contracting has a medley of options!