Hardwood Flooring in Allison Park, Pa

Types of Hardwood Floors: Hardwood vs. Softwood

The measure of a hardwood species’ natural hardness is called its grade. Woods of different grades have some broad common features that we’ve grouped into two categories: hardwoods and softwoods. We’ve listed some of the key features of each grade below:

Hardwoods

• Better able to withstand heavy foot traffic
• Longer overall lifespan
• Typically come as prefinished hardwood flooring with darker natural tones
• Average cost is higher
• Examples: oak, maple, walnut

 Softwoods

• Softer and more flexible
• More likely to get dinged and scratched over time
• Typically come in lighter natural tones
• Average cost is lower
• Examples: spruce, pine

You’ll also see hardwood visuals in other flooring categories such as vinyl hardwood flooring, laminate hardwood flooring, hardwood floor tile, and waterproof hardwood flooring like Floorte. When you hear these terms, know that you’re not getting real hardwood floors – however, these categories offer their own advantages. Ask an A&S Carpet Collection representative for more info about these as well as our hardwood flooring prices and our hardwood floor installation cost.

Types of Hardwood Floors: Solid Hardwood Flooring vs. Engineered Hardwood Flooring

While shopping for hardwood, you’ll likely come across two other categories – solid and engineered wood. If you want to know the best hardwood floors for your space, it truly comes down to the details of your project.

The main difference between the two types of hardwood is in their construction. Solid hardwood planks are each made using one single, solid piece of wood, while engineered planks are constructed from layers of high-quality wood materials. The latter is less durable, but more versatile – you can install engineered planks on any grade of your home, including in the basement.

An advantage of solid hardwood is in the average thickness of each plank. Standard hardwood planks come in ¾-inch size, which is far more durable than the ½-inch or 3/8-inch sizes that are common for engineered planks. You can also refinish solid hardwood many more times than engineered, which can only be sanded down once or twice during the lifetime of the floor. You’ll still find both types of hardwood in both narrow and wide plank hardwood flooring formats.

Distressed Style Hardwood Floor Finishes

An especially unique look for your hardwood floors is a distressed style, the result of putting planks through certain manufacturing processes that give them the look of antique or reclaimed wood. This much sought-after style is always easy to obtain naturally, so out-of-box distressed wood makes the look more accessible and affordable.

Some examples include hand-scraped and wire-brushed looks, both of which are right at home in rustic, country-inspired room designs. Talk to one of our experts here at A&S Carpet Collection to learn more about your style options for hardwood floors.

Do You Need Underlayment for Hardwood Floors?

When it comes to how to install hardwood floors, underlayment is a critical step that contributes to maintaining their health and performance. At A&S Carpet Collection, we highly recommend a hardwood underlayment to do the following:

• Even out any imperfections in the subfloor before installation
• Add cushion and reduce noise when walking on the floors
• Keep hardwood floors insulated from external temperatures
• Add resistance to moisture by sealing the planks from below

Taking steps such as laying underlayment will reduce your need for hardwood floor repair or hardwood floor restoration in the future. If you still have any questions about hardwood flooring after reading our guide, please feel free to reach out to us online or in-store! We’re proud to be your leading flooring experts in Allison Park, PA and the surrounding Northern Pittsburgh metro area.