There are three basic types of real wood flooring. Unlike veneers or laminates that consist of a thin layer of wood and synthetic materials the rest of the way through, real wood floors contain wood all the way through. However, there are different manufacturing procedures involved in creating wood flooring. These procedures will affect the overall durability of the wood. Not all flooring types are appropriate for all installation locations.

Solid. Any real wood flooring that is solid from top to bottom is considered a solid wood floor. One main concern with solid wood flooring is that humidity and temperature changes can cause the wood to expand and contract.

Engineered. An engineered flooring material is similar to plywood, where multiple layers of wood are glued together with the grains running in opposite directions. This creates a floor surface that is more stable in humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Acrylic Impregnated. This type of wood flooring is typically used in commercial applications. It is created by injecting an acrylic compound into the wood. This creates a very hard and durable surface.

Careful consideration of the appropriate real wood flooring type for your installation will ensure that your flooring will look great for generations.

Real wood flooring comes in three basic styles. The first two, strip and plank are linear, meaning that the wood will all run in the same direction. In other words, the grain of the wood will be parallel throughout the entire room. Linear flooring can often give a room the appearance of being larger than it really is. The other style of flooring, parquet, is non-linear. With a parquet floor, the grain of the wood will go in different direction, allowing for a range of patterns to be created.

Strip. This type of flooring comes in linear strips that are anywhere from 1-1/2” to 3-1/4” wide.

Plank. Similar to strip flooring, plank flooring is wider, commonly ranging from 3” to 6” wide.

Parquet. Unlike the linear strip and plank style, this type of flooring consists of different shapes of wood that are used to create various floor patterns.

Select the style of real wood flooring that will fit your installation. Keep in mind that styles can be combined to create a decorative look.  You might, for example, create a parquet border around a linear installation, or you might use parquet shaped to create a medallion in the center of the room.

Also, linear does not necessarily mean the wood flooring has to run parallel to one wall or the other. Installing a linear floor on an angle will create a very unique and interesting look.  Be aware that this type of installation is considerably more difficult and typically results in more waste material.

Real wood flooring comes in a variety of grades that are determined based on the overall appearance of the wood. It is important to note that grading has nothing to do with the quality of the wood, so select the grade based on your budget and the look you want to achieve.

Clear. Although clear wood flooring might have minor defects, it will have no major blemishes, knots or color variations.

Select. Similar to clear, but has a few natural characteristics, such as knots and color variations.

Common. This is selected most often by consumers for its natural appearance. It will have more knots and variations that select grade woods.  Common is further divided into No. 1 and No. 2. No. 1 has a more variegated appearance and may contain knots, flags and wormholes. No. 2 is more rustic in appearance and contains all the characteristics of the selected wood species.

First, Second, Third. These grades go from the most natural with minimal blemishes (First) to the most rustic looking with all of the color variations and blemishes allowed by the given species (Third).

If budget is a concern, but you still prefer the look of a clear grade wood, consider combining different grades together. For example, you could intersperse common No. 1 within a mostly clear installation. Or, you could use a lower grade in area of lower visibility, such as those that will be underneath furniture or an area rug, such as beneath a dining room table or in a hallway with a runner.

How the wood is cut during the manufacturing process will affect the stability and appearance of the wood.  For most installations, plain sawn will be adequate. In damp or humid environments, consider quarter sawn as a better option.

Plain Sawn. This is the most common method of cutting real wood flooring. Each cut of the lumber is made parallel with the last cut. This is the most economical method since it produces the least waste. This also produces wood that has more variations than the other cutting method.

Quarter Sawn. For this method, lumber is first cut into quarters before being cut into strips. This creates wood flooring with a vertical grain that will expand and contract vertically instead of horizontally during humidity changes. Flooring cut this way have a very tight-grained appearance.

Quarter sawn, in addition to being a better option for damp environments also has a more unique look to it. Because there is more waste when wood is cut in this manner, real wood flooring produced this way will be more costly that plain sawn flooring.