There’s not much that will beat the feel and look of hardwood flooring for many householders. There are many different wood and faux-wood options that are available for home flooring projects, and some are a lot better than others. Every product has its advantages and uses in today’s market. Regardless of what type of flooring you choose, always get the very finest flooring you can afford from a reputable dealer and have it correctly installed on a good strong sub floor. Any flooring is only as good as its base and quality of installation.

Wood floor enthusiasts agree that a solid hardwood flooring installed on a good sub floor is the best wood floor. You can get some awfully attractive woods like oak, cherry, maple, pine, hickory, bamboo and the glamorous woods from across the world. The only limit is your position. It is vital to get a top grade of wood without defects or crooked boards.

Next, get an installer who comes recommended by the supplier or builder, and get a guarantee of satisfaction from him. Make sure the provider stands behind their product and the installer. That having been said, a solid hardwood floor installed in your house and finished on site should last for the life of the house. If the finish becomes damaged or worn, a solid wood floor can be screened and refinished to look like new again.

The second best hardwood flooring is one that’s pre-finished and installed over a good sub floor. You have fewer choices in finishes, and the flooring is frequently not as thick as half finished wooden floors, but that helps when you are installing it in an existing home where the thicker flooring will not work. This flooring – as well as the unfinished wooden flooring – is installed with nails and is a permanent floor. You get real wood and can likely refinish it once if you need to. The woods and finishes available give you a large range of decisions and save money and time on installation.

Next in line is the devised wood flooring that’s got a layer of real wood on top of a plywood or made wood substrate. You’re still having a look at real wood, but in a thinner layer that is pre-finished. This type of wood flooring can not be sanded and refinished if it is getting that worn look, in which case you will end up wanting to cover it with area rugs or a bound piece of carpet.

Finally, in terms of wood flooring, there is laminate wood flooring. This gives you the look of wood flooring, but is a photograph of wood layered on top of a manufactured wood substrate and covered by a thick, clear protecting layer. The layers are laminated together with adhesive, heat and pressure to give a strong product that looks and even feels like wood.

These laminate floors are engineered to be put together without nails in what is known as a floating floor. This flooring is the one which is easiest for householders to install themselves. It’s also the most cost effective to purchase next to carpet.