Solid Hardwood

Milled from 1 piece of wood, solid wood floorboards are typically three-quarters of an inch (three/4″) thick. Solid hardwood can be installed above or on grade, but you don’t want to install this type of wood below grade, since moisture makes it expand and contract. Remember: if even component of the region you’re finishing is underground (like a walk-out basement) it is considered below grade. Hardwood flooring is not suited to install below grade level or in other areas where it may possibly be exposed to moisture.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood floors constructed of multiple layers of cross grain that are bonded together.The upper layer is made of a real wood selected from various species. The lower layers are made of diverse sorts of wood and it could be natural wood or man-made wood like plywood. The grains in every successive layer have a different orientation making the wood much more stable and less prone to warping. Stability is the greatest advantage of an engineered hardwood over the solid wood floor, thus it could be installed Below, On or Above Ground Level.

Engineered hardwood same as solid wood is readily available in pre-finished or unfinished, and can be locate in all known species utilized in hardwood flooring industries along with numerous distinct finishes such as urethane finish or Oil Finish.
Engineered wood floor depends on its construction and dimensions can be direct glue-down, nail, staple or floated.

Poor constructed engineered wood floors use substandard glues that might contain volatile organic compounds. These low cost wood floors will emit VOC’s for years. Engineered wood made from low cost glues or made with poor top quality base layers is likely to unravel in the blink of an eye. It is also much better to visit a physical store and get a initial hand thought of the appearance and finish of a floor instead of relying on online pictures.

One of the most important reality we all will need to contemplate even though purchasing our new wood floor is that the plant has been taken, harvested, possessed, transported, sold or exported legally in any foreign country or the U.S. “Lacey Act” banning commerce in illegally sourced plants and their wood goods. The following are “Lacey Act” plant violation:

Theft of plants Taking plants from an officially protected area, such as park or reserve, Taking plants without, or contrary to, the required authorization Failure to pay appropriate royalties, taxes or fees associated with the plant’s harvest, transport or commerce Laws governing export or trans-shipment such as a log-export ban.