When considering hardwood flooring for your home

Here are some questions to ask yourself and things to consider before making your hardwood flooring choice:

1) Which style best suits my decorating tastes? - You are going to have to walk on and look at your hardwood floors every day for many years, so your decision about which style of wood is important. One style of hardwood flooring is parquet. Parquet is wood flooring that is a series of pieces that create some type of geometric design. Plank wood floors are linear in design and are usually wider than any other style. Plank widths normally run between 3 to 8 inches. Strip wood flooring is similar to plank in that it is in a linear pattern. Strip wood flooring is usually narrower, from 1.5 to 3 inches in width.

2) What species of wood will best suit my needs? - Oak is the most durable hardwood flooring option, but it is also the most expensive. Pine can give a more rustic and rugged look, and it is also very durable. Maple is another popular hardwood floor choice that offers a natural color. Be sure to research the wide variety of hardwood species and the benefits each offers.

3) Look at the different types of wood flooring - One type of hardwood flooring is acrylic impregnated. This involves injecting acrylics into the wood to create a very hard and durable finish. This type of flooring is prevalent in malls, restaurants and retail businesses. Engineered hardwood flooring consists of layers of wood being pressed together. It is popular in areas where hardwood would not be practical, like bathrooms, kitchens and others areas of your home that tend to be higher in moisture.

4) Hand scraped or distressed hardwood floors offer an antique look - If you want your floors to have the look and feel of a 150-year-old Victorian home, then hand scraped hardwood flooring might be the answer. Hand scraped floors offer the look of floors that have years of character, but they are actually brand new. These wood pieces are scraped by hand to get their aged look. Distressed hardwood floors are similar to hand scraped, but they are made to look antique by using a machine or wire brush.

Be sure to do your research and talk to flooring professionals so you know all of the variables that are involved in selecting the right hardwood floors for your home. The more you know, the easier your decision will be.