If you’re building a custom home or remodeling your existing home, flooring is probably on your mind. There are so many different choices out there… from stones, to laminates, to hardwoods and more. Because hardwood flooring is one of the most popular options today, I’m going to give you a brief comparison of three different hardwood floors that are worth considering: engineered hardwood, solid wood, and unfinished hardwood.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood flooring is a great choice if you live in the Louisville area or another region that is known for sticky, humid climates because it resists shrinking and expanding with temperature changes. It’s also a very durable choice and great for use in basements. Engineered hardwood flooring can be directly glued-down over dry concrete slabs or stapled down over a wood subfloor.

Solid Wood

Solid wood flooring is made from one solid piece of lumber, usually milled from a 3/4″ thick piece of hardwood. Similar to laminate flooring, solid hardwood expands and contracts based on temperature and humidity. Installers will leave a gap between the floor and the wall to allow for this movement. Because of this, solid wood is not recommended for use in basements or bathrooms.

Solid wood flooring is available in a variety of sizes and types such as pine or Brazilian cherry. Solid hardwood products also include different gloss levels and surface treatments like hand-scraped or distressed.

Unfinished Hardwood

While unfinished hardwood floors take more time to install and stain on-site than solid wood or engineered flooring, the result adds character to the home and most homeowners find that it is worth the extra time. There are a number of stain options available, so each floor has a unique result. The stain also brings out the beauty of the wood grain and like I said before, adds a unique character that you wouldn’t get with other flooring options. If you’re remodeling a home that has original hardwood floors, sanding and staining those floors will allow you to keep the integrity of the home and save some money along the way.

Being a custom home builder for more than 40 years, I’ve seen my share of flooring! If you’re thinking about building and need an experienced, reputable builder to guide you through the process, take a look around my website and check out my portfolio. If you like what you see, give me a call or contact me online so we can start building the home of your dreams… with the floors you’ve always imagined!