Hardwood floors have characteristics that make them a popular choice for both aesthetic and practical reasons.

From an aesthetic point of view, real wood floors offer more options when it comes to combining the decoration than any other type of material. The many available species of hardwood, combined with the ability to machine the wood into different configurations, planks or parquet, for example, and adding to that various finish colors and different grades of top finishes, offers virtually endless options. Hardwood flooring can complement and enhance any décor or environment where it is used.

Wooden floors are also practical. The rug could hopefully offer a twenty-year lifespan before it wears down, frays, or becomes so stained, discolored, or discolored that it can no longer be tolerated. Concrete will outlast carpet, but it requires extensive routine maintenance and eventually costly complete replacement. Resilient and vinyl flooring, tile or sheet, don’t even belong in this discussion. Even neglected or battered hardwood floors could easily last a hundred years, and restoring a floor of this age is simply a matter of sanding and refinishing.

Real wood floors generally come in two main types: solid or engineered. The difference between the two is that a solid wood is one species from top to bottom, whereas an engineered hardwood floor uses less expensive woods and wood by-products to form the substrate or underlayments, then is finished with a layer (sheet) of the desired species on top. Each has its strengths, and both will work beautifully; the choice is primarily one of personal preference, structural considerations, and the economy.

There are about a dozen commonly used species of wood that are abundantly available and can be replenished through new growth. Oak is by far the most popular choice. Its combination of durability, beauty and adaptability to a wide range of applications explains this. Walnut, ash, and beech are also popular species. Then there are the species that, while not necessarily rare, are a bit less versatile than the others. This would include birch, cherry, and maple. Finally, there are exotic species like Jarrah and Merbau that are somewhat expensive due to their limited supply.

Both solid and engineered types and all species can be obtained and used either unfinished, finished after installation, or purchased already finished. Stains can be used to achieve the desired color, and various top coats can be used depending on whether a gloss or matte final effect is desired.

Oil or water based lacquer and polyurethane are commonly used as top coats. These make routine maintenance a simple case of using a mop or vacuum to pick up loose debris and an occasional damp mop for spills, which is one of the main reasons for the current popularity of real hardwood floors.