Solid floors

Solid floors are made of 100% wood.  They offer a wonderful opportunity for customization.  You'll find many different species of wood, as well as hundreds of stains and finishes that can complement your floor scheme.  Solid wood floors are not recommended for basements, but are fabulous when used for any level from the ground up. 

Laminate

Laminate flooring is relatively inexpensive and practical.  Most brands of laminate flooring are guaranteed against water damage and other dangers that are naturally harmful to wood.  Laminate flooring typically comes in planks sized around 7” x 36”.   Laminate flooring is made up of layers.  In its most basic form, a laminate floor is a medium density fiberboard (MDF) covered with a thin sheet that represents the chosen floor type and style.  Laminate flooring will usually require a foam or cork underlayment to which it will be attached by glue or tension, but the underlayment does not get attached to the subfloor.  In the flooring industry this is referred to as “floating” since it is not attached to the subfloor. 

Engineered flooring

Engineered flooring is a piece of plywood which is covered with hardwood.  Engineered flooring can be slightly more expensive, but the plywood base provides stabilization, so the floor will move less and last longer.  If you are installing a floor-radiant heating system, engineered flooring is your ideal choice.  It can be nailed down or glued down. 

PARQUET

Parquet is a relatively inexpensive choice of flooring that is adhered directly to the subfloor using a special adhesive.  Parquet is arranged so that strips of wood form a square or rectangle. The pattern is referred to as a mosaic.  You can buy parquet to be sanded on site, or it can be purchased pre-finished.  Parquet is only 3/8” thick, therefore cannot handle the multiple refinishing that other wood floors are capable of handling.  However, it may withstand 2-3 refinishes.