10:59 am ET October 1, 2014 If you are considering having hardwood floors installed in your home, you’re going to have to decide whether you want solid wood planks or engineered wood planks. Both qualify as hardwood flooring, but they’re surprisingly different from each other. Solid wood planks are milled from a single piece of hardwood and covered with a thin, clear protective layer that often consists of aluminum oxide, ceramic or an acrylic substance. Typically three quarters of an inch, the thickness of solid wood planking enables it to be sanded and refinished many times throughout the life of the floor. Because the plank is a solid piece of wood, it will expand and contract in accordance with the home’s relative humidity. To prevent warping, the home’s interior relative humidity needs to remain between 45% and 65% all year round. Solid wood flooring is available in a wide array of wood species—including oak, maple, and black walnut as well as regional-specific choices like pecan, mesquite and others.

The market also sometimes offers exotic species of hardwood from Brazil, Africa and elsewhere. Solid wood flooring is permanently nailed to the subfloor. Because of the expansion and contraction issues, installers will normally leave a gap between the wall and the floor to accommodate swelling. This type of flooring should only be installed in parts of the home above grade and only over plywood, wood or oriented strand board (OSB) subfloors. Hardwood planks classified as “engineered” feature multiple layers (typically three to five) bonded together under extreme heat and pressure. The layers typically include a top veneer of hardwood backed by less expensive layers of plywood—although some manufacturers use substrates made from recycled wood fibers mixed with stone dust for improved durability and stability. Because of the way engineered hardwood is processed, it is not as affected by humidity as solid wood planks are. Therefore, the product is often the preferred choice for kitchens and bathrooms or in areas where the humidity level can vary—like in a basement or a part of the house below grade, as long as a moisture barrier is placed between the subfloor and the hardwood planks.

They are also better suited for installing over in-floor heating systems. Engineered wood planks now are being created with a tongue and groove installation method, much like laminate flooring. Quick Weight Loss OatmealThis enables them to be installed in a floating floor format without nails or glue.Are Laminate Floors Safe Engineered hardwood floors are suitable for installation on all levels of the home and over plywood, wood, OSB and concrete subfloors.Toilet Paper Holder With Glass Shelf Ultimately, your hardwood choice is going to be determined by where you are planning to install the product and what you’re looking for in terms of design aesthetic. If you’re installing hardwood flooring in a lower level of your home or in an area where moisture or high (or low) humidity might be an issue, then you’re going to want to stick with engineered hardwood.

On the other hand, if you are installing the new floor on an above-grade level and you want a traditional hardwood floor, then you can go ahead with solid hardwood. Both types offer a beautiful finish and will increase the value of your home—as long as they are installed correctly and maintained properly over the duration of your ownership. Gaylord Engineered Hardwood Flooring is designed for use over concrete, radiant floor heating and below-grade applications. Engineered hardwood flooring features a 3/16″ wear layer and 11-ply construction for a total board thickness of 3/4″. Samples, Quotes and Consultations Order samples of our flooring online, request a quote, or simply book a consultation with our showroom staff. Engineered Hardwood Flooring Features: Lengths available up to 12 feet (N/A in exotic species) Special order available up to 10” 3/4” total board thickness so it meets flush with stair nosing’s, tile, etc. 5x more stable than solid hardwood

Nailed, stapled, floated, or glued Can be installed over concrete and/or radiant heat Can be used in condominiums Engineered Hardwood Flooring Species:So many factors play into choosing a kitchen floor: How much do you cook? Is it an open floor plan? What’s the most durable?We’ve taken out the guesswork and chosen four flooring types that make the most sense for kitchens, and we explain why they are ideal. Hardwood flooring, with its unmatched warmth and visual appeal, is a great choice if you want to create a look that never really goes out of style, giving you a good return on investment if you ever sell your home.Also, if you have an open floor plan, hardwood works well in both kitchens and living areas. It creates a warm and unified look. Hardwood is also:Hardwood flooring is made in two ways: solid wood strips or engineered wood planks.Engineered wood is the better choice for kitchens. It has a veneer of real wood backed by layers of less expensive plywood.

This construction provides dimensional stability that makes the flooring less susceptible to movement caused by changes in humidity and temperature — common in kitchens.Cost: $3 to $12 per sq. ft.Installation: $5 to $12 per sq. ft., depending on the complexity of the job.Sheet vinyl belongs to a group of flooring products called resilient flooring, which is the softest flooring option. If you cook a lot, this cushiness makes it easier on your feet while easing muscle fatigue. Also, sheet vinyl is much more forgiving if you (or someone in your family) is a bit of klutz who tends to drop things. You’ll have less breakage.Plus, sheet vinyl flooring is a snap to clean up; it’s completely waterproof and stain-proof. However, depending on the size and layout of your kitchen, you may have seams. Standard width for vinyl flooring is 12 feet. If your kitchen is wider than that, you’ll definitely have seams, which can let moisture into the subfloor and trap dirt if they aren’t tightly bonded.

On the upside, sheet vinyl requires no ongoing maintenance beyond sweeping and mopping. If the softness of vinyl flooring appeals to you most, you might opt for cushioned vinyl flooring, which is backed with a layer of foam (standard sheet vinyl uses felt backing). Sounds good, but that extra cushiness makes it hard to create seams that stay tightly bonded over time. You may end up with seams that come apart, letting in moisture and trapping dirt.  Sheet vinyl comes in many colors and patterns. Thicker vinyl can feature a textured surface, and some types do an excellent job of mimicking the appearance of ceramic tile and real stone. Textured vinyl is a wise choice because it provides traction. Vinyl can be dangerously slippery when wet.Vinyl flooring also has a wear layer that helps resist scratches and scuff marks. But it does eventually wear off. The best brands offer guarantees on the wear layer of 10 to15 years, and good quality vinyl should last 20 years.Cost: $1 to $5 per sq. ft.

Installation: $1 to $2 per sq. ft.Don’t confuse vinyl with linoleum. While linoleum is a similar product, it is not as durable, nor as soft. Its upside is its eco-friendliness.Porcelain flooring tile, a version of common ceramic tile, is the durability champ. It’s fired at high temperatures that produce an extremely hard, durable, stain-resistant tile that is impervious to moisture.In fact, it’s so tough it can be used outdoors in virtually any climate.  Like common ceramic tile, porcelain tile comes either unglazed or glazed. The unglazed versions take on the color of their clay mixture, so they have naturally earthy tones.Glazed tiles have a glass-like coating that can be made in virtually any color, and can mimic the look and texture of real stone at a much lower cost than stone.Make sure you choose porcelain tiles certified as slip-resistant by the Americans with Disabilities Act — the designation should be visible on product literature or packing materials.Cost: $1 to $20 per sq. ft.

Installation: $5 to $10 per sq. ft.Cork is made from tree bark that’s harvested every eight to 10 years; it’s a sustainable material, meaning the bark grows back and can be harvested repeatedly. Countries that produce cork are careful to regulate harvesting to ensure future supplies.Cork has a unique cellular structure that’s waterproof and compressible, which makes it a comfortable, moisture-resistant choice. It comes in 12-inch-by-12-inch tiles and 1-foot-by-3-foot planks, each with a unique grain pattern of swirls and speckles. The surface is naturally textured, which makes it slip-resistant. But unlike other flooring options mentioned, cork floors need to be resealed every three to four years to help guard against scratches and prevent moisture from entering the seams between tiles.Both natural wax and polyurethane are good sealers for cork. Choose water-based polyurethane that’s non-toxic or has low volatile organic compound content to keep it green.Cost: $2 to $6 per sq. ftInstallation: $5 to $10 per sq. ft.