What Are The Three Different Types of Wood Flooring

What Are The Three Different Types of Wood Flooring

Your home is a safe haven that you would want to have the best components to live with. One of the most important components would be your flooring option. When you are planning to contact a flooring contractor, you might have some inquiries about the type of wood floor materials that are available in the market. Understanding the various types of wood, as well as their uses will be very helpful for you to determine which option is the best for your home. What are the three different types of wood flooring?

Wood is available in various sizes, shapes, and forms. Since wood came from trees, there are many species of trees that have their characteristics and uses. Before diving deeper into the varieties of woods, as well as their common uses. It is essential for homeowners to understand the three types of woods namely, hardwoods, softwoods, and engineered wood. Each of these wood types has its own uses and can be utilized in various ways. 

1. Hardwood

A hardwood came from any type of tree that does not produce cones or needles. They came from deciduous trees which are scientifically called angiosperms. From trees that produce seeds and leaves. Hardwoods are the best options used for the wood flooring which your flooring contractor would likely suggest to you.

The most common hardwood species that are popular for flooring surfaces are walnut, mahogany, cherry, maple, and oak. Hardwood is not always stronger than softwood. There are some hardwoods that did not come from deciduous trees like palm and bamboo. Palms and bamboo are scientifically called monocotyledons. However, both types of woods have similar characteristics to hardwoods.

2. Softwoods

Softwoods are milled from conifer trees, which are basically lumber and wood. Scientifically called gymnosperms. Conifer trees are the types of trees that either produce cones or have needles. Some of the most known softwood trees are Pine, Spruce, Redwood, Cedar, and Fir.

Most of the softwood products are strong and used in many building applications. The Fir, Pine, and Spruce are sold as dimensional SPF lumber which is used for framing new construction. Many softwoods that came from the cypress family can resist insects and rot. Softwoods like redwood and cedar are great options for exterior items, such as any outdoor furniture and decks. They are not necessarily “softer” than hardwood. It is true that there are hardwood variants that are very hard which can be challenging to work with. The distinction is not just with the softer or harder distinction but in the utilization of the woods.

3. Engineered Wood

The third type of wood that you might encounter when discussing flooring options with your flooring contractor is engineered wood. This type of wood is true to its name, as it is a manufactured wood.

This wood is typically made from wood that was engineered and manipulated to have specific features or qualities. Engineered wood is also referred to as a composite wood, where the wood products are mostly made from the waste of sawmills.

Engineered wood usually goes through a treatment process. The wood is treated with either a chemical or heat that will produce a product that can qualify for certain sizes, which is quite difficult to achieve with woods coming from nature.

Some of the most common examples of engineered woods are Composite Board, Plywood, Medium Density Fiberboard, and Oriented Strand Board. Wood veneers are sometimes part of the engineered wood classification since it also goes through treatment and manipulation. Wood veneers go through specialized cutting techniques or combining the pieces to be able t0 achieve a wood grain patterning or a certain size.

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