Even after deciding on
hardwood flooring for your home, there are still several options you’ll have available to you. The first, and probably most important, is the particular wood species you prefer. While there are many to choose from, some are going to be better suited to your specific needs than others will be. Since they range from hard to soft, if your home is extremely active, you’ll fare better with a harder species.
It’s easy to find hardwood flooring that is 50 to 100 years old, and some homes have these floors and they are even older. This is the case in many historic buildings, and it gives you a glimpse into the future possibilities of your own floor. They are likely to still be in good shape when your children pass the home down to their own children.
It’s important to remember that solid hardwood can never be installed in spaces like basements, or any others that are below grade. For those spaces, engineered flooring, as well as a few others, makes an excellent alternative. Engineered wood floors feature a veneer of solid wood, and can even be refinished once or twice in their lifetime, so you can maintain a great level of continuity in appearance.