Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors can be installed on any level of your home over different subfloors since they're available in multiple constructions to mitigate moisture (see chart). It's important to take moisture into consideration when you're installing hardwood flooring since changes can create issues, such as warping and gapping. To lessen the effects of moisture, keep levels within manufacturer recommendations. Install a moisture barrier as an added layer of protection against damage.
There are three primary subfloors over which you can install:
- basement or concrete below ground level
- concrete at ground level
- plywood subfloor at or above ground level
- 3/4-inch solid
- 5/16-inch solid
- engineered
- locking
To determine how much flooring you’ll need for your home, use our Wood Flooring Calculator.
Types of Hardwood Floors
The chart below will show you the different type of wood floors and the subfloor that should be used with them. Then you can select the best hardwoods for flooring in your home.*
*Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for more specific details about your floor.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwoods are ideal when selecting above-ground level flooring. Because solid floors expand more when exposed to moisture than engineered floors, you can only install them over a plywood subfloor. If you have a crawlspace, it's a good idea to put a moisture barrier underneath it to help control moisture coming through the ground into your home. Most solid floors can be sanded and refinished, but check the manufacturer's warranty.
Solid hardwood floors range in thickness, but the most popular versions are 3/4-inch or 5/16-inch in thickness. The width of the planks can range from 2-1/4-inches to almost 7-inches.
These floors are available unfinished or prefinished and are available in a wide variety of colors including brown, gray, off-white and more. As you're making your decision, also consider a different hardwood floor pattern for your home, such as herringbone, chevron, basketweave, diagonal and more.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood flooring is designed for installation over concrete and to help mitigate potential moisture issues. The cross-layer construction prevents the floor from expanding as much as a 3/4-inch or 5/16-inch solid floor when exposed to moisture. Therefore, you can install engineered anywhere in the home, including the basement. Engineered floors are also more environmentally friendly and less expensive than solid floors because the veneer is only a few millimeters thick instead of 3/4 of an inch thick. The real hardwood veneer of engineered floors differs from laminate, which has a printed paper veneer. Some engineered floors can be sanded and refinished. Check the manufacturer's warranty.
Waterproof Hardwood Flooring
Waterproof hardwood flooring employs hardwood and bamboo veneers as well as a waterproof core and a proprietary protective coating. This type of floor wood option resists moisture but still presents the same texture and grain patterns of traditional hardwood, making it a perfect choice for those who're concerned about spills but still want genuine hardwood.
Locking Hardwood Flooring
A locking, or floating, floor is an engineered floor with the added advantage of a locking tongue-and-groove system. It's the perfect do-it-yourself flooring solution because nails, staples and glue aren't required. All you have to do is roll out the moisture barrier underlayment and lock the planks into place. Some locking floors can be sanded and refinished.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring can be found as a solid hardwood or as an engineered floor. Bamboo is three times denser than hardwood, making it an incredibly durable choice. Bamboo flooring is scratch-resistant, pet-friendly and easy to clean.
Solid bamboo flooring can be installed over plywood or concrete. Engineered bamboo floors can be installed over tile, vinyl, wood and concrete surfaces. Always check the manufacturer's instructions for your particular product before installing.
It's not recommended that you install hardwood flooring in full baths due to fluctuating moisture conditions.
Hardwood Flooring Considerations
Color and Shade
Most domestic species of wood come in a variety of colors. Most exotic species, on the other hand, aren't stained because their natural color is distinctive. Many exotic species are photosensitive and need exposure to sunlight to achieve their desired rich color. You can also buy prefinished hardwood floors that are already stained and finished with a coating that's stronger than most site-applied finishes.
There are numerous colors to choose from including:
Width
Widths can easily change the look of a floor since the wider the plank, the fewer the seams that can be seen in the floor. Wider widths also showcase the natural beauty of the wood, especially hickory and tigerwood.
Texture
There are many types of texture including:
Make sure you know the defect rate of the wood you're buying. If the rate is over 50%, you'll need to buy almost twice as much than a wood that's rated 95% defect free. Wood with high defect rates can also create issues with installation.
Hardwood Grade
The wood's appearance determines its grade. All grades can be equally defect free, but each grade offers a distinct look. Clear and select grades are the cleanest looks with minimal knots and color variations. Millwood and cabin grades will allow all the characteristics of the species to show, such as knots, streaks and color variations.
Hardness Species
Finding the right species of wood is really a matter of personal taste and project budget. There are domestic species, as well as exotic species of hardwood flooring.
Domestic Species
- bamboo
- Brazilian cherry
- cork
Each species has a distinct grain pattern. For example, oak has a very distinguished grain whereas maple is very subtle. Exotics are very popular because of their grain patterns and color.
Hardness Ratings
Janka Hardness Rating
The relative hardness of wood species are measured using the Janka Hardness Rating. This test measures the force needed to embed a steel ball (.444 of an inch in diameter) to half its diameter into the piece of wood being tested. The higher the number, the harder the wood. This means the wood is more resistant to indentations.
Different species also have varying degrees of hardness. Hardwood floors are a natural product and susceptible to dents (not covered under manufacturer warranties unless specifically stated). If you expect your floors will take a lot of abuse, consider a species at least as hard as red oak based on the hardness chart to the right.
Hardwood Installations
The chart below will help you determine how to use the variety of hardwood construction options with your subfloor.*
Construction of Hardware
*Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for more specific details about your floor.
There are four different ways to install hardwood flooring:
Locking or Floating
An interlocking or floating hardwood floor is an excellent do-it-yourself product because nails, staples and glue aren't required. All you have to do is roll out the moisture barrier underlayment for moisture protection, and then float the floor over the subfloor by locking the planks together. This type of installation offers the added advantage of allowing the flooring to better expand and contract with humidity.
Glue
Gluing down a hardwood floor involves troweling glue on the floor and setting the planks into the glue. Adhesive systems that incorporate a moisture barrier to help mitigate moisture-related issues are available.
Nail
Nailing down a hardwood floor involves driving a nail at an angle through the tongue of the hardwood floor into the wood subfloor. The nail is then hidden by the groove of the next row of boards.
Staple
This is similar to the nailing process, but the hardwood floor is stapled down.
Hardwood Floor Installation and Cost
Before you get quotes from installers, you'll need to take these factors into account.
Materials Needed
Hardwood flooring can range anywhere from $3 - $18 a square foot. You'll also need to factor in the cost of underlayment, trim and the transitions.
Size of the Project
Contractors typically quote based on the square footage of your project. For example, a 25-foot-by-20-foot living room is 500 square feet. If a contractor charges $5 per square foot, a 500-square-foot room would cost $2,500 to install. This cost should include installing the underlayment, but double check with the contractors when they're quoting you.
Installation Time
It's important to let the hardwood sit in your house at least three days before installing it. This allows it to acclimate to the temperature and humidity levels in your home. If you don't let it sit first, warping and buckling can occur. It's best to keep the hardwoods in the room where it's being installed. Take the hardwood flooring out of the plastic and boxes. Cross stack it so there's plenty of ventilation. Professionals can usually install up to 1,000 square feet of hardwoods in a couple of days.
Other Factors
- Purchase an additional 10% of your hardwood to account for waste.
- Quotes can vary, so it's always a good idea to get several.
- Hardwood flooring install costs can vary depending on geographic location.
Do It Yourself
If you’d like to learn more about how to install hardwood flooring, read
Let Us Install It
If you’d prefer to leave the hardwood floor installation to the pros, reach out to us. We’re happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best wood flooring for a small house?
It's really about your particular needs. Do you have pets or children? Then you'll want to consider a tough material like bamboo that's durable and easy to clean. For high traffic areas, use a harder wood such as hickory or oak. Do you live in a particularly wet or humid climate? Then consider an engineered floor that's waterproof.
2. What grade of wood flooring is best?
The grade is determined by the wood's appearance. Wood is graded in levels from common grade to prime -- prime being the best. The fewer defects and imperfections (knots and streaks) there are in the wood, the higher the grade will be.
3. What is the most durable type of hardwood flooring?
The hardness of wood is measured by the Janka Hardness Rating. The higher the rating, the more durable the floor will be. To resist wear and tear, consider a wood that ranks at least 1,290 or more. Refer to the chart above. The most durable type of flooring would be a Brazilian Teak or Brazilian Walnut.
4. What wood is most used for flooring?
Due to its beauty, affordability and durability, the most popular type of wood used for flooring is oak. Oak comes in several variations including white, red, French and European.