Hardwood is a beautiful flooring choice for the home that creates a warm and welcoming environment. While you may be most concerned about which color and texture to go with, it’s also important to consider which construction type and wood hardness will be best for your home.
At Best Buy Interior Finishes, we’re proud to offer the largest selection of wood flooring in Naperville and the surrounding areas. Best of all, we have a team of experienced flooring technicians to make the installation process simple and stress-free.
Keep reading to learn more about the different types of hardwood and how their construction can make a difference in your home. Afterward, visit our showroom in Naperville to see our selection of stellar wood floors!
How is Hardwood Constructed?
Hardwood is most commonly installed over the existing subfloor in your home, which can be made of either concrete or plywood. Hardwood flooring is constructed in various ways to work with these different types of subfloors.
Here’s an overview of the type of hardwood you should choose based on your home’s subfloor.
| Subfloor Type | Floor Level | Engineered Hardwood | Locking Hardwood | 5/16-inch Solid Hardwood | ¾-inch Solid Hardwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Ground-level | X | X | X | |
| Plywood | At or above ground level | X | X | X | X |
Here are a few benefits of each type of hardwood construction.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is the most traditional style of wood flooring. While solid hardwood creates a stunning appearance, it can be more susceptible to moisture than other options. We usually install solid hardwood over a plywood subfloor, and we often place a moisture barrier beneath it to help keep it protected.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood floors utilize cross-layer construction, making them more resistant to moisture than other hardwood options. This flooring type is also relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly.
Locking Hardwood
Locking hardwood is engineered to fit together like a puzzle. Because the planks fit together so perfectly, nails and glue aren’t required for installation. Instead, a moisture barrier is laid down on the subfloor, and then the planks are simply locked into place.
Choosing a Hardwood Style
At Best Buy Interior Finishes, we offer a wide variety of colors, textures, and plank widths, so you can find the perfect hardwood flooring for your home.
Color
If you’re not familiar with the various hardwood species, but you have a color in mind, our team can help you find the right match. Here are just a few of the color options we offer:
- Blonde hardwood floors
- Light-colored hardwood floors
- Dark brown hardwood floors
- Ebony hardwood floors
- Espresso hardwood floors
- Grey hardwood floors
Texture
While most hardwood floors are generally smooth, textured hardwood can create a stunning appearance when utilized in the right setting. At Best Buy Interior Finishes, we offer:
- Wire-brushed Hardwood: This method involves using a metal brush to gently scrape the surface of the planks. The result is a flooring that highlights the natural beauty of the wood grain
- Hand-scraped Hardwood: Hand-scraped wood floors are distressed by hand to look rustic and unique.
- Distressed Hardwood: Distressed floors use both a wire-brush and hand-scraping method to create texture and charm.
Width
Width is another customizable aspect of hardwood flooring. The width of hardwood planks can range from 2 inches to 12 inches, depending on your preferences.
In general, narrower boards will create a more elegant and uniform look, but won’t display the grain of the wood as well. Wider boards will better display the grain of the wood, but may also reveal defects and knots.
The most common hardwood floor width is between 2 and 3 inches wide.
Our Naperville showroom offers a vast selection of hardwood flooring options in every color and grain available. We offer everything from narrow beams to wide planks so you can find the perfect choice for your home.
If you have questions about the wood flooring we offer, you will find our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always available to help you. We are prepared to help you find the beautiful and durable hardwood flooring you’re looking for.
Hardness Factor
Believe it or not, the hardness of wood flooring varies greatly by the type of wood it’s constructed from. Choosing the right type of wood for your home is crucial for a few reasons. For starters, softer woods will take on wear more easily than harder woods.
While soft woods can be beautiful, they’re best reserved for low-traffic rooms like bedrooms and dens. Hard woods can withstand just about any level of traffic and will be sufficient for entryways, kitchens, and hallways.
The Janka Scale was created to measure the hardness of each type of wood. The following chart shows just a sample of the selection offered by Best Buy Interior Finishes.
Hardwood Floor Installation in Naperville
As flooring experts, we understand that beautiful hardwood can quickly deteriorate if it’s not properly installed. That’s why we offer professional in-house installation service to Naperville and the surrounding communities.
During your installation appointment, our team will work diligently to effectively install your hardwood floors. No matter the size or shape of the room, we can make the precise cuts necessary to create a perfect fit.
With over 30 years of experience, we have the skills necessary to ensure your new hardwood is expertly installed.
Visit Our Showroom or Schedule an In-Home Consultation
When you’re looking to find quality hardwood flooring for your home, trust the experts at Best Buy Interior Finishes. Our knowledgeable team is here to help answer your questions and guide you through the hundreds of styles we offer.
Visit our showroom in Naperville or schedule an in-home consultation with our design team.
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OUR SHOWROOM HAS 100’S OF DIFFERENT SELECTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM
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