Wood flooring has long been considered a luxurious way to bring warmth and timeless style to a space. This traditional flooring option isn’t usually considered an appropriate choice for kitchen design because it is highly susceptible to water damage. Before you count beautiful hardwoods out as a flooring option for your consider, weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the product and check out a few finishing options that help it stand up to the daily wear and tear of this heart of the home.

Wood Flooring in the Kitchen: Advantages

Hardwood flooring is revered as luxurious because of the many benefits it brings to a space. It is lovely to look at, timeless in design, and easy to refinish whenever styles change. Consider all the advantages of using hardwood flooring in your kitchen when deciding which flooring to install.

Appearance

Solid hardwood floors showcase the natural beauty of wood grain and make any room appear warmer and more elegant. Hardwood flooring can be purchase prefinished or unfinished and come in a wide range of different hues, making it easy to find a finish that coordinates with any kitchen design. If you have an open-concept home, running the same flooring from the front door throughout the living areas and kitchen can help make the space appear more expansive and cohesive.

Durability

Hardwood is considered a generally durable product. The thick and solid construction of the planks make it easy to sand them down and refinish them whenever they start to show signs of wear. Using pads under stool legs and dining chair legs will help to prevent scratches, dents, and dings on wood flooring in the kitchen. In particularly high-traffic areas, such as just inside a sliding glass door or under a dining table, area rugs can also provide an added layer of protection.

Warm Underfoot

When it comes to the level of hardness, hardwood flooring falls somewhere in between ceramic tile and linoleum. The warmth and softness makes it comfortable to walk on. Choose a finish with yellow undertones and it will provide visual warmth as well.

Refinishing Options

When deciding to use hardwood flooring in the kitchen, it is essential to finish the floors with a highly durable polyurethane designed to hold up to light spills and splatters. The same oil finishes you use for hardwood floors in a living room just aren’t strong enough for kitchen use. Instead, opt for a polyurethane designed to keep spills from penetrating the wood, reducing the chance of water damage and food stains. A polyurethane makes the floor easy to wipe up as well.

Wood Flooring in the Kitchen: Disadvantages

As with any type of flooring, there are drawbacks to choosing hardwood floors for a kitchen. Before selecting any flooring, make sure to consider the daily use of the space. How many people are in the household? Hos frequently and to what extent do you cook? Weigh all the pros and the cons of the product to see if it makes a suitable choice for your home.

Not Water Resistant

It is no secret that water and wood don’t mix. Prolonged exposure to moisture can cause hardwood flooring to swell, warp or even split. If there is ever a leak from the dishwasher or sink that goes unattended, a section of flooring may require repair or even replacement. Do not wet mop hardwood floors, as too much moisture can seep in through the joints and seams of the flooring.

Regular Maintenance

If you do choose to feature hardwood flooring in the kitchen, some daily maintenance will help them hold up. First, make sure to wipe up any water spills from melting ice or sink splashes immediately. Sitting water is the worst enemy of hardwood flooring. Protect them from grease or light splatters at both the stove and the sink by adding padded orthopedic mats in the areas you frequently stand to work.

Because the kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in the home, expect to need to refinish the floors somewhat regularly. Fortunately, hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished in the course of their lifetime.

Expense

Hardwood flooring is one of the more costly flooring options in any room of the home. It is often more expensive than ceramic tile or luxury vinyl flooring, both of which make popular kitchen options.

Alternative Options

You can enjoy the look of hardwood floors in your kitchen without any of the drawbacks by choosing wood-look ceramic tile or luxury vinyl wood planks instead. Both ceramic tile and luxury vinyl come in designs that offer the look of wood but they provide the added benefit of being completely waterproof. Cork and linoleum floors are also good choices for kitchens. Cork is naturally antimicrobial and linoleum is one of the most affordable of all of the kitchen flooring options.

Choosing the Right Hardwood Flooring for Your Kitchen

If you have decided on hardwood flooring for the kitchen, there are a couple of ways you can ensure the new floors will look great for many years to come. If you are choosing new hardwood floors, look for a wood species with a higher hardness scale rating. The stronger the wood species, the more resistant it will be to the daily traffic and moisture a kitchen sees.

Fir and pine are soft, making them a poor choice for kitchen floors. Brazilian walnut and Patagonian Rosewood are two of the hardest and most durable Consider the finish of the cabinets and dining room furniture and choose a finish that complements the existing colors and tones in the space. With so many different wood species and finishes available, it is easy to find just the right one for any home.

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Entryway Flooring Options

Decorating any entryway requires a flooring that offers the ideal combination of durability and style. Color, style, daily maintenance, and whether or not the flooring requires professional installation or not all factor into which entryway flooring will best suit the needs of the home. All of the flooring materials listed below make a great choice for this much-used part of the home. Check out the pros and cons of each to make the best decision for your space.

Ceramic and Porcelain

Ceramic tile and porcelain tile are two of the most popular flooring options. Not only are they one of the most affordable flooring options, but they are also resistant to moisture, muck, and grime. They are easy to sweet and mop clean and don’t easily show signs of wear. When the entryway is part of an open-concept home, the same tiles can be continued throughout the living, dining, and kitchen areas for a seamless effect.

Because ceramic and porcelain tile are man-made materials, they come in a full range of color and finish options. There are even tiles designed to look like wood planks, granite, and other natural stone varieties. The versatility of design makes it easy to achieve any overall design style.

Luxury Vinyl

You never have to fear tracking in rain, snow, or mud when there’s luxury vinyl planks in the entryway. This high-end synthetic wood material offers the texture, color, and look of hardwood with the added benefit of being completely waterproof. It is easy to install over a wide variety of different subfloors, making it ideal for a quick renovation project.

This material is easy to cut to size using a sharp utility knife, making it easy enough to take on as a do-it-yourself project. Simply click the tiles together and finish the floor with new quarter-round. There’s no need to seal or grout luxury vinyl tiles. This budget-friendly flooring options I often much less expensive to install than ceramic tile, natural stone tiles, or engineered hardwood because the material is affordable and professional installation is optional.

Slate Tile

Slate is a natural stone material that is a popular choice in outdoor spaces. It’s great for decks and home facades because of its ability to hold up to the elements, which makes it a great option for use inside the home as well. Slate tile is going to be more of an investment that ceramic, porcelain, or luxury vinyl but it will also become a statement-making addition to your interior décor. It is also a great choice for resale, as many home buyers are interested in natural tile flooring.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood floors give the look of hardwood with additional benefits built right in. Not only are they much more budget-friendly than traditional hardwood, but waterproof engineered hardwood now exists. Make sure to check the individual specifications of the engineered hardwood to determine the durability of the product in high-traffic areas of the home like the entryway floor.

Bamboo

When it comes to making an environmentally-friendly choice for a home, bamboo is an excellent choice. Not only is bamboo natural and sustainable, but it is also an incredibly durable flooring selection. The versatile design of the material makes it suitable for use in the entryway, living areas, and many other spaces throughout the home. Like hardwood flooring, bamboo comes in a wide variety of finish options, making it easy to achieve the same elegance of natural wood with much more durability. Unfortunately, bamboo is not a great choice for homes in extremely cold or dry climates. It is also prone to showing scratches, especially if pets are present. Using an area rug over bamboo floors can help prevent scratches.

Protecting Your Entryway Floors

Simply adding a welcome mat or area rug over the entryway floor goes a long way to extending the lifespan of the flooring chosen. Rugs are inexpensive and easy to change out seasonally or whenever they start to show signs of wear. Keep a rug pad under the rug to help prevent the rug from shifting or moving with foot traffic. Putting down a tray for shoes and boots will help to keep any mud and muck contained and off the surface of your entryway floors. This is especially important when hardwood floors or any other flooring options that are not waterproof or water resistant.

Each flooring material offers a wide array of color and style options from which to choose. Consider the daily use of the space, the number of rooms requiring flooring, and the overall budget of the project when making final selections. Be sure to factor into the equation all installation costs and supplies. With new flooring in place, the foyer is sure to become an inviting entryway to the rest of your home.

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The flooring is the foundation for the rest of the room. It needs to be fashionable, easy-to-clean, and durable, especially in high-traffic areas throughout the home. Whether you are laying new floors in a single room or updating the flooring throughout the home, choosing the right product is a crucial first step. Understanding the differences in high-traffic flooring materials can help you determine which flooring option best suits the needs of your space.

First, consider the needs of the space. How many people pass through the room daily? Are children and pets a consideration? Use those initial considerations and the overall style of the space to choose a product that will elevate the design.

High-Traffic Flooring Options for Your Home

Luxury Vinyl

It doesn’t get more high-traffic than commercial buildings, and most luxury vinyl tile and plank products are rated to hold up to commercial use. This makes it a great high-traffic flooring option for a busy home as well. This easy-to-install product is also a great project for the weekend warrior. Vinyl flooring comes in a wide array of different colors and textures, all at a price point that works within most budgets. The cost-effective nature of this material has made it an increasingly popular choice.

This durable option holds up to high-traffic areas without scratching or scuffing. Because it is waterproof, it is ideal for wet areas of the home such as mudrooms and laundry rooms. This makes it possible to run the same luxury vinyl flooring through every room of the house, even the bathroom and kitchen. Even furniture won’t tend to gouge this long-lasting flooring.

Natural Stone

There are few materials as resilient as natural stone. Granite, limestone, and sandstone are a great way to bring the beauty of a natural product into the home. The timeless elegance of natural stone makes it a flooring that will hold up to many years of enjoyment. Of all the flooring options, natural stone is one of the most expensive, depending on which type of stone is selected. It also requires professional installation for durable results.

Some natural floors require a sealant at installation. Review the many different types of sealers available to ensure you select one designed to hold up to high-traffic areas throughout the home. Natural stone is so durable, it is even approved for outdoor and transitional spaces, such as patios, lanais, and even pool decks.

Laminate Flooring

When it comes to affordability and durability, laminate flooring is a long-time favorite among high-traffic flooring options. This material is easy to install, eliminating the need to pay for professional installation. This versatile flooring material gives you the look of wood, tile, and other materials at a fraction of the cost. This man-made material features a layered process and comes in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from about 6 mm up to roughly 15 mm. Review the specific laminate product carefully to select the one that will provide you with the best durability possible.

Engineered & Solid Hardwood

When you’re looking for traditional style, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood provide classic elegance. These products, although beautiful, tend to experience wear and tear in high-traffic areas of the home. If this is the flooring for you, there are a few strategies that will help keep the floors protected on a day-to-day basis. First, choose one of the harder, more durable wood types or engineered wood options. During installation, finish the floors with a protective top-coat.

Finally, take precautions to limit scratches and dents by trimming the nails of any pets and keeping cleats and high heels off the floors and in the entryway or mudroom. A decorative rug near the front door will provide an extra layer of protection while you’re kicking off your shoes. Of course, you can get the look of wood and the durability of tile by choosing wood look tile instead.

Porcelain Tile

For the everyday lifestyle of a busy household, porcelain tile is an excellent haigh-traffic flooring choice. This dense product comes in a range of PEI ratings, with 0 being the weakest and 5 being the strongest. When shopping for porcelain tiles to lay in your high-traffic areas, look for those with a PEI rating of either 4 or 5. Porcelain tile is available in a wide range of textures, colors, and styles, making it easy to find that that perfectly coordinates with the look of your home or business.

With so many different flooring options available, it is easy to find an option that provides both style and durability. Keep it classic with a porcelain tile or utilize today’s technologies by laying luxury vinyl flooring down in the home. Once you’ve determined the right type of product, choose a color and style that speaks to the overall aesthetic of the space. Give any hard flooring an added layer of protection in high-traffic areas by considering an area rug or runner near doorways.

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Many homeowners focus on décor and furniture when styling their living spaces. However, flooring is one part of any room that you shouldn’t overlook. The condition and quality of your floors impact how the space appears, and you’ll want to take steps to keep your floors in great shape. Engineered hardwood floors are especially stylish in any home.

They add the beautiful look of authentic wood flooring with the added benefits of being stronger and more stable than solid hardwood. While engineered hardwood is more durable, it can still be susceptible to scratches, especially in high-traffic areas and in busy homes with pets and kids. Learn how to fix scratches on engineered hardwood floors to make sure that your flooring always makes a stellar first impression.

What You Will Need To Fix Scratches On Engineered Hardwood

To fix scratches on engineered hardwood, you’ll need floor repair wax. Almost all hardware stores and home improvement stores have this material in stock. Make sure you get a type of wax with the correct color for your floor. Some waxes come in a stick-shaped similar to a crayon or marker. Other waxes are sold as blocks.

Larger floor repair kits can be somewhat pricey at around $60 or more. However, you may find that these kits include many of the other supplies and tools you need to complete the job. In addition, you can continue to use the kit in the years to come since you’ll find plenty of wax for future uses in the kit. Many wax repair kits come with multiple shades of color so that you have the option to blend colors to get an exact match with your floors.

Besides your repair kit, you’ll need the following tools and supplies:

• Broom
• Washcloth
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swabs
• Plastic putty knife
• White cotton cloth
• Painter’s tape (optional)

Gather these materials and make sure everything is clean before you begin. You’ll want all your supplies to be close at hand during the process to avoid moving around and bringing dust into the area while you work.

Prepare the Area

Do you have many scratches you’re planning to fix at one time? If so, move furniture and rugs out of the way and mark each one with painter’s tape so that you don’t lose track of where you’ve been working.

Next, sweep the floor thoroughly. You’ll want to lift any dust and debris out of and away from the scratches.

5 Steps to Fixing Scratches

Follow the five steps below to fix a scratch:

1. Clean the area. Apply some rubbing alcohol to a washcloth. Wipe the scratch and the surrounding area.
2. Really get in there. Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and run the swab along the length of the scratch. This action will remove any remaining dirt and debris.
3. Prep your floor wax according to the directions. Before you proceed, hold a sample of the wax next to the floor to compare the shade. You may need to blend different colors of wax to get an exact match for your flooring.
4. Fill the scratch. Using the plastic putty knife, take a small amount of wax and push it into the scratch. Press it down at a diagonal angle until the scratch is filled. Use the flat end of the knife to remove excess wax so that the wax in the scratch is level with the rest of the floor.
5. Lightly wipe the floor using a cotton cloth. Remove excess wax from the floor without removing any wax filling the scratch. If you need to even out the wax, you can buff the area very lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper.

If you’ve fixed a number of scratches and feel as though the results don’t blend in perfectly, you may want to consider staining your engineered hardwood floors. The stain will help to lock in the wax you’ve applied and create a more even and consistent color throughout the room so that the fixed scratches blend in.

Buff It Out

If you’re dealing with a very fine, shallow scratch that penetrates only the wood veneer surface and not the wood itself, you may be able to buff it away rather than using a wax repair kit. To accomplish this task, use very fine grit sandpaper and lightly buff the scratch as you move in the direction of the grain of the wood. Use a tack cloth to clear away dust and debris once you’re finished sanding.

The veneer on your engineered hardwood flooring is likely only 1/16- to 1/8-inch thick. Therefore, this technique will work only for very light scratches. Don’t use too much pressure while sanding since excess force could permanently damage the wood under the veneer layer.

Alternative Methods to Fix Scratches on Engineered Hardwood

While using a floor repair wax or light buffing works for many homeowners, you can consider alternative methods to remove the appearance of scratches on engineered hardwood flooring. Discover some of the other scratch repair strategies you may want to try:

• Steel wool: Light scratches may be fixed by steel wool rather than sandpaper. Rub fine steel wool lightly over the scratch to minimize its appearance. Be sure to go with the direction of the wood grain to avoid creating more scratches.
• Wood filler: Use a plastic putty knife to apply premixed wood filler to a scratch. Make sure you choose a wood filler that matches the color of your engineered hardwood flooring.
• Seal the area: After using any of the methods mentioned here, including wax, sandpaper, steel wool, and wood filler, you can refinish and seal the area using varnish or polyurethane. Apply the product with a lamb’s wool applicator or natural bristle brush to prevent air bubbles from developing.

Engineered hardwood floors are designed to last for decades. In fact, top-quality brands may last up to a century. With such a long lifespan and a house full of pets and children, some scratches are bound to develop. To make scratches disappear and keep your floors looking beautiful for decades to come, carefully apply one of the methods described above.

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Unlike traditional hardwood floors, which are made using solid wood, engineered hardwood floors are created using different layers. The surface layer of engineered hardwood is real wood, and the underlying layers are typically high-density fiberboard or plywood. This difference in composition means engineered hardwood has different cleaning requirements. To make sure you don’t accidentally damage your floors, learn about the best ways to clean engineered hardwood.

4 Tips for Cleaning Engineered Hardwood

Manufacturer Recommended Liquid Cleaner

Different styles of engineered hardwood floors require different cleaners. When you’re looking for a liquid cleaner, it’s important you choose one that has been manufactured or recommended by the same company that created your floor. If you use the wrong type of liquid cleaner, you could seriously damage your engineered hardwood.

If you’re not sure what type of cleaner you should use, you can contact the manufacturer to request its recommendations. Once you find out the liquid cleaner you can use on your floor, you can typically find it at your local hardware store or one of the larger supply stores.

A liquid cleaner is particularly effective at removing dirt and stains. When you’re ready to start cleaning your floor, apply a small amount of the liquid cleaner right onto your engineered hardwood floor. Then use a sponge or mop to wipe up the cleaner. If the stain or dirt didn’t come up the first time, keep adding more cleaner until you can remove it.

It’s important to remember that you don’t want to leave the liquid cleaner on the floor for too long, and you want to make sure you wipe all of it up after you’ve cleaned the stain. Excess cleaner could cause more damage to your floor if it sits there too long. It’s not necessary to use any water to rinse the area when you’re done cleaning.

If you have small corners or spaces you can’t reach with a mop, you might find it easier to clean by hand. In this case, pour a small amount of liquid cleaner on a clean rag. Then use the rag to gently clean the dirty area of your floor.

Do Not Use Excessive Water

Excess water is the enemy of your engineered hardwood floors, and it could cause irreversible damage or stains if it stays on your floor too long. Of course, life happens, and you’ll occasionally spill something on your floor. When that occurs, make sure you wipe it up right away. As you’re cleaning up the spill, be sure to blot gently instead of scrubbing or using forceful pressure. Putting too much pressure on your floor could press the liquid into the layers and cause damage.

Not only can spills cause damage, but using excessive water or liquid when you clean can also cause harm to your engineered hardwood. Therefore, you never want to use a soaking wet mop to clean. Instead, make sure your mop is only slightly damp. If you have any excess cleaner left on your floor after mopping, use a towel to wipe it up.

Dry Mop and Vacuum Daily

No matter what type of floor you have at home, dirt and grime can cause problems. When you walk around on your floor, these particulates will act as abrasives that can scratch the finish and leave it susceptible to damage. Therefore, one of the best ways to keep your engineered hardwood floors clean and safe from damage is to dry mop or vacuum them every day.

To help clean up any dirt that ends up on your floor, use a dry microfiber mop. This will effectively pick up debris and dirt without the risk of damage. If you decide to vacuum your floors instead of mopping them, be sure to turn off the beater bar. If your vacuum has a setting for bare floors, use that. If not, make sure you select the highest setting so the beater bar is as far away from the floor as possible. This prevents your vacuum from leaving any scratches on your floor’s finish.

Preventative Maintenance

Good preventative maintenance between cleanings can help make sure your engineered hardwood floors stay beautiful for many years.

First, you want to make sure you keep the right environmental conditions inside your house. Aim to maintain the temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 35 and 55 percent. Wood reacts to changes in temperature and humidity. If the air inside your house is too warm or dry, the wood in your floors can become brittle and possibly crack or split. On the other hand, if you have too much moisture in your air, the wood can swell and buckle.

Since it’s important to keep dirt off of your floor, consider putting a doormat outside all exterior doors to trap dirt before it enters your house. You can also put a throw rug just inside the entrance for added protection. Just make sure you regularly clean the rugs. If you want to protect your floors from accidental spills in the kitchen, cotton area rugs in front of the sink, stove, and refrigerator work best because you can easily wash cotton. Just make sure you don’t use mats with a rubber backing since they can trap water underneath.

If you want to help prevent scratches and marks on your floor, don’t use furniture with rolling casters because they can cause damage. Instead, put fabric glides on the bottom of furniture legs. These glides will let the furniture move easily across the floor without scuffing it. Just make sure you remember to occasionally clean the glides to remove dirt that gets embedded in them. You should also consider keeping your pets’ nails trimmed and keeping your shoes in good repair to prevent scratches.

Engineered hardwood floors are a popular choice for homes because of their beauty and durability. With these helpful cleaning tips, you can make sure your floors continue to stay lovely for years to come.

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Here’s how to make wood and underfloor heating work together in your home.

What to Consider Before Installing

Choose the Right Wood

First of all, use engineered wood flooring instead of solid wood flooring. Made from multiple layers, engineered wood flooring consists of a plywood or HDF core and a top layer of hardwood veneer. Along with enhanced stability, this construction makes engineered planks less susceptible to contraction and expansion due to moisture and temperature changes than solid hardwood.

Due to the added thickness of engineered hardwood layers, this flooring is less vulnerable to the possible expansion and contraction caused by sudden changes in temperature or humidity. It is also a very stable flooring option and there are now fully waterproof versions available.

Plank Size Makes a Difference

You also need to consider plank size and room layout before you begin. For heat to effectively reach the room, the overall flooring thickness should be no more than 18mm, and the solid wood layer on the top should be no thicker than 5 mm.

The wider the boards you install, the greater the risk of the boards developing gaps between them when they contract. The maximum recommended width of a board used in hardwood flooring above radiant heat is 3 inches. You can also reduce gaps by using parquet flooring, tongue-and-groove strips, or boards with beveled edges.

Acclimate the Wood

Before installing the wood, allow it to adjust to the natural temperature and humidity inside your home. Open any packaging around unfinished wood products, and place them inside the home until they have adjusted. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, wood products should remain at ambient humidity and ideal temperature (65°F to 75°F) for seven days before installation, during installation, and seven days after installation.

Affix With Glue

Gluing down flooring as opposed to nailing or using other methods allows the wood to expand and contract slightly without it being permanently damaged, because the glue is elastic. Here is a guide to installing engineered hardwood with the glue down method.

Is Installing Underfloor Heating Under Hardwood Safe?

According to a study conducted by Forest & Wood Products Australia, combining hardwood and radiant heating systems is safe in almost every situation. The study authors recommend combining hardwood and radiant heat in low moisture content environments and describe which types and cuts of wood work best to avoid the wood cupping.

The researchers concluded: “Wooden floors over UFH [underfloor heating] can perform well, and it could even be argued that a wooden floor installed and operated correctly will outperform those with conventional heating systems that cause hotspots in the floor with extreme localized dimensional change.”

Correctly installing an efficient radiant heating system in your home can ultimately save you energy and money on electricity. It is an eco-friendly alternative to a traditional central heating system. Now that you know how to put it to work under your hardwood floors, you have no excuses. Go green, and install an underfloor heating system during your next renovation.

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Hardwood flooring is available with a number of distinct surface finishes that not only enhance the wood grain but also help protect the floor. Whether you’re looking for a shiny, high-gloss finish or something a little more matte, wood flooring top coatings provide plenty of options. Below are some of the top surface finishes for hardwood to note when choosing either solid or engineered hardwood flooring for your home.

Surface Finishes for Hardwood: The Options

1. Water-Based Polyurethane

Arguably the most popular surface finish for hardwood flooring, water-based polyurethane provides a clear finish and has the traditional hardwood look and feel. Traditionally, this smooth, lustrous finish gives solid and engineered hardwood floors the signature wet look, achieved by using multiple coats of high-gloss polyurethane. However, water-based polyurethane finishes also come in satin and semigloss.

Most high-gloss polyurethane hardwood flooring is prefinished in the factory. This makes installation much faster. Thanks to the high sheen, cleaning this hardwood finish is easy, although scratches, pet hair, and other imperfections do tend to stand out. Oil-based polyurethane is another urethane option, although it can yellow over time.

2. Oil Sealer

Oil sealer or penetrating oil sealer is a wise choice if you’re planning on finishing your solid hardwood floors yourself. It’s pretty straightforward for DIYers to apply. It doesn’t dry as hard as the polyurethane mentioned above, but the penetrating process brings out grain patterns and enhances the color of the wood. This finish also allows for touch ups later on.

The main benefit of oil sealer is the low-gloss, natural look it brings to flooring. It is ideal for antique and traditional style homes. The main ingredient in most oil sealers is tung oil. Tung oil is naturally derived and not permanent. You will need to reapply oil sealers every three to five years. This type of finish also has a longer drying time (24 to 48 hours per coat) and requires several coats.

3. Hard-Wax Oil

If you’re looking for a natural finish that’s easy to apply, hard-wax oil offers a warm look. It also provides excellent protection. Although wax treatments for hardwood may be considered outdated by some, they’re growing in popularity again. It’s perfect for those who want a low luster finish that’s easy to touch up.

Most hard-wax oil finishes for hardwood are DIY-friendly in terms of application. Due to the finishes’ low durability and susceptibility to staining, reapplying the wax finish is an ongoing process. This is generally recommended to be repeated every two to three years.

4. Acid Cured or Swedish Finish

Also called a Swedish finish, acid-cured finishes are extremely durable — more so than polyurethane. This type of finish is ideal for smooth-textured flooring and exotic woods that need extra protection. However, acid-cured finishes have high toxicity levels during the curing process. This toxicity can last anywhere from three days to an entire month, depending on the relative humidity.

5. Aluminum Oxide

The king of durable finishes is aluminum oxide, which lasts up to 25 years. This is especially beneficial for engineered hardwood floors because they often have a thinner veneer that doesn’t lend itself to sanding and refinishing.

Prefinished hardwood planks are your only option if you choose hardwood with an aluminum oxide finish. This limitation is due to the application and drying equipment used in the finishing process. This makes installation faster than traditional on-site sanding and finishing.

When you’re ready to install hardwood flooring in your home, consider the finishes described above carefully. Ultimately, the desired surface finish you choose for your flooring should not only complement your home style but your lifestyle as well.

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If you’re considering fiberboard core flooring, you’re probably wondering what the difference is between high density fiberboard and medium density fiberboard. To help you make an educated decision we have the breakdown on HDF vs MDF, and which will better suit your needs.

What is HDF (High Density Fiberboard) Flooring?

There are three types of fiberboard flooring and highlighting on the HDF vs MDF comparison. HDF is referred to as hardboard, a high density fiberboard (HDF) for flooring is a type of engineered wood product. It’s made from wood fiber extracted from chips and pulped wood waste. HDF for flooring is similar but much harder and denser than particle board or medium density fiberboard (MDF) for flooring. It has a density greater than 50 pounds per cubic foot or 800 kg per cubic meter. This makes for a perfect stabilizing material for laminate floors and engineered hardwood flooring.

Like other types of fiberboard for flooring, a HDF for flooring cannot be used outside because it absorbs water. A tempered form of hardboard can resist moisture and is more durable. It is made by adding oil that becomes a polymer when the board is formed under high temperature and pressure. This tempered hardboard is used in construction siding.

What is MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) For Flooring?

Medium density fiberboard for flooring, or MDF, is also an engineered product. It is made of wood wastage fibers compressed together with resin or glue under heat and pressure. It is similar to particle board but more dense. MDF has a density of 600-800 kg/m³, which is higher than many hardwoods. It also doesn’t warp or swell easily in high humidity areas like bathrooms or washrooms. Once again, these characteristics make it an ideal core layer material for laminate flooring and engineered floors.

MDF is also regularly used for furniture, cabinetry, wall panels, shelving, storage units, decorative molding, and doors. Due to its insular qualities in sound and heat, acoustic enclosures for loudspeakers and sub-woofers often are made from MDF.

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Although they offer the same timeless look and sense of warmth, engineered hardwood and solid hardwood do offer a few key differences when it comes to structural composition, and performance in certain areas around the world and your home. So, how do engineered floors different from solid floors?

Solid Hardwood vs Engineered Hardwood

Composition

• Engineered hardwood is manufactured from three or more layers of high-density fiberboard (HDF) or medium-density fibreboard (MDF), and a real hardwood veneer top layer bonded together under heat and pressure. Waterproof engineered hardwood also has a Stone Plastic Composite (SPC) core.
• Solid hardwood is milled from a real hardwood species, making it the sole material used in the making of this type of flooring.

Strength

• Engineered hardwood is more suitable in high-moisture areas or in areas with frequent temperature changes than solid hardwood due to its “multiple-ply plank” construction and SPC core.
• Solid hardwood is noted for adding overall structural strength to the building in which it is installed. The degree to which this is true depends upon the species.

Uniformity

• Engineered hardwood flooring shows the same character variations as solid hardwood flooring. The surface of both are natural materials. Solid and engineered hardwood can be either clean and uniform or rustic with lots of character–it simply depends on the style and grade of material of your product.

Dimensional stability

• Engineered hardwood is more dimensionally stable through multi-ply design. This allows greater resistance to humidity changes.
• Solid hardwood is prone to expansion, warping, and cupping to a significant degree if exposed to humidity changes.

Resistance to Moisture & Heat

• Engineered hardwood is the best choice when solid wood is not appropriate due to increased moisture or heat. It is more resistant to both compared to solid wood. There are waterproof options as well, so you can install it in bathrooms, kitchens and basements.
• Solid hardwood is unsuitable for applications at any location with increased moisture or high temperatures. For example, non-environmentally controlled or damp areas, such as below-grade installations, and over radiant heating systems.

Resistance to Climate Change

• Engineered hardwood does not warp or cup during climatic changes. It is more resistant to higher moisture levels than solid flooring. It is a better choice for installation over radiant heat sources, basements, and locations in rainy climates.
• Solid hardwood generally expands and contracts more than engineered wood during climate changes, especially during extremes in heat, cold, and precipitation.

When deciding on a new wood floor, it’s a good idea to consider the conditions this floor will encounter. For information on solid hardwood vs engineered, this will help inform you on the best type of flooring for your space. With both solid and engineered hardwood, you will get a beautiful floor that will add value to your space.

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Engineered hardwood flooring is made by gluing a real hardwood veneer to a core board made of either plywood or high density fiberboard. Because of this construction method, engineered hardwood is more dimensionally stable than solid hardwood. In other words it will not contract or expand as much due to changes in humidity or temperature.

Engineered hardwood has several advantages over solid hardwood:

• It is generally less expensive than solid hardwood
• It can be installed on all grades, including below grade
• It can be installed over radiant heat
• It can be installed over a concrete subfloor
• It can be floated

The number of plies used to create the plywood core may vary anywhere from 2 to 10, and while a 3 ply board is not going to be as stable as say a 5 ply board would be, this is not enough to be a deciding factor unless this flooring is going to used over a radiant floor heating system. Generally speaking, the more plies in the plywood, the higher the price. A high density fiberboard core is more dimensionally stable than a plywood core.

There are three different ways of cutting the veneer for the engineered flooring that, along with thickness, has an impact on price. The three methods of cutting the veneer include:

• Dry solid-sawn: involves letting the wood dry out slowly with a low humidity level to keep moisture from inside the wood cells intact, reducing the risk of cupping. It is the most expensive type of engineered flooring, but looks and acts more like a solid.
• Rotary-peel: involves boiling the log for a certain amount of time at a certain temperature to prepare the wood. After the wood has been prepared, it is scraped from the log with a blade working from the outside in and then pressed flat. It typically has a plywood-like grain and can have issues with cupping and warping to try to revert to its original shape.
• Sliced-peel: involves boiling the log for a certain amount of time at a certain temperature to prepare the wood. After the wood has been prepared, it is sliced from the end and then pressed to create a veneer.

The thickness of the veneer ranges from 0.6 mm to 6 mm. The thicker the veneer, the more expensive the flooring is. For people who are planning to refinish the flooring at some point, it is important to consider the thickness because unlike a solid hardwood floor, the engineered type can only be sanded and refinished so many times. The thicker the veneer, the more times it can be sanded and refinished, however, it is still limited. Once installed, removing a vent to inspect the flooring from the side can provide an idea of the remaining thickness on the veneer.

Cannot be sanded & refinished:

• Engineered wood floors with veneer thickness less than 2mm
• Hand scraped engineered floors, regardless of veneer thickness

Can be sanded & refinished:

• Engineered wood floors with veneer thickness of 2mm or greater

Note: Sanding and refinishing an engineered wood floor with a veneer thickness of 2mm to 2.5mm is best left to a professional.

Engineered floor planks are made with either a traditional tongue and groove edge locking method or with a glueless click-lock edge method that requires no glue and allows the pieces to snap together to create a snug fit. This is the easiest do it yourself installation method.

For more information on the different types of hardwood flooring see our Types & Grades of Hardwood Flooring and our Hardwood Flooring Buying Guide.

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