Hardwoods have long been used as a flooring material because of their beauty, durability, and resilience.

       The hardwood floors of today have been improved and made more moisture- resistant by tougher finishes; besides traditional woods like oak, maple, and ash, there are also more species of wood, including exotics like teak and mahogany, available on the market than before.

       There are two basic types of wood floors – solid wood (cut as a solid piece of wood) and engineered wood (several plys glued together).            

• Solid wood is more susceptible to changes in humidity; unlike engineered floors, it is not recommended for kitchens and bathrooms, or subgrade
• Wood floors can last for the life of the home
• Will change color over time           
• More easily repaired     Can be repeatedly refinished                
• Nonallergenic                         
• Ranges in price from $3.00 to over $100 per square foot.

Laminate flooring consists of composite fiberboard sandwiched between two sheets of melamine.

       Laminate flooring resembles wood and has a very durable finish. Some manufacturers put a thin sheet (7-10mm) of real hardwood on the top layer.

• Laminate flooring is not real wood        
• Extremely scratch resistant       
• Will not fade in sunlight
• Does not require waxing or polishing          
• Not easily repaired      
• Much less expensive than hardwood flooring; available from less than $1 and up per square foot