New Hardwood Floors: How To

Our 1950's bungalow had original pine floors... and possibly original 1950's carpet, and Parkay wood, and tile (on top of tile, on top of tile).

We needed to streamline the flooring in our house so it felt more cohesive, we also needed it to be beautiful, functional and fit into our budget. The old pine seemed great, but there is no way to match it, and it really wasn't in great shape. We opted to pull it up (and save for a future project!), and start fresh.

Hardwood Flooring Options:

If you have already ruled out laminate, carpet and tile, you have two main options when it comes to hardwood flooring: Engineered or Solid Wood. Within solid wood you can then choose between pre-finished or raw wood.

Engineered Wood Flooring is constructed by adhering a thin layer of hardwood to a premium-quality plywood layer to gives the flooring stability and structure. There are two main benefits of Engineered wood flooring: (1) Cost, much less expensive! (2) Ease of installation. Most reasonably competent do-it-yourselfers would be able to install an engineered floor themselves in a relatively simple room shape.

Solid Wood Flooring is made of any variety of hardwood species. It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed. It is always nailed down to the subfloor, a process that requires some skill. Because it is solid wood, this flooring can be sanded down and refinished several times over its life. I would recommend going with a professional installation if this is the type of flooring you are looking for.

Our Choice: Engineered!

It was a no brainer for us to go with Engineered wood for our home. Since we were replacing the whole first floor (and eventually some of the basement) we needed something cost effective, durable and easy to install. We chose a product by FromTheForest.com called Brown Sugar Oak. A big thing to check before you decide on a flooring is to see what 'accessory' pieces they offer - i.e. stair nose, trim pieces, etc. This made our install look very professional and we didn't miss having solid wood at all!

TOP TIP: I originally found this product in a local specialty flooring store. BUT I called the manufacturer and ended up purchasing direct and saved over 20% PLUS they let me pay with a credit card, which the local store did not do.

We have loved our floors in the few years we have been in our house! Now that trends are moving towards lighter floors I can't wait to find a new product/finish to try out on our next project!