Do you find yourself undecided in buying hardwood floors? They seem to be all alike when you look at it. But if you do not have any knowledge about hardwood floors, you may fall to a wrong decision of buying and installing it in your home or office.

Hardwood floor has two types, the multi-layered hardwood flooring and the single-layer hardwood flooring. The multi-layered hardwood flooring is well engineered with at least three layers of hard planks. Each strip of wood is perpendicularly glued to each other to become more stable and durable. It is also known as engineered hardwood flooring. On the other hand, the single-layer hardwood flooring is made of a solid piece of wood. There is no intervention of any engineering process except timber cutting.

hardwood floors, which were mentioned above. So, before getting into deals with hardwood suppliers and contractors, here are some helpful questions that you should ask yourself before buying hardwood floors.

  1. 1. Where am I going to install the hardwood floors?

    You should identify first where you are planning to install hardwood floor. Is it in the living room of your residential house or in the basement of your commercial building? As mentioned earlier, hardwood floors have two types. The multi-layered is more appropriate for commercial establishments and basements while the single-layer is more applicable for offices with stable weather condition. Also, multi-layered hardwood floor is more reliable for heavy duty environment like industrial plant.

  2. 2. What is the weather in my city?

    Multi-layered or engineered hardwood flooring is more resistant to changing temperature and humid environment than the single-layer hardwood flooring. It is also more resistant to shocks because its layers absorb the maximum strength than the single hardwood flooring. Even if it is exposed to high heat, engineered hardwood floors can sustain the high temperature while retaining its good condition. On the other hand, single-layer hardwood flooring does not have stable dimension when it is exposed to different weather. Since is it 100% solid hardwood, the moisture that it absorbs linger to the core of the wood. The combination of extreme temperature and moisture of the environment can soften the solid hardwood. It is best recommended installing a single-layer hardwood flooring if your place has constant climate condition throughout the year.

    You can check the moisture level of the floor where you will install hardwood flooring. If the moisture level is low, then, you can opt for single-layer hardwood flooring. However, if the moisture is high, you should use the engineered hardwood flooring which is more resistant to moisture damage.

  3. 3. What is the current flooring of my residence or building

    There are times when you need to be practical when it comes to home or office improvement. When you have existing wooden floor, you can easily opt for single-layer hardwood flooring. It is cheaper if you do not have to spend for a subfloor installation before you install the surface flooring. Single-layer can be easily nailed or glued to a subfloor made up of wood material, too. But if you have concrete floors, you should install multi-layered hardwood flooring to avoid the cost of subfloor installation. Multi-layered hardwood floors are also more cost efficient to install in concrete floors because it is resistant to heat and cold that may arise from the ground and concrete flooring.

  4. 4. How much is my budget?

    Installation of hardwood flooring is a serious investment. Check your account balance so that you will be able to know your financial capacity. If you have unfinished floors due to shortage of resources, you will end up spending more when you resume the installation. Which is cheaper? Which is more cost efficient? As mentioned in the earlier item, practicality should be exercised.

  5. 5. Do i really need hardwood floors?

    After you think about those technical concerns, ask yourself, “Is hardwood floor really your choice?” Some people are just making impulsive decisions because they have seen such polished and shiny hardwood floors. If you are one these people, you should think twice whether you are going for the right investment. If you are unsure, better check with your trusted flooring company.