Wood flooring comes in two typessolid or engineered wood.
Wood substitutes or faux-wood offerings include bamboo,laminate, luxury vinyl flooring, and wood-look ceramic tile.
It’s similar to any other piece of lumber sawn straight off the log.
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you could get it unfinished or prefinished.
The sealant requires 48 hours to dry.
Even then, additional coats may be necessary.
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With unfinished, the advantage is you could stain it and seal it to your exact specification.
Hardwood must be nailed to a wooden subfloor.
It can outlast its original homeownersup to 100 years with proper care.
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Its greatest weakness is that it cannot be installed in moist areas such as basements or bathrooms.
Engineered flooring is a sandwich of veneer wood and plywood.
The use of plywood distinguishes engineered wood flooring from solid hardwood.
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Each ply runs perpendicular to its adjacent ply, giving dimensional strength to the sandwich layers.
it’s possible for you to count on a good-quality engineered wood floor typically lasting 25 to 30 years.
It is more manageable for DIYers to install.
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Engineered wood flooring also stands up well to areas with light moisture, such as basements andbathrooms.
Engineered wood has more installation options.
It can be nailed down, like solid hardwood, or installed as floating floors.
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What Is a Floating Floor?
Floating floorsrequire no nails or screws and usually need only minimal subfloor prep.
If your existing floor is flat and stable, you could implement the floating floor right on top.
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Its disadvantage is its thin top layer.
Deep scratches and dents in engineered wood cannot be sanded out.
Seek the advice of a reputable flooring company before sanding.
Bamboo will appeal to consumers interested in using natural, renewable resources that are farmed sustainably.
Bamboo looks, feels, and behaves remarkably like real wood.
It’s easy to install, highly durable, and adds to the home’s resale value.
It’s also vulnerable to cracking in humid situations.
Most warranties for bamboo flooring last about 25 years.
It comprises a thin top layer of resin-infused paper, all on top of a wood-chip composite.
So, technically laminate flooring is wood; or more precisely, laminate flooringcontainswood.
Laminate flooring is a precise simulation of wood.
The image layer is essentially a photograph of wood.
With better laminate flooring brands, you could look closely at the product and still be fooled.
Among the advantages oflaminate flooringare its scratch resistance, ease of installation, and low cost.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring differs from laminate flooring in that it is waterproof.
LVP is safe to install in high-moisture environments like full bathrooms.
On average, it lasts about 20 years.
So, long and narrow ceramic tile planks are newer on the market.
But it’s a necessary format if you want your ceramic tile to simulate real wood flooring.
Plank ceramic tile is like luxury vinyl flooring, which is 100% waterproof.
Ceramic tile can last 20 to 50 years, depending on use and care.
If keeping costs low is essential, then the least expensive options will be laminate and ceramic tile.
Although a DIYer can install tiles, it’s not easy.
Renting Your Home?
Solid or engineered wood would be a decent long-term investment with a good potential return.
