Hardwood Flooring Styles

Strip Flooring
Strip flooring is linear flooring that is usually 2 1/4", 1 1/2", or 3 1/4" wide. It creates a linear effect in a room often promoting the illusion of a larger space.

Plank Flooring
Plank flooring is also linear, however, it is wider in width. Common widths of plank flooring are 3", 4", 5", and 6".

Parquet Flooring
Parquet flooring is a series of wood flooring pieces that create a geometric design.

Colors
Wood floors come in a rainbow of colors to fit any décor. You can achieve unique, one-of-a-kind looks with custom stains and finishes. And even if your floor is old, you can achieve an entirely new look with new stain and finishes. The possibilities are endless.

Species
Today's wood floors come in more than 50 species, both domestic and exotic, spanning the spectrum of color options, hardness, and price ranges. No matter what the look you want to achieve, there are a variety of species to meet your needs.

• Oak is by far the most popular species in the wood flooring product line. More Oak flooring is sold than any other wood floor. Oak is somewhat the standard by which some of the other wood floor species are compared. When most people talk of purchasing a wood floor, they're usually thinking of Oak. There are many different variations of oak. The main two are "Red Oak" and "White Oak." The differences are mainly in the color and shading. Oak has a lot of grain and has a very warm and rich appearance.
• Maple is a more contemporary wood species. Maple has a very condensed, fine grain and less texture than oak. Maple in most cases, has a cleaner, more uniform overall look than some of the other species.
• Pine is most commonly used to achieve a rustic kind of "log cabin" look. When used correctly, Pine can give a very warm look to any home. One caution with Pine, it is a much softer wood than some of the other species and care should be taken when considering this species in high traffic areas.

Grades
The appearance of the wood determines its "grade." All grades are equally strong and serviceable, but each affords you a different look.

• Clear wood is free of defects, though it may have minor imperfections.
• Select wood is almost clear, but contains some natural characteristics such as knots and color variations.
• Common wood (No. 1 and No. 2) has more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations than either clear or select grades, and often is chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room. No. 1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and wormholes. No 2 Common is rustic in appearance and emphasize all wood characteristics of the species.
• First grade wood has the best appearance, natural color variations and limited character marks.
• Second grade wood is variegated in appearance with varying sound wood characteristics of species.
• Third grade wood is rustic in appearance allowing all wood characteristics of the species.

Cuts
The angle at which a board is cut determines how the finished product looks. Wood flooring is either plainsawn, quartersawn or riftsawn.

• Plainsawn is the most common cut. The board contains more variation than the other two cuts because grain patterns resulting from the growth rings are more obvious.
• Quartersawn produces less board feet per log than plainsawing and is therefore more expensive. Quartersawn wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly.
• Riftsawn is similar to quartersawing, but the cut is made at a slightly different angle.

Surfaces Finishes
Lasting beauty requires minimal care with today's wood floor finishes. These finishes are usually urethanes and remain on the surface of the wood and form a protective coating. Surfaces finishes are popular today because they are durable, water-resistant and require minimal maintenance. Various gloss levels are available.

• Oil-modified urethane is easy to apply. It is a solvent-base polyurethane that dries in about eight hours. This type of finish ambers.
• Moisture-cured urethane is solvent-base polyurethane that is more durable and more moisture resistant than other surface finishes. Moisture-cure urethane comes in non-yellowing and in ambering types and is generally available in satin or gloss. These finishes are extremely difficult to apply, have a strong odor and are best left to the professional.
• Conversion varnish dries clear to slight amber and is durable. These finishes have an extremely strong odor and should be applied by the highly skilled flooring professional.
• Water-based urethane finishes are clear and non-yellowing. They have a milder odor and dry in about two to three hours.
• Penetrating Stain and Wax - This finish soaks into the pores of the wood and hardens to form a protective penetrating seal. The wax gives a low-gloss satin sheen. It is generally maintained with solvent-based (never water-based) waxes, buffing pastes or cleaning liquids (specifically made for wax-finished wood floors and an additional thin application of wax as needed.