Types & Styles of Wood Floors
 Types of Wood Floor Installation

Types of Wood Floors-Three(3)

• Acrylic Impregnated
  A prefinished product that through a high pressure treatment, acrylic and color are forced in the pores throughout the thickness of the wood. The "finish" is inside the wood, creating an extremely hard surface. These floors are highly resistant to abrasion and moisture and appeal most often to commercial installations, but can be used residentially. The many styles available are the same as laminated floors.
   

• Engineered wood flooring

Engineered wood floors are produced by bonding layers of veneer and lumber with an adhesive. Engineered wood flooring is available in pre-finished and unfinished. These products are more dimensionally stable and are ideal for glue-down installation or float-in installation above grade, on grade or below grade, including basements and humid climates. Engineered wood flooring is produced in:
Strip - thicknesses of 5/16", 3/8", 1/2" or 5/8" and in widths of 2" and 2-1/4"
Plank - thicknesses of 5/16", 3/8", 1/2" or 5/8" and in widths of 3" to 8"
Parquet - one-piece wood tile available in 9" x 9" or 8" x 8" and other patterns

 

• Solid wood flooring

  
  Solid wood flooring is completely lumber. It is available in unfinished and pre-finished. Solid wood flooring is produced in:
  Strip - in thicknesses of 1/2" or 3/4" in widths of 1-1/2, 2" and 2-1/4"
  Plank - in thicknesses of 1/2" or 3/4" and widths of 3" to 8"
  Parquet - geometrical patterns composed of individual wood slats held in place by mechanical fastening or an adhesive.

  Engineered or Solid Wood Floor Categories Can Be Prefinished or Unfinished:
   

• Prefinished wood flooring
  Prefinished wood flooring is factory sanded and finished that only needs installation. This wood floor product comes in many colors, species and sizes. This application ensures minimal dust as no sanding will be needed.

   

• Unfinished wood flooring
  Unfinished flooring is a product that must be job-site sanded, stained if desired, and finished after installation.
  This has been the American staple in hardwood floors for many years. Commonly called "Strip flooring", this product has not changed for many years as to size, cuts & grades. A 3/4" thick unfinished strip floor can be sanded from four(4) to six(6) times in it's lifetime.
  

  Styles of Wood Floors

• Parquet-wood pieces forming a pattern/design-thicknesses of 1/4"- 5/16" 1/2" & 3/4" mostly glue down.

• Plank-board face widths 3" & up to 12" with thicknesses from 1/4", 5/16", 3/8",5/8", 9/16" and 3/4", glue or nail down.

• Strip-usually considered the "hardwood floor", face width sizes of 1 1/2", 2 1/2" and 2 1/4", with 1/2" and 3/4" thicknesses, glue or nail down
  NOTE: As a rule 3/4" products are mostly nailed (larger parquet patterns are both nailed and glued)

There are Three(3) INSTALLATION METHODS for Wood Floors:

See InstallingWoodFloors.com- Industry standrads