Hardwood Flooring Construction

Understanding the Construction of Hardwood Flooring

Knowing how hardwood floors are constructed can be very advantageous. It enables you to
understand the structure and make up of materials right from the start.

Knowing the different hardwood choices, and the methods of construction, also helps you
understand and evaluate their potential performance in your home.

Being an educated shopper, helps you better determine hardwood value and keep you inside the
borders of your home decorating budget.

Hardwood sizes, species and finishes vary. When we think of solid wood floors we generally are
talking about a 3/4″ thick plank of solid wood. The planks are usually available in 2-1/4”, 3”, 4”
and 5” widths.

The planks are generally come in random lengths from 12″ – 84″.

The most common wood species used for solid plank floors are red oak, white oak, maple,
cherry, white ash, hickory or pecan.

The three common types of wood floors are Engineered, Solid, and Long Strip Plank.

Type 1: Engineered for stability.

Engineered wood floors are generally manufactured with 2, 3, or 5 thin sheets or ply’s of wood
that are laminated together to form a core material.

These wood sheets are stacked on top of each other in opposite directions. This is called cross-
ply construction which creates a wood floor that is dimensionally stable and less affected by
moisture.

Cross-ply construction allows the sheets to counteract each other, which will stop the plank from
growing or shrinking with the changes in humidity.

A thin top layer or finish layer of the actual wood species is attached to the cross ply core board
and stained or finished, thus creating the finished product. Engineered floors are available in a
wide variety of domestic and exotic wood species.

The other advantage for you is versatility. You can install these floors over concrete slabs in your
basement as well as anywhere else in your home.

Engineered floors can be either, nailed down, stapled down, glued down, or floated over a wide
variety of sub-floors, including some types of existing flooring.

Engineered floors will range from 1/4″ to 9/16″ in thickness, and vary from 2 1/4″ to 7″ in width.
By varying the board widths you can change the total appearance of the floor, creating a truly
custom look for your home. The lengths will be random and range from 12″ – 60″ in length.

Because engineered wood floors are made up of several layers of wood the top finish layer can be a totally different wood species. A variety of domestic or exotic hardwood species are available such as Oak, Maple, Hickory or Cherry. You’re free to pick the one that suits your style.

Type 2: Solid’s.

Solid wood floors are one solid plank of wood that have tongue and groove sides. When we talk
about solid wood floors, we tend to think of floors that are unfinished, but there are also many
pre-finished 3/4” solid wood floors.

Solid wood floors are sensitive to moisture. In the presence of moisture, solid wood planks will
always expand across the width of the planks, rather than down the length of the boards.

The good news is that these floors can be refinished, or recoated several times, which adds to
their appeal and to their long life in your home.

In fact, there are solid floors that are over 100 years old that are still in good condition with rich
patina and character – enhancing the beauty of the home.

Hardwood is a natural product, thus it will expand and contract in response to seasonal changes.
In the winter heating months, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract, which can
create gaps between each plank.

In the summer months, when the humidity is higher, the wood will expand and the gaps will
disappear. If there is too much moisture it may cause the wood planks to cup, or buckle. Not
something you want in your home.

It is very important when installing a solid plank floor, to leave the proper expansion gaps
around the perimeter and to acclimate the wood prior to installation. This will help assure a
lasting, beautiful application.

Because solid wood floors are typically nailed down, it is not recommended for installation
directly over a concrete slab. It is also not recommend to install below ground level.

Consider oak.

Oak is commonly used for solid unfinished wood floors and there are several different qualities of oak for you to choose from. These qualities are clear, select and better, #1 common, and #2 common.

The clear has no visual blemishes or knots and is extremely expensive. While the select and better quality has some small knots and very little dark graining.

The #1 common and #2 common have more knots and more dark graining.

So be aware of that when buying an unfinished solid oak floor and make sure you know which quality of wood you are buying.

Type 3: Long strip offers many possibilities.

Long strip plank floors are similar to engineered floors and have several wood plies that are
glued together. The center core is generally a softer wood material and is used to make the
tongue and groove. A hardwood finish layer is glued on top of the core.

The top layer can be almost any hardwood species and is made up of smaller individual pieces
that are laid in rows, usually 3 per plank.

Long strip planks are approximately 86″ in length and 7-1/2″ in width.

This gives the effect of installing a board that is 3 rows wide and several planks long. Each long
strip plank looks like an entire section that has already been pre-assembled for you.

Long strip planks are designed for the floating installation, but most can be glued-down, or
stapled down. Because these floors can be floated, they are extremely versatile. They can be
installed over a wide variety of sub-floors and on any grade level.

Like engineered floors, long strip floors come in a wide variety of domestic and exotic hardwood
species.

Long strip plank floors can easily be replaced if damaged. That’s an important consideration for
active homes.