Hardwood Flooring 101

Before you consider your hardwood aesthetic and make stylistic decisions, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

• Engineered vs. Solid: Engineered hardwood flooring is constructed using multiple layers of wood, with each layer positioned in a different direction. Only the very top layer is solid wood, and even that is only a veneer. On the other hand, solid hardwood flooring is made from only one type of wood throughout the plank, and if well maintained, it can last for decades.
• Measuring Hardness: The Janka hardness test is the standard when it comes to determining the durability of hardwoods. It measures the amount of force necessary to embed a steel ball halfway into whatever wood is being tested, with higher numbers indicating harder woods. Red cedar is the softest at 350, while Ipe is the hardest at 3,510.
• Color Changes: All floors will be exposed to sunlight to some degree, which will inevitably change your floor’s tone over time. Some varieties will turn yellow, while others will become darker. The finish you choose can help protect your floors from this change, but be sure to ask an expert while shopping about what to expect from the different varieties of hardwood.

The 4 Most Popular Types of Hardwood Flooring

There is a wide variety of solid hardwood flooring options ranging in color, hardness, and look. Here is a quick breakdown of the most popular domestic options and how they can make your floor shine.

• Red Oak: One of the most affordable options available, red oak is also the most stain-resistant. Its natural color ranges from light, creamy reddish pinks to shades of brown with moderate to heavy graining. While not the hardest option available, red oak holds up to wear and tear quite well and is flexible enough to not split under pressure.
• White Oak: Much like its more colorful sister, white oak is abundant, medium-grained, and a reasonably priced option that holds up against stains. It is also a bit harder than red oak, with colors that range from golden brown to gray.
• Maple: First off, you should be aware that maple is available in both hard and soft varieties. It is delicately grained and has creamy-blonde tones that match well with Scandinavian or Mid-Century Modern interior designs.
• Hickory: Harder than oak varieties and maple, hickory is even more durable and resistant. It features a unique grain pattern marked by mineral streaks and knots that provide a more rustic look, with colors ranging from brown to red and tan. 

Maintenance and Avoiding Damage

Once your floor is installed, keeping up with it is key to extending its life and looking its best.

• When sweeping, use a soft-bristled broom and move with the grain.
• Be wary of vacuums with carpet beaters and brush rolls as these can damage the finish.
• Don’t let sticky debris stick around. Clean up spills with a clean, damp cloth as soon as you can and try to move with the grain.
• Never steam clean wood.
• Always refer to your floor’s warranty if you are unsure about certain cleaning products. 

If you still have questions or want to explore additional options before settling on the perfect floor for your home, the experts at All Flooring USA are here to help. They will answer all of your questions and help match you with the floor of your dreams.

When you are remodeling or constructing your new home or office, the most important decision you could make is to choose the right kind of hardwood floor. As there is a wide variety of hardwood floors available in the market, you want to choose the type which is appropriate according to your lifestyle

All Flooring USA, we partner with some of the best brands to bring you the products that are not only beautifully designed but made to withstand active lifestyles and busy households.

Construction

Hardwood floor is available in 2 styles of constructions i.e. Solid and Engineered.

Solid

Solid hardwood floor is constructed from the best wood to deliver a  durable and tough domestic floor. The thickness of the planks is normally ¾ inches. It contracts and expands with changes in humidity level, so it is an ideal choice for rooms with controlled humidity and temperature. Most of the time, it is installed above grade, or over approved wooden subfloors. US Floors‘ Natural Bamboo Expressions Corboo, Homerwood’s Weathered Oak-Solid collections, and Lauzon’s Ambiance Collection-Authentik showcase some of the best solid wood floors available in the market.

Engineered

Engineered is an ideal choice for customers who want more choices in colors and textures. It resists contraction and expansion from humidity changes. Available in various widths, colors and sizes, it can be installed on any level in the home. Browse through our Mohawk‘s Pastiche in Oak collection or Lauzon‘s Designer Collection- Line Art to get a feel of it.

Textures

Hardwood floor is available in a variety of textures and styles.

Smooth

Smooth texture results from a very delicate sanding which gives the wood a very silky look. Most of the products featured in the Hardwood flooring section are available in this texture.

Open Grain

 Open Grain hardwood planks have large pores that give the floor a coarser look. When the wood is sawn, the pours are split and give it a dramatic look. The hickory floor in Lauzon’s Emira series or Red Oak floors in Ambiance or Essentials collection features this texture.

Glossy

 Glossy hardwood flooring makes the wood grain patterns stand out and add elegance to your home. If you have small children or pets at home, choosing a glossy hardwood floor is not a very good choice as all the spots and stains on such a floor stand out.

Hand Scraped

 Hand-scraped texture is created either through automated machines or by hand. Using tools like metal gouges, chisels, and hand planes, the wooden floor is given a sophisticated texture. This type of texture is featured in some of the Homestead
series by Lauzon.

Wire Brushed

 This texture is created by rubbing the hardwood floor with steel bristles, opening the grain and removing the softwood at the top of the plank. To appreciate this unique texture, take a look at some of the floors from Urban Loft and Authentik Series by Lauzon.

Tips to Keep Your Hardwood Floor in a Great Shape

The following are some of the tips to take care of your hardwood floor.

Keep the dirt and Sand Out

Taking care of your hardwood floors starts outside the home. Place a doormat at the entrance so that the people can wipe off their feet before they enter their home. Similarly, placing a mat and a chair near the entrance door encourages people to sit down and remove their wet shoes before they enter the house.

Protect your Hardwood floor from Scratches

Put protective pads under your furniture so that if someone drags a chair or a table, it doesn’t scratch your floor. Another good idea is to properly clip the nails of your pets so that they don’t scratch the floor. Similarly, consider installing protective rugs or carpets in high-foot traffic areas so that your floor doesn’t get dented.

Cleaning

Sweep or dust vacuum to remove all the dirt and debris. If your wooden floor is urethane protected, you can occasionally do the damp mopping. Tough stains should be cleaned with a good wooden floor cleaner.

·Maintenance

Hot and humid and damp weather can damage your wooden floor. Ideally, the interior humidity level should be between 45 to 55%.

To keep your wooden floor in a good shape, consider using a dehumidifier and air conditioner. Open up the windows when it is nice and dry outside.

If a wooden floor is installed in your basement, switch on the fan to blow the moist air out.

Key Takeaway

Hardwood floors are a visually appealing and practical investment for your home or business. At All Flooring USA, we have the best warranties and finest products. With appropriate maintenance and care, you can keep your floor in good shape for a long period.

It’s easy to assume the red oak flooring is red and white oak flooring is white, (and for good reason). However, there is quite a difference between the two, more than having to do with color. Red oak does have a pinkish undertone. Often in the unfinished form, you’re able to clearly see the pink graining. Depending on which stain you choose, the red/pink tones will be less noticeable. Don’t forget that the darker you go, the more that red undertone will drown out. However, if you’re going to keep a natural finish, (meaning only polyurethane will be applied) the red will show through much more. White oak is darker; yes, it’s actually a bit darker than red oak. Who would’ve thought, right? White Oak often has a yellow and brown undertone.

The graining of each is very different as well. Usually, when a professional is trying to decipher whether a hardwood floor is red or white oak and it has been stained, they will look at the graining to decide.

Red Oak has a stronger grain pattern. Because of this, it is much more porous. The grains of red oak are more prominent than white oak. White oak has a smoother and cleaner look. The grains of white are finer and not as pronounced as red oak. Because of this, white oak is denser. On the Janka scale, red oak has a hardness of 1290 while white oak has a hardness of 1360. However, because red oak has a more pronounced grain pattern, it tends to hide scratches and dents better than white oak.

When installing brand new hardwood throughout the house, the option you choose really depends on aesthetics. But if you need to match hardwoods, that’s a whole other story and a bit more complicated.

White Oak Flooring
Unfinished White Oak Select Hardwood Flooring
Red Oak Flooring Natural

Finished Red Oak Flooring Natural
The flooring consumer’s NEXT big decision : Now that you’ve chosen the species of hardwood for your home, which grade will you chose, and does the grade effect the quality?

Didn’t know there were different grades? Don’t worry, that’s what this Blog’s for! I went straight to the source for this information… (The NWFA/NOFMA Grading Standards) That’s right, look no further… NOFMA has been around for over 100 years and here’s what they have to say about their standard grades:

Lets start from the top. “Clear”

“A mostly heartwood flooring product (heartwood is the dense inner part of a tree trunk, yielding the hardest timber) that allows all the natural heartwood color variations with minimal character marks and limited color variation. This combination features the infinitely variable grain patterns with the minimal distraction from character marks and color variation.”

What the “clear grade” means is that there is the least amount of variation among the planks, like color, graining, and the least amount of blemishes, marks or defects. This grade isn’t normally used for solid hardwood flooring, basically because it comes from a very small percentage from the tree and, in turn, isn’t very cost effective. You’ll find the clear grade more in manufactured hardwood products.

Ok, next we have “Select”

“The Select grade contains all the variations in coloration produced by the contrasting differences of heartwood and sapwood. Also included are minimal character marks, such as small knots, worm holes, and mineral streaks, as well as slightly open characters. The combination creates a floor where the light sapwood and dark heartwood are combined with small characters and other small color interruptions.”

Basically, what they’re trying to explain is that the “select grade” is your best choice if your looking for flooring that has consistent tones throughout the planks. This grade has the least amount of variation and the least amount of waste in each bundle. Being very “clean” in appearance with very few natural blemishes like knots, dark marks and wormholes. This is the grade that we recommend installing in all our customers’ homes.

Choosing between red oak and white is mostly aesthetic. If you know that you want a more uniform looking floor, then you should definitely choose the white oak. On the other hand, if you’re looking for those beautiful swirly patterns and a bit more wild grain lines, than your choice should be the red oak. Either way, we always recommend the select grade of both, to ensure the least amount of surprises. Look throughout the gallery to see even more examples of each species to further assist you in deciding what your beautiful new hardwood floor will look like.

Proper floor care is critical to keep your home and office hygienic and appealing. Constant foot traffic results in dirt, debris and allergens accumulated on your floor. After all, they are the ground that you step-on every day. Proper care and maintenance keep your floor looking great for years.

Floor maintenance and care doesn’t have to be complicated. It is because clean floors are the expectation, not an exception.

 If you follow some simple tips and smart cleaning solutions, you can add years to your floor’s life.

Tips for the Maintenance and Care of Different Types of Floors

Use these tips to preserve your precious flooring and add value to your home.

Carpet

Your carpet needs proper maintenance and care on a daily or weekly basis. Clean all the dirt and debris from your carpet by vacuuming frequently. Depending on the type of the carpet, you will vacuum with a rotating brush, a beater bar or suction only. To keep your carpet soft, choose vacuum cleaners with efficient airflow and large wheels.

If you accidentally spill the liquids on the carpet, add water and blot to the affected area. Vacuum back and forth with the highest suction. Add more water if necessary and suck it out with a vacuum cleaner till it is completely dry.

If you do not prefer to use a lot of detergents and cleaners, carpet steam cleaner is the best choice. Once you steam clean your carpet, wipe off all the soil and debris with towels and rags.

Tile

Floor tiles can easily be cleaned by sweeping or vacuuming followed by moping with warm water.

On a weekly basis, you need to thoroughly clean the grout lines. Choose a mild cleaner and scrub with a non-scouring tool like a sponge or brush.

Avoid using acidic cleaners as they can dull the shine of your floor.

Laminate

It is important to frequently clean your laminate floor tiles as dirt and sand particles can cause scratches on the surface. Similarly, spills should be wiped off immediately.

Avoid flooding your floor because water can easily seep through the laminate boards and damage your floor.

You can occasionally mop your floor. Ideally, a mop with a microfiber pad should be used to clean the floor so that it uses minimal water and cleans all the debris.

Hardwood Floor

Hardwood floors require sweeping and mopping with minimal water. It is important to remember that there are various types of wooden floors and require care and maintenance accordingly.

Lacquered wood floors can be cleaned with a synthetic cleaner (with no grease content) whereas oiled floors can be cleaned with soap (containing grease).

Consider applying a polish or a finisher after every few weeks to keep them looking great.

Vinyl

Vinyl can mimic many other flooring types like hardwood floors or tile. It can withstand a lot of foot traffic and requires relatively less maintenance.

You can clean the floor with a brush and mop it with warm water. Wipe up spills as soon as possible. The tough stains should be cleaned with a good Vinyl floor cleaner.

Make sure your furniture or heavy appliances have protective pads to protect denting and scratching. You can also use protective mats where there is a lot of foot traffic.

Luxury Vinyl

Luxury Vinyl Floor is fairly easy to maintain. Remove the dirt or grit by sweeping or vacuuming. Using brush roller agitation on your vacuum is not recommended. While mopping, use a pH neutral floor cleaner or a solution of ammonia and water (4 parts water, 1 part ammonia).

Avoid using abrasive cleaners, one-step polishes or vinegar on your Luxury Vinyl Floor. Protect your floor from dirt and debris and dents by using non-staining mats.

Cork

Cork is vulnerable to dents and scarring. Choose a soft-bristled brush or a static duster to clean the dirt and debris. If you prefer to vacuum, avoid using the vacuum with a beater bar.

Mop the floor with as little water as possible. A few drops of detergent or a mild wood cleaner is all you need to clean the cork floor. Use a cleaner that is pH balanced and made specifically for the Cork floor.

Also, remember that a standard Cork floor needs to be properly sealed to protect it from water damage. The sealer is usually a UV-resistant polyurethane mix that creates a protective layer on the floor. When the sealer wears off, consider re-applying it as it protects your floor against water damage.

Natural Stone

According to the Marble Institute of America, the Natural Stone is broadly categorized into two main categories: Siliceous Stone and Calcareous stones. The flooring consisting of either of the two types requires certain maintenance and care. Dust mopping and cleaning with mild soap and water can keep your floor looking great. Avoid using vinegar, lemon juice, or abrasive cleaners as such cleaners can make your floor dull. Similarly, avoid using the vacuum cleaners which are worn out as the metal or plastic attachments can scratch your floor.

The tough stains can be removed by cleaning with an effective stone-cleaner. The stone specific poultice is another great way to remove the tough stains. However, you must remember that the efficacy of poultice depends on the nature of the stain and how long it had been on the stone.

Key Takeaway

Routine Care and maintenance are extremely important to maximize the beauty of your floor. Clean and well-maintained floors can add value to your home as well as a refined look. By following these handy tips, you can keep your floors looking clean in the years to come.

What are the two things that no homeowner can live without? Cherished, lovable pets and beautiful hardwood flooring. Well, at least one of those is accurate. Our pets become family members, and we want them to enjoy our homes as much as we do, within reason of course. If you’re a hardwood lover like many homeowners are, the challenge is finding the best fit for our favorite animals to coexist with gorgeous wood floors without damaging them. Here are some things to consider.

Solid vs. Engineered

Scratches will happen, but all scratches are not created equal. Do you have a big dog or multiple dogs? If you anticipate your pets producing significant wear, solid hardwoods will allow you the option to refinish the surface. Engineered hardwoods are durable as well and present more installation options over multiple types of subfloors. These styles may even be easier on your hardwood budget. The right choice depends on the construction of your home and the furry (or scaly or feathered) friends that help make up your family.

Character Camouflage

Many hardwood enthusiasts love the look of a well-worn wood floor and desire the distressed, hand-scraped and rustic characteristics that create the reclaimed feel. All of these trends are great if you live with pets. Why? Some of the scrapes or nicks caused by your pet’s paws can easily blend with the natural markings of a distressed floor compared to a smooth visual. Color variations within the wood itself will also help keep scratches from standing out. High-character wood floors are definitely in demand, so there’s no need to skimp on style when living with pets.

Protecting your Hardwood

Consider using area rugs and carpet runners over your new hardwoods to protect them from heavy traffic. Mats should be placed underneath water bowls to retain moisture, and don’t forget to trim the nails and claws of your cute creatures.

Ready to shop? With some savvy selecting, your fabulous home with hardwood floors can withstand playful pets while maintaining its beauty.

It’s not hard to fall in love with hardwood flooring. Strong, natural and gorgeous, it’s everything we love in a stunning surface. In fact, the more difficult part is deciding which hardwood look you love the most. Different species, grains, stains, finishes and widths; even after narrowing down your favorite wood options, you must weigh factors such as activity level, budget and location within the home. But you know what? This is a great problem to have!

Now you get to scour the best home décor magazines and online sources for hardwood inspiration that will match the exact look and feel you’ve been dreaming about. And we can always use another reason to browse Pinterest and the hardwood product galleries of our favorite brands, right? There are so many beautiful types of wood floors, and they can all transform the overall vibe of a home. Here are a few stunning hardwood trends and ideas to get you started.

Wider, Longer Planks: Everyone is going crazy for this look, and it’s pretty easy to understand why. Wide-plank flooring is extremely popular due to showcasing more hardwood beauty on every plank and reducing the overall number of seams in the finished floor. Longer plank lengths allow you to easily create flowing, visual continuity in single rooms or between multiple rooms. Together, longer and wider plank formats produce fashionable, modern hardwood floors that make rooms appear grander and more sophisticated.

Low-Luster: Shiny things often catch our immediate attention, but subtle textures will keep you coming back for more. Low-luster hardwood finishes emulate the elegant beauty of oil-finished floors without the time-consuming maintenance that traditional oil finishes require. For example, TruFinish from Mohawk is a urethane-based ultra-matte finish that brings out wood’s natural beauty, creating a more natural, soft, “raw” visual. Not only does low-luster hardwood bring the style, but these finishes are more kid and pet friendly since they don’t show as much dust, dirt or footprints.

Reclaimed: Looking to capture classic Americana? Love the rustic beauty of a Midwestern barn loft? The natural features of reclaimed wood bring warmth and can easily be incorporated in both traditional and contemporary spaces. In addition to bringing a touch of history and luxury, the unique reclaimed characteristics create a truly tactile surface for the ultimate “one-of-one” type of feel.

Coastal Cool: Everyone loves the beach, and creating that serene feeling in your home is actually pretty easy to do. White, gray and light beige hardwoods are the perfect cool, calm shades to start with. Combine the aforementioned trends of longer, wider plank for elevated style and ultra-low gloss to showcase every grain detail. Not only do you highlight decades of beauty and tranquility, these hardwood styles are incredibly easy to maintain. Clean less and relax more? Now that’s a staycation any savvy homeowner can get behind.

As with all new hardwood flooring, it’s a great idea to enlist professional help when it’s time to install. Besides, you worked hard enough making all the tough design decisions. Letting the pro’s take over may be the best choice you can make yet.

 new hardwood, hardwood flooring project, inspiration for hardwood flooring, step-by-step process, Hardwood Installation

If you are looking for advice or pointers on your new hardwood flooring project, you’ve come to the right place.

Hardwood flooring can completely change a space. It can add character to any room, from rustic and traditional to modern and chic. But just like any new flooring process, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why Melissa Michaels is here to save the day.

As the creator of The Inspired Room design and decorating blog, Melissa is a great reference for your project. She has completed both large and small projects with hardwood flooring including her own kitchen and family room.

Melissa will tell you that the most important step in a hardwood flooring project is to think of the space first, and have a vision for the finished project. It is important to consider not just the color of the floor, but the color of the walls, the color of the furniture and even the color of the appliances in the room. With hardwood flooring, the color is important because hardwood comes in endless color and texture options.

Melissa is full of ideas and inspiration for hardwood flooring. Check out this blog post of hers to see how she determined what direction to go with her home. But if you’re still not sure about color or texture options, ask for professional help. Flooring retailer staff are experts in hardwood and will give you even more detailed information as well as provide you with some samples to take home to see how different colors could look in the space. Selecting the hardwood you want to install is definitely the hardest part. Once you have made your choice, it’s mostly a step-by-step process from there.

Once you’ve chosen your flooring, you’re ready to install! Just be sure to follow these tips for a smooth installation:

Arrange a time for the retailer to drop off your new hardwood, and arrange another time for an installer to install it.

The reason you need the hardwood delivered some time before installation is so the hardwood can get acclimated to the temperature and moisture level of the room. A professional installer will know the appropriate amount of time you need for this. Pro tip: Putting in hardwood should be left to professional installers. They have the proper experience, training and tools to get the job done quickly and efficiently. It may cost more, but it is more than worth the extra investment. Ask for a recommendation on an installer (or two just in case), and be sure to do a little follow-up internet research to make sure the installers you hire will do an exceptional job.

Once the flooring has arrived, follow these steps:

1. Move all furniture out of the space.
2. Make sure the installer can take out your old flooring. If they cannot, then definitely read Melissa’s blog post about getting ready for new flooring.
3. Prepare the space. If you need to paint, paint while the room is clear and you don’t have to worry about spilling paint on your new floor. If you want to put in new light fixtures, do it while there is no new flooring to damage during installation. Remember the vision of the finished project because before you know it your vision will be a reality!
4. Let the installers do their thing and put your new space together.
5. Finally, enjoy your new flooring!

If you want more info, check out Melissa’s story of preparing and installing her new hardwood floors, and check out her finished project here.

Your mind is made up. You want new hardwood floors in your home. Great choice! Wood floors instantly add warm, rustic charm and natural beauty wherever they are installed. But that is only half of the decision dilemma. With so many options on the market, how do you know which to select for your home? And what is the real difference between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood?

Well, here’s a bit of relief. Both solid hardwood planks and engineered planks are made from 100% real wood. And both types are capable of delivering a beautiful visual. It is important, however, to learn about the differences between the two, like construction, stability, installation and, of course, cost. Once you get a good grasp of all these factors, your ultimate choice will be easier—and more accurate. Let’s discuss them.

Construction: Just like the name suggests, solid hardwood planks are created from a single, thick piece of solid wood. Engineered hardwood is also made of genuine wood but has a core of hardwood or plywood with a layer of hardwood veneer applied to the top surface. With engineered hardwood, HDF core construction creates much stronger bonds between wood layers than those found in ordinary engineered hardwood and is heavier for superior stability.

Stability: The good thing about the solid vs. engineered analysis is that both forms will provide durability and toughness in active homes. Solid wood flooring is inherently durable but must be permanently nailed or glued to the subfloor. Because of expansion and contraction issues, solid hardwood floors are more prone to shrinking or expanding based on humidity levels. Engineered floors can have greater dimensional stability in extreme temperatures, which provides slightly more resistance to buckling or rippling. How much durability your engineered wood will provide goes back to the core construction that you choose.

Installing Hardwood: Where are your new floors going inside the home? Solid hardwood will expand and contract with changes in temperature and moisture, so they are only recommended at or above ground level. Also, the installation method for solid hardwood takes some consideration. Solid hardwood flooring can be glued, nailed or stapled to a wood subfloor but must have the right amount of space for hardwood’s natural expansion and contraction. If the individual boards are too tight, the floor will buckle, and if they are too loose, then the gaps between the boards will get too wide during colder temperatures.

Installing Engineered: Engineered wood has enhanced installation options due to its unique construction that makes it less likely to buckle, gap or react to heat or temperature change. Floating, glue, staple, nail, you name it, the choice of installation is yours. Engineered wood can even be installed below and over radiant heat. This makes engineered wood a great fit for installing above, on or below ground level in your home. Regardless of whether you end up with a solid or engineered wood floor, it’s worth the investment to rely on quality installation experts to ensure a stress-free flooring experience.

Cost: Your budget will help determine a lot about the best hardwood for you. Generally speaking, engineered hardwood is less expensive than solid hardwood, but ultimately the quality and species of wood will be the biggest price determinants. Exotic solid hardwood species are certainly pricier than engineered hardwood.

What’s next? Make your checklist, prioritize the characteristics you want, set your budget parameters and visit your local retailer. Your gorgeous hardwood awaits!

Simply put, life with children is always an adventure. Whether you have one child or a houseful, it’s impossible to be all places at once, and accidents will occur indoors. However, you don’t have to compromise the style inside your home because you have kids. It just takes some thoughtful consideration to make sure that your active home and its furnishings are a match.

Love hardwood flooring? How could you not! Natural wood floors are absolutely gorgeous and timeless. And you can have hardwood flooring in your home with kids, just understand that scratches will occur. The factors you consider when selecting your wood floors will make a big difference in the long run, keeping them looking newer for longer no matter what mishaps take place. Here’s a quick guide to understanding characteristics that will help hardwood floors withstand your little ones- even when they get taller than you!

Refinish: Since it really is only a matter of time before hardwood floors are scratched from active kids, it’s nice to have the option to refinish them over the years. Not only can you restore solid hardwood, refinishing them can potentially allow you to change the shade if you choose.

Color: At first thought it may seem like darker colors would disguise imperfections better, but lighter colored hardwood floors will hide wear and dirt. A lighter colored hardwood surface is similar to raw wood color, so when wood scratches you will see less of the base wood color underneath.

Grain: Species that feature more pronounced graining like Hickory and Oak will tend to blend the scratches and dents in a little bit better. It’s kind of like camouflage since the bold lines are already at the forefront of the wood floor’s appeal.

Character: Distressed and hand-scraped floors are not only super chic and attractive, they’re better at disguising scratches and dents. Any hardwood style with lots of knots or color variations will help marks blend in and look more natural.

Finish: Shiny floors look fancy, but a shinier hardwood finish will show more scratches and dents. Hardwood with a matte or satin finish is a great way to capture style while keeping the kiddos in mind. Muted, subtle finishes show less markings and are easy to clean.

After you look at all these factors and make your final choice, remember this last word of advice: Enjoy. You have done your due diligence, and now it’s time to make memories. Be sure to take lot of pictures too! Hardwood flooring is a great backdrop for picture worthy indoor activities like your kids playing with their toys or pets. Snap away, and enjoy your beautiful home with the ones you love the most.