Hardwood floors require specialized care to remain beautiful year after year. Even so, wooden floors are still in great demand. If you’re about to choose hardwood flooring for your new home or renovation, how do you know which one to choose? Deciding what to buy can be confusing. Here’s a quick guide to choosing your hardwood floor.

By the way, the perception that hardwood floors are expensive to purchase and install is no longer true. The range of options includes a high-quality laminate that can be purchased and installed for less than $3 per square foot. The four most popular hardwood flooring installations are solid field-finished, solid prefinished, engineered, and laminate. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of flooring.

• Solid wood finished on site. This flooring is installed first and then the stain and finish are applied. Advantages include lower cost, a wide variety of wood species (including bamboo), and various thickness options. Disadvantages include variability in installation (difficult installation, moisture content may not be controlled), not recommended for basements (moisture variability), and generally a less durable finish. One plus: This floor can be refinished multiple times and exhibits a wonderful sound and feel underfoot.
• Prefinished solid wood. This flooring is finished at the factory, and once it is placed in your home, no further steps are required to finish the surface. Advantages include durability and generally more time before refinishing, and what you see is what you get. Disadvantages include 35% more cost per square foot and not a good choice for basements due to changes in humidity that can cause warping and cupping (similar to finish-in-place). This flooring, like the finished site, has great sound and feel underfoot. And just like the finished site, it also requires expert installation to avoid problems later.
• Engineered Wood This flooring choice is made with real wood veneer glued to a substrate. It is difficult to differentiate this product from solid wood. Advantages include easier installation, resistance to problems caused by moisture (it can work well in the basement), and a lower cost per square foot. Disadvantages include not being able to restore the surface multiple times and showing faster wear than solids.
• Plastic sheet. Laminate wood flooring products have come a long way in the last 15 years. The product is made by installing a realistic printed photo of the desired wood onto a substrate and then placing a durable plastic finish on top. Some laminates are hard to tell apart from the real thing. Advantages include low cost, easy installation (good DIY project), and durability. Disadvantages include not being able to repaint and a less substantial feel underfoot.

Regardless of the type you choose, choose an installer carefully. Subfloors must be properly prepared for installing wood or laminate. The product must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If you like to do it yourself, you may decide to install the flooring yourself. Consult a buyer’s guide, such as Consumer Reports, to find the top-rated brands in each category.

Hardwood floors are now popular in every room of the house, including the kitchen. By adding warmth, beauty, and value, you should get dozens of years of service from your new hardwood floor.