Hardwood floors require minimal maintenance and enhance the intrinsic value of your home. They are a therapeutic option for allergy sufferers, because this type of flooring doesn’t retain pollen, dirt and dust. Professionally installed maryland hardwood flooring uses the highest quality products. The flooring is available in several varieties, types and finishes. The term variety refers to the species used to make the flooring. Popular flooring species include maple, oak, walnut, cherry and mahogany. The durability of hardwood species is rated based upon the force required to drive a steel ball midway through the wood. The spectrum ranges from Douglas fir on the low end to mahogany and cherry on the upper end. Red oak is one of the most commonly used hardwood species.

The two primary types of hardwood flooring Maryland are solid and engineered. Solid wood floors consist of a piece of timber and are available in plank, parquet and strip varieties. Engineered hardwood flooring has the look of solid wood flooring, but it is created from authentic wood and layers of laminate veneer. Engineered and solid wood flooring products have comparable quality, but they differ in their cost, maintenance requirements and value retention.

The finish gives the floor its color and luster. The application of a surface finish is followed by coat of polyurethane or varnish. A penetrating finish soaks into the wood and is topped with a coat of wax. Consult a Maryland home improvement company to get the best results on your hardwood flooring project.