Wood floors are classic. The clean, polished look of wood is still the top choice for most homeowners.

Deciding to put in a wood floor is easy; the hard part comes when faced with the incredible amount of choice in today’s wood flooring market. With such a wide variety of woods, sizes and finishes, as well as many innovative engineered wood products, there are more wood flooring options available today than ever before.

Here are some basics to know before you start shopping around:

Solid wood

There are a number of different species of wood — all with different characteristics in terms of durability, color and grain. The main groupings are the domestic wood species and what is known as “exotic” species (those from outside of North America) and other specialty woods, such as reclaimed barn boards and other old buildings.

Solid woods are sold in different grades and come either finished or unfinished. Although the unfinished option means more labor spent during installation, it has the advantage of allowing the homeowner to choose exactly the stain and finish they wish.

	Hardwoods The main hardwoods are oak, maple, ash, wild cherry, beech and walnut. Maple is the hardest of the hardwoods and is very pale with a lighter grain. Oak and ash have a more distinct grain and come in a variety of colors.
	Softwoods As the name implies, softwoods are not as hard as the hardwood varieties. Pine, birch and fir are all softwood species. If well-maintained they do well, but they dent, scratch and stain much more easily than hardwoods, so they work best in areas that don’t receive as much foot traffic, such as a bedroom.
	Other options Exotic woods are generally more expensive, but can look stunning. Bamboo is one species that is gaining popularity very quickly.

Some companies also sell options, such as reclaimed barn boards. In the right setting this type of flooring adds a simple elegance and rustic charm that just cannot be bought at a store.

Grade

Grade is the term used to classify wood according to appearance. Most manufacturers classify their products into different categories — from clear to rustic. The “clear” grade indicates a very uniform surface with no knots. This is the highest quality — and the most expensive. Other classifications, such as “select” and “traditional” have more knots and color variations. Rustic has the most knots and variation, as well as some small defects. It is, of course, the least expensive.

Engineered flooring

Engineered flooring is composed of two to five, or even as many as seven, layers of wood veneer glued to each other to form a parquet strip. The top layer, cut from hardwood, produces a look that’s comparable to solid wood boards. The layered construction of the product makes it even more stable than solid wood (which is subject to swelling and shrinking depending on the humidity). The cost of engineered products is comparable to solid wood, but the installation costs are generally less.

Board widths

The standard width is 2 to 3 inches. Some older homes have narrower planks, and you can still find the narrower ones from some companies. Wider planks are increasing in popularity, with planks measuring anywhere from 5 to 7 inches wide.

Color and finish

The pre-finished products come in a range of colors. The unfinished varieties can be stained any color a homeowner chooses, from natural to dark. Natural allows the wood’s own color to come through and is great choice. Dark stain, however, has become much more popular over the past couple of years. Not every space can stand up to the richness of a dark floor, but in the right space it looks beautiful.

For finish, most homeowners choose either a semi-gloss or satin finish. Satin is less likely to show stains and scratches.

Patterns

Straight is the most common pattern — it’s basic and it's also the least expensive pattern. Parquet looks a bit like a checkerboard, with small strips that form squares then laid in a crisscross pattern. A perimeter border adds a border around the outer edge and helps create a sense of a frame, or separate space to a more open-concept floor.

Maintenance

With regular cleaning and maintenance, wood floors (even softwood species) will last a very long time. Regular sweeping and vacuuming can help keep any abrasive materials from causing damage. Clean spills immediately with a mop or cloth. To keep the floor in top condition, a light sanding, followed by a new coat of varnish, is recommended every five years. That being said, most homeowners are content to live with a few small scratches and can hold off for 10 to 15 years (or longer) before needing to refinish the floors.

Due to their construction and veneer thickness, most engineered floors cannot be refinished much more than two times.