In a previous article on this website, Hamlet weighed the pertinent question: To carpet or not to carpet? It was there the Danish prince discovered that carpet is more expensive over time, attracts dust and allergens, and may even lower the resale value of a home. Lady MacBeth — sorry to mix Shakespeare allusions — seconded the vote for hardwoods as she cried “Out, damned spot!” while scrubbing marinara from the dining room carpet.

“But Hamlet,” we exclaim, “that’s fine for Denmark but I have to live with the clicking of my hound’s paws! And what of those cold, hard floors?” To these concerns, Hamlet responds with a quick, stylish fix: “Ay, there’s the rug.” Rugs provide softness and warmth where you walk barefoot and they’ll downgrade the clippety-clop of terrible tots to the pitter-patter of precious little ones. Rugs down, the choice is clear. Is there any reason not to install hardwood floors? No, wood flooring will be king.

So that’s settled, but we’ve really only just begun. Light or dark wood? Finished or unfinished? Solid or engineered? The choices multiply before our eyes and begin to look like mere words, words, words.

But fear not. Like good flooring, we have you covered.

Types of Floors

Wood floors can be solid or engineered. Solid flooring is made from a single piece of wood; an engineered floorboard is pieced together from several pieces of wood, and even, chimera-like, from multiple species. (Behold! A head of mahogany, a body of oak, and a tail of ash!) Not to worry though; either way, it’s still wood top to bottom.

Because solid wood is the same species all the way down, it can be sanded and refinished multiple times. So if you’re worried about wear and tear from kids, pets, rearranging the furniture, or indoor hockey, solid floors have that going for them. On the other hand, solid floors tend to absorb more moisture so they will expand and contract more than engineered floors. Gaps may appear over time and individual boards may need to be replaced. Their absorbency also makes them unsuitable for basements where a chance flooding or burst pipe would likely destroy them. Engineered floors, usually installed atop a plywood base, can’t handle as many refinishings but they’re the only hardwood that should be installed below-ground.

Types of Wood

A stately study that oozes refinement. A bright dance hall. A cheery kitchen nook for sipping hot chocolate while poring over holiday cards. The wood species in flooring can set the tone for the activities that happen atop it. Different species are also differently durable.

Oak and maple are traditional, but more exotic (read: expensive) woods are now available. But don’t let the choices overwhelm you. Except for botanists who count tree rings for fun, most people can’t identify the types of wood. It’s probably enough to tell the difference between light, medium, and dark species. Just remember that light woods (ash, maple, white oak, and birch) make a room appear open and airy. Medium woods (hickory, red oak, and cherry) feel cozy and comfortable. Dark woods (walnut, mahogany) make a place appear stately and refined.

The hardwood industry’s Janka Hardness Scale is (hilariously) based on how much force, measured in pounds-force, is needed to embed a half-inch steel ball halfway into a piece of wood. (Whoever came up with that test must have had kids, right?) Softwoods like white pine and poplar rate poorly on the scale while hickory and mesquite are ball-bearing busters. You can barely drive a nail into Brazilian walnut, but oak, maple or hickory are hard enough for most of us.

Oak is grown here in the U.S. and is often makes the cheapest flooring option. Due to its popularity, most people think of oak as the standard. It has medium hardness and stains easily, meaning it is easy to change the look of oak floors without completely replacing the boards. Maple is also popular but it’s more expensive and doesn’t stain well so it usually comes only in light tones. Hickory is your go-to wood for the rustic look because of its streaky color variations. It also is the hardest native wood in the U.S., so it can take quite a beating.

Finish It

The first decision on finishing is whether to get a factory finish or a job-site finish. Factory-finish (or prefinished) floors are easier, quicker and cleaner to install. No sanding, noise, or coating one’s lungs with microscopic wood particles. Just measure, cut, and place and you’re done. Factory finish also lasts up to a decade longer because they can safely use treating chemicals that might indefinitely curl homeowners’ hair.

A possible downside of factory finish is a possible downhill. Because sanding is not done on-site with factory-finish floors, any preexisting irregularities in the floor will remain and may even become exaggerated. Another possible disadvantage is that gaps may appear over time because the sealant is applied to each board individually instead of to the finished floor surface.

On-site finish affords unlimited customization in terms of stain and shine. With factory finish, options are limited to what’s in stock.

If you decide to go with on-site finish, you need to choose both stain and shine. Not to be too partisan, but there are essentially two types of people: those who believe hardwood floors shouldn’t be stained at all and those who believe that stain brings out wood’s patterns and inner beauty. No matter your politics — To stain or not to stain! — refer to the comparison of colors in the previous section to decide how dark you want to go.

Finally, consider your choice in sheen. Gloss, semi-gloss, or satin/matte? Jazz-basketball-court shine or rustic softness? Martin or Charlie? Remember that the sheenier the sheen, the more dents and little nicks will appear. They all offer the same protection to the wood beneath, so this is a question of personal taste.

After you’ve chosen your floor, wood, and finish, you’ll soon be saying hello to your new, beautiful hardwood floor. It lasts years longer than carpet, raises the value of a home, and shows neighbors you’ve got class. As Hamlet once said, “You know what your floors are now, but you know not what they may be.” That is until you give it a try.

Chose your hardwood already? Get a qualified and certified pro to install it for you on KSL Classifieds.

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