However, many customers will quickly narrow their search by being sure they want something made from real wood, as opposed to fully man-made wood-look flooring products. Yet even after making that decision, another choice will be required: between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood flooring. These siblings of the flooring world have lots in common but possess one major difference that gives each product some benefits over the other, as well as some disadvantages. So, what’s the difference between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood flooring?

The Basic Difference Between Engineered Hardwood and Solid Hardwood Flooring

First let’s discuss the fundamental difference between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood flooring, as well as the similarities. As the names suggest, both are made using bona fide hardwood.

Solid hardwood flooring is made, you guessed it, from a single solid piece of wood. From top to bottom and edge to edge, each hardwood flooring plank is one piece of lumber—no gluing together of multiple smaller pieces, no veneers, and no synthetic layers. It is just wood, cut into planks and dried.

Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, is made only in part from a solid piece of hardwood. While the surface layer of each plank is a single slice of genuine hardwood, the core of an engineered wood plank is made from a stable composite material like high-density fiberboard (HDF). These layers are bonded with industrial adhesive to make a plank that effectively becomes one solid chunk, though it’s not real wood through and through.

What does this difference mean—or not mean—in real-world use? Read on to find out.

Comparing the Look of Each Wood Floor Type

Because the surfaces of solid and engineered hardwood are completely natural wood, a plank of each product will look essentially identical, assuming they both use the same wood species and are finished in the same stain. The grain on every individual plank of each product will be slightly unique, giving both types of wood flooring the sought-after charm and character that man-made products like vinyl plank or wood laminate can never fully match. Conclusion: this one is a tie.

How Do They Feel?

If you were to reach down and touch the flooring surface, both engineered and solid hardwood will feel the same because, again, with each of those planks you’d be running your fingers atop a genuine wood surface. It’s only when scrutinizing the materials side-by-side as fully installed floors that there is the possibility for a tangible difference in how each feels underfoot.

Depending on the particular product used, some engineered wood floors may feel or sound a bit hollow when walked on, because the engineered core is a different density than solid wood. However, it’s highly unlikely that this would be noticeable—and even less likely that it’s something that anyone would consider a negative trait—in regular use. Conclusion: a slight edge to solid hardwood, though it will go unnoticed by the vast majority of homeowners.

Floor Care Requirements

While day-to-day maintenance will be similar for both materials, engineered hardwood has a slight edge when it comes to overall care. First, since the surface layer of both is the same, similar care should be given to each wood flooring type when it comes to avoiding scratches and dings: Be careful when moving heavy furniture, try to keep your dogs’ claws trimmed, and just generally be aware that real wood is softer than most other hard surface floors. Of course, the modern scratch-resistant topcoats available on wood floors from Empire Today® go a long way toward minimizing that type of damage.

When it comes to water damage, both types of floors can easily be harmed by any exposure to liquid water. But in addition to that risk, solid hardwood floors can be affected even just by high environmental humidity, which can warp the planks over time. However, engineered hardwood’s highly stable core gives it a measure of moisture resistance that solid hardwood does not possess. Conclusion: engineered hardwood comes with fewer worries when it comes to day-to-day floor care.

Installation Versatility

Engineered wood flooring’s resistance to moisture gives it the upper hand when it comes to overall versatility. It can be installed in places not suitable for solid hardwood, like the kitchen, or most areas where the regular presence of moisture can easily damage the floor. Engineered hardwood can installed in geographic regions with typically high humidity. It also means that engineered hardwood floors can be installed below grade and directly onto concrete slabs, making it a viable choice for a finished basement. Conclusion: engineered flooring wins this round.

Upfront Cost

Comparing costs of two broad categories is always a tricky proposition because there are so many variables within each style that can affect the overall price tag. Some high-end engineered hardwood floors can cost more than the affordable solid hardwood options. But in general, when comparing engineered hardwood and solid hardwood products of similar look and quality, the engineered wood option will be more affordable. Conclusion: engineered flooring will usually win here.

Long-Term Outlook

This is where the investment in solid hardwood floors pays off. With proper care, a solid hardwood floor can easily last upwards of 50 years. Part of its long life is its ability to be refinished multiple times over its lifespan. During a wood floor refinishing, a very thin layer of wood is sanded off, removing all the scratches and scuffs in the surface, before it gets stained and sealed. The end result is a floor that looks and feels brand new. This is often considered to be an advantage when reselling a home, as well.

Engineered hardwood floors can’t be refinished as often, since there is less real wood to sand down. Though many engineered products can handle the process 1-3 times before they’ll have to be replaced, that may not be enough for those who plan to stay in their forever home for many years. Conclusion: solid hardwood wins when it comes to overall lifespan.

So Which is the Better Choice for You?

As with just about any home improvement decision, it’s impossible to give an objective answer to the question of which product is “better,” because there are so many variables to each customer’s needs and wants. Some prefer the lower cost and easier maintenance of engineered wood flooring, while others simply prefer knowing their floors might last a century, even though they look identical to a more affordable option.

The best way to make your final decision is to spend time with the products and someone who really knows them, and taking the time to learn more about each wood floor type, handle samples of each floor type, and see how they’ll look in your home. To do just that, schedule an Empire® In-Home Estimate and we’ll send over a a flooring pro who will bring a full selection of flooring samples to your home, helping you make this tricky decision with as little hassle as possible.

The post Engineered Hardwood Flooring vs Solid Hardwood Flooring: What are the Real Differences? appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Choosing a Carpet for a Pet-Friendly Home

Let’s clear this up right away. These days, pets and carpets can peacefully coexist in the same household. Thanks to continuous advancements in stain-resistant carpet fibers, overall durability, and other pet-specific features, you can now happily enjoy soft and cozy carpet floors without constantly worrying about your cat or dog ruining them.

Carpet with PUP® Pet Urine Protection

Perhaps the single biggest concern that pet owners have with carpeting is the issue of any “accidents” that will happen. Even the most dependably house-broken pets can have them, whether Spot gets nervous during a thunderstorm and leaves, well, some spots, or Nala gets lazy and misses her litter box. It’s almost an inevitability that every pet owner will, at some point, need to deal with pet urine on their carpet. This is where carpet with Pet Urine Protection (PUP®) saves the day.

PUP carpets from Empire Today® are specially crafted to resist the penetration of urine and other liquids into the padding underneath. When a pet accidentally goes to the bathroom on a typical carpet, even an immediate clean-up response might be too late because the urine has already begun soaking into the padding. Once that happens, it’s nearly impossible to fully clean—and it’s that soaked-in urine that ends up causing the lingering smells often found in pet-friendly homes. But because PUP carpet resists the soak-through of urine, you’ll have more time to thoroughly clean up any messes, greatly reducing the chances of any lingering smells. As an added bonus, PUP pet-friendly carpet will usually also have other valuable features, like enhanced resistance against stains and the formation of mold and mildew.

Today’s general stain-resistant carpet will go a long way towards preventing urine stains and can often be enough protection for the rare bathroom boo-boo.  But for households with pets that tend toward more frequent accidents, it’s worth upgrading to a PUP pet-friendly carpet from Empire®.

Odor Neutralizing and Hypoallergenic Carpets

A pet’s bathroom habits are only one aspect to consider when it comes to choosing carpets for cats or dogs. Regardless of how well-behaved they are when it comes to bathroom breaks, or if they never so much as roll around in the backyard, there will always be certain lingering odors that come along with owning a pet. A major source of these odors is pet dander—microscopic flakes of skin that are shed by your cat or dog. All animals that have fur release dander, and though regular bathing will reduce it, there’s nothing that can be done to totally prevent it. And what can be even worse than the resultant odor is dander’s effect on air quality.

Pet dander is a very common allergen and is, in fact, the underlying cause of the majority of pet allergies. After being shed, it floats in the air and then settles on every surface in your home, working its way into the nooks and crannies of your carpet. Once there, it can be hard to fully remove and gets thrown back into the air every time the carpet fibers are disturbed. The good news is that there’s a product that addresses both of the issues caused by pet dander.

Exclusive to Empire Today, HOME Fresh is a 100% hypoallergenic carpet with advanced odor-neutralizing capabilities. Its innovative design greatly increases airflow through the carpet and padding below, letting your vacuum’s suction reach deeper and remove more allergens like dander. Plus, an odor-neutralizing mineral is integrated into the fibers, actually canceling out the substances that cause odors once they hit the carpet. The result is cleaner, better-smelling air in your home—a must-have when it comes to pets and carpet.

Cut-Pile Carpets Keep Claws Comfortable

Choosing the best carpet for cats and dogs should be about more than just making coexistence more convenient. It’s also important to consider how your floors can impact your pets’ comfort and even health. Carpeted floors in a pet-friendly household often come with one major, unfortunate snag—pun intended. The loop-pile construction used in some of today’s popular carpets is notorious for ensnaring cat and dog claws, sometimes trapping their paws. When the pet reacts and pulls their paw away, the yanking can cause them great pain and, in some instances, actually tear their claw off.

So, if you’re shopping for carpet for cats or dogs, it’s highly recommended to stay away from loop carpets. A common misconception with new shoppers is that a low-pile product like Berber would be the best carpet for pets. While it’s true that Berber is well-equipped to stand up to wear and tear and some of the staining that often comes with pet life, it Is, in fact, a loop-pile carpet. And though they’re relatively low-profile loops, they still pose a risk to your pets. Instead, look for carpeting with cut piles, like plush or frieze carpet. As a plus, many of the frieze and plush carpets available from Empire offer the aforementioned benefits like PUP treatment or hypoallergenic construction, making them an ideal carpet for pet-friendly homes.

Waterproof or Water-Resistant Flooring

Waterproof or water-resistant floors offer a double-whammy of convenience when it comes to pet households. First is the protection they offer against the liquid messes caused directly by pets. Whether it’s a knocked-over water bowl, a potty accident, or a trail of wet footsteps tracked across the kitchen, knowing your floors won’t be damaged by that wetness is a huge stress reliever.

But the benefits of waterproof floors extend beyond just protecting against your pet’s liquid mishaps. They also make cleanup of all sorts of messes—liquid or solid—much easier. And that’s because a waterproof construction means you don’t have to be concerned with how wet your mop is or if you let a caked-on stain soak for a few minutes before you begin scrubbing. Even if your pet never has an accident and never plays in the mud, waterproof or water-resistant flooring can be a serious blessing when it comes to cleaning up after your pets.

Scratch-Resistant Coatings

Hard surface floors have long been the favorite for pet-friendly homes, but even those don’t always play nicely with pets. Anyone who’s ever caught a stray claw during an aggressive play session knows how sharp they can be—and many flooring materials are no match. While ceramic and porcelain tiles are naturally scratch-resistant, they can be a little cold for many areas of the home. While materials that are slightly softer—like hardwood, laminate, or vinyl flooring—will be more comfortable, they’ll also be easier to scratch. That’s where scratch-resistant coatings come in.

Empire offers an extensive range of scratch-resistant laminate, vinyl plank, and hardwood flooring. These products are finished with an ultra-tough aluminum oxide top coat, which helps guard against the scratches and scuffs that would damage an unprotected floor. That means your pooch can run laps till through the house until he’s pooped, and you won’t have to worry about your new wood floors getting destroyed in the process. As an added benefit, this coating also protects against fading caused by the sun’s UV rays, and eliminates the need for any regular polishing or waxing.

The Best Flooring for Dogs and Cats Can Be the Best for Humans, Too

The great thing about all shopping for pet-friendly flooring today is that you don’t have to compromise on what you really want just to make life with a cat or dog a little easier. You can get all of the beneficial features discussed above, without sacrificing on style or comfort. We know there are a lot of factors to consider when shopping for flooring, and as always, we’re here to help. Give us a call or contact us online to set up a free in-home consultation, and you’ll quickly be on your way to finding the best floor for your pets—and the rest of your family.

The post Five Must-Have Flooring Features for Pet Owners appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Like the classic tuxedo or the little black dress, there are some things that will always be in style. Traditional home style is still alive and well, with not only plenty of passionate designers advocating for its use, but also a sprawling selection of building materials, furnishings, and accessories on the market. So, if you’re feeling discouraged about wanting to stick with a more traditional home styling in your upcoming redesign, we’re here to support your decision.  In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at what traditional home style is, as well as identify some of the traditional flooring products available from Empire Today® and learn how they can integrate into your design plans. 

What is Traditional Home Design? 

To best define the idea of traditional flooring materials, let’s back up and take a quick look at traditional style in general—and that might be easiest to do by explaining what traditional style is not. The traditional style is generally considered to be one that does not bend to fleeting trends, isn’t about buying what the hottest new celebrity designer is selling, and eschews ideas like “fast fashion.” Yet, even without adopting the design du jour, traditional style doesn’t feel dated, regardless of its age. A pair of Levi’s 501s from the 90s could be considered traditional, while a pair of JNCO jeans from the same year would most definitely not. Green shag carpet from the 70s would not work in traditional home design, while a warm oak wood floor of the same vintage would.  

Traditional design is about honoring the best aesthetic traits of the past, without succumbing to the many fashion blunders that have come and gone. It often melds motifs from multiple eras without ever leaning too much on a singular influence. In a well-designed traditional home, your mid-century modern furniture can peacefully coexist with Victorian wall coverings and your Persian rug. 

Fans of traditional flooring and overall home design love the style because it can help set the tone of the entire home. Traditional home décor is a style that is often described in intangible, emotional ways. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, warmth, and an overall welcoming atmosphere. Think of any classic movie about a family of adults getting together for the holidays at their childhood home. That home’s design is usually not up to contemporary style standards, but at the same time, it’s rarely unappealing. It’s a cozy, inviting home. Homes that celebrate traditional style are homes meant to be lived in, in the truest sense.  

With all of that said, it’s important to stress that traditional design, and by extension traditional flooring, does not have to specifically include only old materials or accessories. New homes are being built or renovated every day with a style that would be considered traditional. Let’s take a look at some of the flooring products available at Empire® that can be used to create an inviting, traditional home. 

What Types of Flooring Fit into a Traditional Home Style? 

Classic hardwood is the most common example of a traditional home flooring product. Wood floors were first popularized in colonial America and, aside from a few misguided decades in the middle of last century when beautiful real wood floors were often covered with gaudy linoleum or shag carpet, have been a sought-after material ever since. It’s a material that meshes well with a wide range of aesthetics, fitting into a casual setting as easily as an elegant one. Perhaps most important, wood floors tend to be thought of as inviting. When the average person is asked to imagine a cozy, welcoming room, the odds are high that hardwood flooring will make an appearance. 

To further narrow down the style, you can expect to see lots of warm, medium-tone wood, like chestnut, honey maple, or early American. Traditional wood flooring welcomes large grain patterns and even embraces knotting and other irregularities. There’s a lot of overlap with rustic floor styles, though traditional flooring usually doesn’t go to the same extremes. It’s common to see materials with the slight patina of a well-loved home, but not the heavily weathered woods common to many rustic or farmhouse-style rooms.  

Carpeting can also play a role in a traditional home, although it tends to be used sparingly. A main floor done almost entirely in oak hardwood might lead into a family room finished in a cozy carpet. As with wood floors, traditional carpet style favors warm, rich colors, and surfaces that beckon guests to enter the room. A traditional home would likely use Berber or plush carpets as opposed to a more upscale product like pattern carpet. 

While not as common, tile floors and other stone-look flooring can also fit into a traditionally styled home. The best tile floors for a traditional home would be in neutral or earth-toned colors, without any trendy patterns. Stone can also be a smart choice since the look of classic marble flooring has rarely fallen out of favor. But because it can feel a bit pretentious, its use in a modern traditional home should be limited—perhaps only in the living room, while the rest of the house favors hardwood. This combo creates a nice marriage of the best historical styles, without feeling too stuffy. 

Of course, traditional style is not limited to just traditional natural materials since it’s possible to evoke the same feelings and honor past style traditions with today’s manmade products.  Most modern composite and engineered flooring types can so accurately mimic any aesthetic that even a high-tech flooring like luxury vinyl plank flooring can easily be used in traditional home design. Wood-look vinyl or laminate floors are an excellent way to enjoy the traditional aesthetic without overextending your budget. 

What are the pros and cons of traditional flooring design? 

As we’ve mentioned, traditional home design is built upon aesthetics that stand the test of time and which can easily be integrated with a diverse variety of home décor. This enduring quality is itself one of the great practical advantages of choosing a traditional flooring style.  

It’s always a gamble to suggest that any particular design style might increase the value of a home when reselling since personal tastes are so diverse. A minimalist, monochromatic interior might be the aesthetic of your dreams, but something so extreme can be off-putting to potential buyers. While most home shoppers expect to put some work into customizing their new homes, the prospect of a full-blown rehab can be dissuading. But because it embraces so many perennially popular style choices, a traditionally designed home is less likely to be a deal breaker to many buyers than something more avant-garde. Think about a beautiful oak floor that was first installed in the 1940s. It may be eight decades old, but as a shining example of traditional design, it probably won’t be seen as a negative for prospective buyers, even if it wasn’t on their wish list.  In fact, it might end up being a selling point that the buyers never expected.  

And it’s important to remember that traditional home design isn’t necessarily retro or stuck in any particular era. Rather, it reinterprets many elements of older styles to fit in with modern sensibilities. Or it picks the highlights of those eras, the products and materials that have stood the test of time and builds around those. That reverence for the past ends up making many traditional design schemes almost timeless.  

As a style defined largely by its widespread agreeability, it’s not easy to find any inherent cons to choosing traditional flooring. Most downsides will be largely based on individual preferences. If your personal style tends to live on the bleeding edge of what’s trendy, this may not be the flooring type for you.  

Flooring for traditional homes – where should I start? 

For most homeowners, a new floor is expected to last many years—regardless of style. So, when you begin the selection process, it’s important to consider what type of flooring you can see yourself living with for years, or perhaps decades. With products covered by some of the best warranties in the industry, we’re confident that Empire offers plenty of choices of hardwood, carpet, or tile to meet that need. 

Regardless of style aspirations, for most people, budget is a major factor in choosing new flooring. But being on a budget doesn’t have to be a disqualification for your dream designs. Contrary to popular belief, you can get floors that are beautiful, long-lasting, and not prohibitively expensive. The spectrum of styles available in sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl plank, or laminate puts traditional design within everyone’s reach.  

If you’re ready to take the first step towards your traditional home aspirations, we’re here to help. Empire’s in-home experience gives you the opportunity to see and feel an entire flooring store’s worth of products without ever leaving your home. With the help of a flooring professional, we’re confident you’ll find a product that matches your style dreams along with your budget.  

The post Give Your Home a Timeless Look with Traditional Flooring and Design appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Stretch-In Carpet Installation

This is the most standard and practiced technique for installing carpeting in homes, which is typically called residential carpet. Strips of wood, called tack strips are nailed around the edges of the room. These strips have very sharp pins, or tacks, that will grip the back of the carpet and hold it in place. Padding is used in this type of installation to make the carpet feel softer underfoot, and to protect the back of the carpet from wear. One tack strips and padding are place, the carpet rolled out and then stretched to the edges and attached to the strips. There are special tools professional installers use in order to properly stretch a carpet, such as a knee kicker and power stretcher.  Carpet will not stay flat without getting lumps unless enough tension is place on the carpet to pull it close to the wall and fix it to a tack strip.

Your professional installer with Empire Today has the essential tools and expertise to properly complete stretch-in carpet installations.

Glue Down Carpet Installation

Used commonly in commercial spaces or special areas like your basement, a glue down installation is when the carpet is glued directly to the floor and without a pad. While this provides a solid base, the lack of a pad means less comfort and less durability. Also, the floor that the carpet is being glued to needs to be completely smooth otherwise you will feel (and maybe even see) imperfections through the carpet.

Wood Flooring Installation Methods

Nail Down Wood Flooring Installation

This flooring installation method is how it sounds, flooring is nailed or stapled to a subfloor. Solid hardwood is typically nailed down, while some engineered hardwood options may be stapled. In order to nail down a floor, there must be a suitable subfloor underneath. A floor cannot be nailed down to concrete, and the subfloor must be dry, level, and flat. This type of installation is considered to me more permanent because it is difficult to remove planks once their nailed down. 

There are also special tools needed to property perform a nail down installation, such as a specialty flooring nail/staple gun, jamb saw, and router. Your Empire Today installation contractor will have all the necessary tools to complete a nail down installation.

Glue Down Wood Flooring Installation

Like carpet, engineered hardwood and vinyl flooring can be glued down. This leaves no space between your floors and the subfloor, creating a cohesive surface. It also helps reduce bounce on the floor and helps deaden the sound of footsteps. Keep in mind, that while it’s possible to glue down laminate, it isn’t common since most laminate was built for a floating installation, which we will discuss next.

Floating Wood Flooring Installation

A floating floor installation does not require the floor to be nailed or glued down. Instead the floor planks are connected together using a click-and-lock system. The planks have tiny groves along the edges that allow them to be strongly joined together. An advantage of a floating floor is that it allows the floor to adapt by expanding and contracting to alterations in the room’s humidity.

Installing floors is a big job that requires tools, experience, and knowledge. Empire has been installing floors in homes for more than 65 years – it’s what we do… everyday. Avoid a DIY disaster and leave flooring installation to the pros.

The post Carpet and Wood Flooring Installation Methods appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Picture this: You’ve just arrived home after a long day of work. You open the front door of your cozy yet spacious bungalow (or vintage farmhouse, or tidy cottage, or secluded cabin – your choice) and set down your keys and coat in the entryway. You head into the main living area, open concept, of course, where you’re greeted by the sight of the afternoon sun filtering through the gauzy curtains and casting a golden hue over the gorgeous, distressed wood flooring of your living room.  

You make your way into the kitchen to get dinner started, noticing that someone has spilled water on the floor. Not a problem, you think as you grab a towel to wipe it up. The vinyl plank floor looks nearly indistinguishable from the weathered hardwood you might find in a rural farmhouse kitchen, yet the product you chose is completely waterproof. A quick swipe of the towel and it’s good as new.  

After the evening’s activities are complete, you retire to your bedroom, a tranquil retreat awash in soft, muted tones. Although you’ve chosen to place an area rug near the bed as part of the decor, you reflect on how it’s not really necessary thanks to the comfortable and beautiful wood laminate you’ve chosen for the bedrooms.  

If this all sounds like heaven to you, you probably find yourself drawn to the timeless allure of rustic design. Rustic home flooring is the perfect choice to infuse your space with that warmth, character, and natural beauty that’s so appealing about the bygone days. 

At Empire Today® we absolutely adore rustic design, and we’re excited that it’s grown in popularity over the years. As we delve into the rustic flooring trend, we’ll explore the various styles, materials, and design possibilities that make this enduring aesthetic a true classic. 

Introduction to the Rustic Flooring Trend 

In an age where technology dominates nearly every aspect of our lives, it’s hardly surprising that more and more people are being drawn to the rugged appeal of rustic interior design, both for their homes and workplaces. The authenticity and connection to nature of rustic flooring can serve as a powerful counterbalance to our increasingly digital experience.  

The Timeless Appeal of Rustic Flooring 

Rustic interior design is deeply rooted in the unique pioneering history of the U.S. Early settlers brought very few belongings as they left larger cities to disperse throughout the rugged expanse of the wild west. When it came time to build and furnish their homesteads, these pioneers had no choice but to rely on local, natural materials. This resourcefulness not only shaped their living and working spaces, but also fostered a design aesthetic that celebrates the beauty of simplicity and the authenticity of the American frontier. 

Rustic flooring is so much more than just a trend; it’s truly a tribute to the skilled hands that have shaped our history! 

What is considered a Rustic Home? 

These days most of us aren’t chopping down trees to build our own cabins and furniture, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create the same atmosphere of natural, tasteful simplicity found in the rustic homes of yore. Understanding where rustic design elements originate can help define the overall aesthetic. 

• With no other materials or manufacturing available, wood was the primary material used for flooring and walls. The colors, lines, ridges, and knots of local hardwood contributed to the unique character of each building. 
• Natural light from windows and doorways was a requirement in the days before electricity and is a must-have in our modern world, where we spend so much of our time indoors. 
• Our foremothers and forefathers didn’t get their furniture and decor from factories, they designed and built everything they needed and wanted from scratch. That means not every edge was perfectly straight, smooth, rounded…you get the idea. These imperfect design elements, when used today, create a warm and inviting atmosphere in the typical modern home. 
• It would be a mistake to overlook the subtle ways in which “Mother Nature’s colors” give life to any home decor. In rustic design, you’re sure to find wood grains or stone, beiges, pale greens, or warmer shades of white, along with iron, pewter, or copper fixtures gleaming in all that natural light. 

Rustic Floors are Here to Stay 

When it comes to interior design, trends come and go (think the shag carpeting and avocado green appliances of the 1970s, or the beige walls, floral prints, and wicker furniture of the 1990s). One of the most exciting aspects of rustic flooring is that its beauty and simplicity transcends short-lived design trends. Rustic flooring compliments a huge variety of interior design styles and can be adapted to suit different aesthetics such as traditional, farmhouse, industrial, or contemporary, making it a much safer investment than those massive, wooden entertainment centers that dominated living rooms circa 2002! 

Incorporating Natural Aesthetics in Your Home 

Welcoming nature into our homes has never been more important than in today’s fast-paced world, where maintaining a connection with the great outdoors can be a real challenge. In fact, studies have shown that exposure to natural elements, such as wood, plants, and stone, can actually lower cortisol and increase feelings of relaxation – something most of us could use! Rustic flooring’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to invoke those feelings of peace and tranquility you get from an afternoon in the woods, without ever leaving your living room.  

Types of Rustic Flooring 

Unlike the pioneer days, when the only building materials available were whatever was growing nearby, we offer a wide variety of rustic floor products to choose from. Finding the perfect floors to fit any aesthetic, budget, and lifestyle has never been easier.  

Distressed Wood Flooring 

 Newer wood can take on those gorgeous, timeworn characteristics by using techniques such as hand-scraping. In hand-scraping, also known as hand-planing, a special tool is used to scrape the surface of the wood to create a more textured, stately appearance. Hand-scraped wood flooring is often used for restoration projects or rustic homes. 

Reclaimed Wood Flooring 

If sustainability is your main concern, look no further than reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood is typically salvaged from older commercial buildings, vintage barns, or other demolished structures. Besides the fact that it’s an environmentally friendly flooring option, reclaimed wood is also prized for its unique and character-rich appearance. Whether it’s nail holes, knots, saw marks, or naturally weathered textures, each plank has a story of its own to tell. Reclaimed wood is typically more expensive than traditional new wood or engineered flooring due to the labor-intensive process of sourcing, salvaging, and preparing the wood. 

Wide Plank Flooring 

Wide plank floors are known for their stunning visual impact. The wider planks (typically around 5” or more) showcase the grain patterns, color variations, and subtle contrasts of the wood and can create a sense of spaciousness in a room. Wide plank flooring has historical roots and is often associated with American and European homes. Thanks to their more traditional look, wide plank flooring is a popular choice for anyone seeking to add a rustic element to their home. 

Stone-Look Flooring 

The earthy, textured appearance of stone-look floors aligns with rustic design’s emphasis on natural elements. Stone-look flooring is typically made from materials like porcelain or ceramic tile, luxury vinyl tile, or laminate that are engineered to replicate the texture, color, and veining patterns found in natural stone. Stone-look flooring is typically highly durable and resistant to wear and tear, and is relatively low maintenance and budget-friendly compared to natural stone. 

How to Choose the Best Rustic Flooring 

Selecting the ideal rustic flooring for your space is a process that goes beyond aesthetics alone. Finding the right product means striking that perfect balance between your design vision, practical needs, and the unique character of each flooring option. 

Define Your Style 

The sheer variety of rustic floor products on the market can make finding the perfect fit feel a bit overwhelming. Understanding your own personal style will help you narrow down your options and make the sometimes daunting task of selecting floors a more enjoyable experience. When you schedule an appointment with Empire, a flooring professional visits you in your home where they are better able to help you narrow down the choices. 

Consider Your Lifestyle 

Thinking about the function of the room or rooms where you plan to install your rustic flooring is key to finding the right fit. Do you have kids, pets, or both? Which rooms get the most traffic, and which might be exposed to topical moisture? Rest assured you will be able to find the perfect rustic floor product for every area of your home. 

Color, Pattern, and Finish 

Today’s rustic floor products are nothing if not versatile. Not only are there a variety of materials to choose from, the color palette of rustic flooring offered at Empire® ranges from rich, earthy tones like deep browns and warm reds, to lighter, more weathered hues such as soft grays.  

In terms of patterns, rustic floors can showcase diverse arrangements of planks or tiles. These patterns can be customized depending on the vibe you’re going for – whether it’s the classic farmhouse look, a contemporary loft, or a cozy cabin retreat.  

The finish of rustic floor products is yet another aspect that enhances their appeal. Matte finishes provide a subtle, understated elegance, while semi-gloss or high-gloss finishes offer a sleek, polished look. And of course, the popular distressed/hand-scraped finishes create that charming, weathered appearance and highlight the natural character of the wood. 

Maintaining Your Rustic Flooring

Rustic flooring is not only durable, it’s also relatively easy to maintain. As with any type of flooring, a little TLC in the form of regular cleaning and minimal maintenance will help keep it looking its best for years to come.  

Regular Cleaning and Care 

Cleaning your rustic flooring depends somewhat on the materials used to create the floor. However, these general rules apply to the care of most types of rustic flooring. 

• Dry cleaning: Sweep or vacuum the floor on a regular basis to remove dust, dirt, and debris. Be sure to use a soft-bristle broom or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to avoid scratching the surface. 
• Gentle mopping: For routine cleaning, use a damp (not soaking wet) mop or microfiber mop to clean the floor. Avoid excess water on hardwood floors, as it can damage wood and cause swelling. 
• Avoid harsh chemicals: Never use harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners, or wax-based products on rustic flooring. Instead, opt for a pH-balanced, manufacturer-recommended floor cleaner specifically formulated for your type of floor. 
• Clean up spills immediately: This one is probably obvious, but letting spilled food or liquid sit on certain types of flooring for too long can cause staining and other damage. Use a soft, dry cloth or paper towel to blot up liquid spills. Sticky substances can be scraped off (gently!) with a plastic scraper. 
• Area rugs and mats: Don’t overlook the value of a strategically placed area rug or mat. Not only can they add a bit of extra warmth or pop of color to your overall decor, rugs or mats located in high-traffic areas can help trap dirt and prevent it from being tracked onto the floor. A win-win!  

Enhancing Your Home with Rustic Flooring 

The warmth, charm, and enduring quality of rustic flooring can be a soothing balm to those of us craving a tangible connection to the natural world. The choice to incorporate rustic flooring into your interior design also means that no matter how your tastes change in the years to come, your floors will never look out of date or at odds with whatever decor you choose. So, whether you’re into mid-century modern or intergalactic chic in the future, your rustic floors will always be there to support you in style. 

More Than Meets The Eye 

As we conclude our journey through the world of rustic flooring, it’s clear that this timeless choice is more than just a surface beneath our feet – it’s a statement of style, a testament to our eternal connection with nature, and a nod to the past. Whether you opt for the warmth of wide plank flooring, the inviting charm of distressed finishes, or the natural beauty of stone-look, the skilled flooring professionals at Empire Today can help guide you towards the choice that reflects your unique personality and the ambiance you wish to create. 

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The Look of Laminate vs Hardwood Flooring 

When shopping for new flooring, achieving a particular look or style is the top priority for most customers. And if you’re reading a comparison of two different products whose main similarity is that they share the look of real wood, it’s safe to assume that you’d want to know everything possible about how they compare visually. So, in the battle of laminate vs hardwood floors, how exactly do looks factor in? Let’s find out. 

At first glance, most laminate flooring is visually indistinguishable from a real hardwood floor, and for good reason. Laminate products at Empire are crafted with a top layer that consists of a photorealistic wood grain image protected by a scratch-resistant wear layer. In short, the visible surface of every laminate flooring plank is essentially a photo of a real plank of wood. Close inspection will usually reveal laminate’s secret, but in regular use, most laminate floors will be indistinguishable from real wood to the untrained eye.  

Of course, the only thing more realistic than a picture-perfect copy of the real thing is…the real thing. Since every plank of hardwood flooring is hewn as one piece from a solid hunk of lumber, its appearance is as genuine as it gets. And this applies to engineered hardwood as well since the top layer of every plank of that material is also made from a solid piece of wood.  

Now, most people’s first instinct is to assume that real wood will automatically be the better choice when it comes to aesthetics, but that’s not always the case. When taking a critical look at the appearance of laminate vs hardwood flooring, we can see that each has its pros and its cons.  

Although wood laminate flooring can artificially create a visually perfect wood image on its surface, its main downside is that the grain variations are limited per product because the photorealistic image gets reused. That is, in an entire floor’s worth of wood laminate planks, there may be only a dozen or so unique grain patterns. While not usually an issue for the vast majority of customers who choose wood laminate, those who are particular about their aesthetics might find it bothersome.  

In contrast, real wood floors will have an infinite variation in their grain patterns—no two real hardwood planks will look exactly the same. But even that comes with its potential downsides. As every plank comes from a piece of solid wood, the natural variations within the lumber can sometimes be not aesthetically pleasing. It’s not uncommon to encounter knots, burls, or other irregularities. Extreme examples are discarded during the manufacturing process, but it’s possible that what passes the brand’s standards might not be up to yours. Overall, however, the unique look of a genuine wood floor is one of the product’s best features.  

Conclusion: When it comes to getting the look of wood, it’s difficult to beat the products whose surfaces are crafted from real wood. Real hardwood flooring is the winner in this category, though laminate flooring puts up a good fight. And for many customers, the slight ding in authentic visuals is an acceptable tradeoff for the many benefits of wood laminate floors. What are those benefits, you ask? Read on! 

Durability and Required Maintenance of Laminate Flooring vs Hardwood 

CARE: 

Low maintenance is one of the main selling points of wood laminate flooring. With its dense composite core and scratch-resistant wear layer, most laminate floor products from Empire are “set it and forget it” type material. Once installed, laminate floors will rarely need any attention beyond your typical cleaning schedule. As long as you regularly sweep up any abrasive dirt or debris and use care when moving heavy furniture, wood laminate floors should continue looking great through many years of typical use. As an added benefit, most laminate products at Empire are water-resistant—and there are even some fully waterproof laminate floors. This protection against the harmful effects of water has proven invaluable to many customers. 

Real hardwood floors are a little trickier. While day-to-day care isn’t all that different—just the regular sweeping and light mopping—there are a few things to be aware of. The major area where real wood floors fall short of laminate is in dealing with moisture, as no solid hardwood flooring products offer water resistance. That means that even the slightest spills, if not cleaned up quickly, can end up damaging your wood floors. It’s for this reason that Empire does not recommend installing hardwood in kitchens, bathrooms, or anywhere there is the potential for moisture collection. 

There is also an expectation that real hardwood floors will need to be refinished at certain long-term intervals in order to keep them looking their best. Usually recommended around every ten years or so, this process involves sanding off the topcoat, stain, and a very thin layer of the actual wood surface; a new stain and sealant is then applied to the entire floor. Refinishing hardwood floors introduces hassles and additional costs that you don’t get with laminate, but it does offer some serious advantages that we’ll look at in the next section. 
 

Conclusion: When considering just the maintenance aspect, laminate is the clear winner. It’s the better material for kitchens, bathrooms, or any room where you’ll expect your floors to encounter any exposure to wetness. 

LONGEVITY:  

Durability is a major factor to consider in the laminate vs hardwood flooring showdown, especially if you’re planning on staying in your home for the foreseeable future. New floors are one of the most significant renovation projects a homeowner can have completed. Updates like repainting walls, changing window treatments, or planting new greenery can be done with little planning and might happen every few years. But when you have new floors installed, it’s usually with the hopes that they’ll last a very long time. And while part of your floors’ longevity will come down to how well you care for them and how much foot traffic they experience, the material you choose will also be a significant factor. 

And this is where hardwood flooring really gets a chance to shine in comparison to wood laminate. Real hardwood flooring is typically considered to be one of the longest-lasting flooring materials a homeowner can choose. Its solid construction lends the material a certain durability and removes any chance of delaminating that can happen to laminate or vinyl flooring. While its surface is still as prone to knicks and scratches as laminate, those blemishes can often be easily repaired and touched up on a wood floor. In comparison, a significant chip in a laminate floor plank will reveal the fiberboard core and will usually not be possible to repair—requiring instead an entire new plank to be put in. 

Another benefit that hardwood has over laminate flooring is the way it wears its scars. Most customers don’t mind the patina that a hardwood floor will develop over years of use. In fact, many people actually look forward to seeing their hardwood floors age, with every scratch or scuff adding a unique bit of character to their home. And if those accumulated scratches get to be too much, the ability to fully refinish a hardwood floor becomes one of the material’s greatest assets—and a major perk when it comes time to sell your house.  

Now, this is not to suggest that wood laminate flooring isn’t capable of lasting the long haul. Wood laminate products at Empire are covered by some of the industry’s best warranties, and with integrated features like scratch-resistant wear layers and Aqua Defense waterproofing, they’ll have no problem enduring life in a typical household. With proper care, it’s not out of the question for wood laminate floors to last upwards of 20 years. However, unlike real wood floors, a laminate floor cannot be refinished when it starts to look worn. 

 
Conclusion: In a typical household, you can expect real hardwood flooring to last much longer vs. laminate flooring. Both materials should give you many years of use, but real wood’s ability to be repaired or refinished, combined with how it wears its scars, makes it the better choice for anyone looking to get the longest life possible out of their floors. 

 
The Costs of Laminate vs. Hardwood Flooring

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, is the expected cost of laminate vs hardwood flooring. By and large, a laminate wood floor will almost always be significantly more affordable than a genuine hardwood floor. While the most basic hardwood might cost less than the most advanced laminate products, when comparing equal grades of each product (say, the most affordable laminate vs the most affordable hardwood floor), the laminate floor installation tend to be less expensive.  

However, for many homeowners, the price premium of real wood is worth the benefits. Those who have found their “forever home” are often attracted to the idea of having floors that last for a long time, aging with the home and becoming almost an heirloom in the process. Many people feel that there is a certain character in real wood flooring that simply can’t be recreated by synthetic products, and the extra cost is worth it. Plus, there is the practical value of real wood’s ability to be refinished. When the time comes, whether due to accumulated wear or simply the need for a stylistic refresh, refinishing a hardwood floor can be much more affordable than completely replacing the floor—even if you replaced it with a low-cost material like sheet vinyl flooring.  

And finally, it’s commonly accepted that a real hardwood floor can add value to your home. When it comes time to sell your home, buyers are more likely to react positively to old hardwood floors than to old laminate floors. 
 

Conclusion: We’re going to call this one a draw because it is the one aspect that is greatly dependent on your personal needs and preferences. Based simply on the initial investment, laminate flooring will hands-down be the better value. But if you plan to spend decades in your current home, or are already thinking about maximizing your resale value, hardwood floors can be the better long-term investment. 

So which material wins overall? Like just about any major decision in life, there’s no clear-cut winner when comparing laminate to hardwood flooring. If your initial budget is a major factor, you prize versatility and easy maintenance, or you know you may want to completely change your floors out in just a few years, wood laminate will be the better choice. But if you’ve settled into your forever home and are willing to make a bigger upfront investment for floors that could last a lifetime while aging gracefully, hardwood floors might be exactly what you need. 

Still having trouble deciding between laminate and hardwood flooring? We’re here to help take the guesswork out of getting new floors. When you Schedule a FREE In-Home Consultation, a flooring pro will walk you through every facet of new flooring, from helping you find the right product to making sure your home’s current subfloors are suitable for having new floors installed. Give us a call or click any of the “Schedule Now” buttons on this page to set up your appointment today. 

The post Laminate vs Hardwood: Which Flooring Should You Choose? appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

This option may appear a bit obvious. If you want the natural wood look, why not go with the real thing? Today’s solid hardwood flooring brings an unmistakable rich look.

Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood and you can pick from a variety of natural wood species like oak, maple, cherry, hickory and plenty of others. You can go for a hand-scraped look and some people even like the natural changes in hardwood as it wears and is exposed to the elements. And once a hardwood floor looks like it needs some sprucing up, you can sand and refinish it, in some cases multiple times.

Chateau Solid Hardwood. Color: Cabernet

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Busy households often appreciate the durability and natural look of engineered hardwood floors. This option is actually made with a real hardwood surface but has a uniquely engineered core to prevent it from expanding with temperature and moisture changes. It can be installed on a variety of different subfloor types, too.

Engineered hardwood flooring comes in wire-brushed, distressed or hand-scraped finishes and is versatile enough to add classic or contemporary touches to just about any space in a house.

Because of its durable construction, engineered hardwood is a popular option for areas of the home that can see heavy traffic. Engineered hardwood can stand up to the punishment and moisture in these parts of the home. While some are designed to handle extreme moisture, a lot of people stop short of putting them in bathrooms.

Whether you love a classic hickory or oak, or a muted gray for contemporary cool settings, you can rest assured, an engineered hardwood flooring option is available to you.

Encore Engineered Hardwood. Color: Gunstock

Laminate Flooring

If you’re looking for some amazing wood looks that are budget-friendly, wood laminate may be the choice for you! Like engineered wood, laminate offers a variety of plank widths with great stain, scratch and fade resistance.

With wood laminate, you can find hand-scraped textures, traditional oak, Brazilian Cherry and other popular colors and styles. There are even some 100% waterproof options available too! With so many styles, it’s easy to add sophistication to a den or study with an aged oak or enliven a living room with a contemporary ash gray. Only your imagination can stop you as far as real wood look options on this one.

Ellington Laminate Wood. Color: Huntington

Vinyl Plank Flooring

For many people looking for a very realistic wood look, but who are on a budget, vinyl plank floors have been the answer. Today’s vinyl plank floors come in a wide range of unique grain patterns, colors and textures.

This super durable option will get you the wood beauty any room wants with tremendous stain and water resistance, even having 100% waterproof options. Busy families love how they can add a natural look to a kitchen space and not need to worry about the floor being able to handle a large spill. Some options also come with unique backings that dampen noise in a room and some people also appreciate a vinyl plank’s softness compared to hardwood for added comfort.

Studio Reserve Vinyl Plank. Color: Canyon

Vinyl Tile Flooring

To many people’s surprise, vinyl tile floors are another budget-friendly way to add a realistic wood aesthetic to a room. Dark and light gray and greige shadings are sometimes used to add an industrial or farmhouse look to a space, and certain homeowners really love that unique creative touch of having a grout line with a wood-look tile.

Vinyl tile is great at resisting stains and water, so busy households love it in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, but you don’t need to limit yourself to those areas of the home.

Canal Pier Vinyl Tile. Color: Farmhouse Linen

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

You can still enjoy the scuff, stain and scratch resistance of vinyl sheet flooring and a natural wood look, too! Today’s designs can look like you just had a fresh wood floor installed in your home. When looking down at the floor, the wood can look so real, the eye can be tricked into seeing actual wood plank seams and a wood grain look.

Today’s vinyl sheet flooring can give the look of real hardwood and it’s still as budget-friendly as ever, and very easy to clean.

Wood-Look Porcelain Tile

When you think of porcelain tile, the first rooms that may come to mind are the bathroom or the kitchen. However, wood-look porcelain tile means you can add ceramics to other spaces such as the living room. What makes this wood look so special? Well, you get the beauty of hardwood with the high durability and easy maintenance of porcelain tile, giving you the best of both worlds.

Timber Falls Porcelain Tile. Color: Apache

Many people will start with the idea of transforming one space in their home, then they realize that the wood look they fell in love with actually looks great in other rooms. With so many great options, you don’t have to stick to just one type, style, or color. Assess each room and pick the flooring that’s best for those specific needs.

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1. Light Colors Will Remain Popular

It’s tough to overlook the warmth and elegance of an old walnut or other darker hardwood flooring. But in the past decade, with contemporary and transitional interior design elements dominating, more people have dared to experiment with light colors.

White oak is one popular example. It’s a neutral tone that invites casual sophistication and it’s great for large, expansive floors. Gray tones are also hot. In living rooms, they’ll settle into the background for dark furniture or colorful wall art, and, in kitchens, the right cabinets will stand out beautifully against gray.

Popular in beach houses and Brownstones, natural blonde flooring still has its followers, too. These light hardwoods welcome light into a room, but are also versatile and work great in kitchens, with dark cabinets, and against accent walls.

Urban Edge Engineered Hardwood. Style: Skydeck

2. It’s the Wild West of Plank Sizes

Thin, two to three-inch, hardwood slats aren’t out of the picture, but wider planks have been the big request for the past five years. They can open up a room and make it look more spacious, and, with fewer seams, the patterns and grain in the wood can be seen more clearly. Hardwood lovers are also starting to request longer planks, too!

Wider widths, longer lengths, and did we mention, some ambitious customers are also dabbling in varying widths for their installations? It’s too early to call that one as a hot trend, but don’t be surprised to hear about a neighbor or two experimenting with the idea.

County Line, engineered hardwood with wide planks. Style: Crossroads

Cambridge Engineered Hardwood

3. Keeping it Real with Texture and Sheen

We all remember those thin, super-glossy oak slats at grandma’s house. Those hardwood glory days still have a place in homes today, but just as colors have undergone a transformation, the matte sheen has taken over today’s hardwood floors, too. Matte brings a more natural look that today’s eco-conscious homeowners love.

Texture is also a big part of the hardwood flooring conversation as well. Expect to see more hand-scraped, wire-brushed and ceruse textures going forward. They add depth and character to hardwood, and interior designers enjoy their flexibility to handle both contemporary or more traditional furnishings and room designs.

County Line Engineered Hardwood. Style: Boundary

4. Hardwood Flooring as a Contrasting Tool

While light colors are more popular today, it’s important not to forget those amazing foyers, dining rooms or family rooms with dark hardwood that make light walls and furnishings sing!

Hardwood flooring colors can often be used to highlight and contrast parts of a room, whether it’s a photo, unique furnishing, bold art piece or something else. Don’t forget, the right floor can stand out but it’s also a tool to help start conversations about other elements in a space as well.

Manchester Solid Hardwood. Style: Oceanside Gray

5. The Best Trend is the Look You Choose

Your home will outlive any trend. Sure, your neighbor’s house may look great with a trendy gray or white oak. But does that match the furniture and feel of your home?

The hardwood floors you choose will need to suit your durability and aesthetic needs. That’s why it’s best to consult with a professional who will take the time to understand your situation.  Just remember to stay true to your personal taste!

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Vinyl Flooring

First, is vinyl flooring. Vinyl plank, vinyl tile, and sheet vinyl are all great options when you have a pet, as they are highly resistant to staining, soiling, and scratches. And when accidents happen, vinyl flooring is easy to clean. Finally, vinyl floors can be more comfortable and more slip resistant than other flooring options available. As an added bonus too, vinyl is made to mimic the look and feel of real wood and tile, so it looks great in any home.

Laminate Flooring

Wood-look laminate flooring is also a good option for homes with pets. The finish on laminate flooring can help resist scratches, stains, and soiling. Look for laminate floors with a textured finish, as smooth finishes can be slippery for our furry friends.

Hardwood Flooring

If you want real wood in your home, opt for engineered hardwood, which is constructed with a thick solid wood veneer and a sturdy engineered backing to make it stronger than solid wood. Look for an engineered hardwood with a textured finish to help with slips.

Tile Flooring

Porcelain and ceramic tile are both good options to help prevent scratches and lasting damage from liquids. Be sure to look for a tile flooring that is slip-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about kids and pets running around, especially if there’s a wet area.

Carpet

Carpet and pets can co-exist! Not only is it soft and comfortable for pets, there are some great carpet options with added stain and soil resistance. Plus, Empire carries carpet with added PUP® Pet Urine Protection that helps protect carpet fibers from stains due to pet urine. If you’re looking for a carpet, keep in mind pet’s nails can snag and cause damage to carpet. We recommend keeping your pet’s nails trimmed or look for a carpet that won’t snag – the best carpet types for pets is plush, frieze, or HOME Fresh – an Empire exclusive.

Having a pet means loving them every day, from dirty paws, pee stains, and nail scratches – pets are family, and when you come home from a long day, they are the first ones to greet you with a wagging tail or soft cuddle. Whether you’re looking for carpet, vinyl, tile, laminate, or hardwood, finding floors that make you and your pet happy is easy when you work with Empire. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to see our pet friendly flooring options in your home.

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Do Hardwood Floors Contribute to Deforestation?

Trees are the big topic in nearly every environmental conversation, with preservation being the center point. Because of this, it’s easy to make the assumption that hardwood floors are wasteful and detrimental to forests (and nature itself).

The truth is, trees are chopped down to produce genuine hardwood floors. There’s no way around that.

But if hardwood floors are sourced from a well-managed forest, the trees that are cut down are immediately replaced with new trees. Not only does this help balance the tree population, but newer trees also are proven to produce more oxygen.

However, this isn’t always the case. Illegal tree harvesting is a real problem, and difficult to enforce. To do your part, make sure the manufacturers are mindful of where they source their wood.

Longer Lasting Hardwood, Less Replacements Required

Hardwood doesn’t just come with a timeless look. With the proper care, hardwood can last for generations. If you’re not replacing your floors with new wood every ten years, you’re also helping preserve our big planet in a small, yet impactful way.

The less you replace your floors, the less demand there is to use up precious natural resources.

While we can talk about wood look vinyl, tile, or laminate all day, solid hardwood and engineered hardwood can be more sustainable in the long run.

Can Hardwood Be Eco-Friendly Certified?

If you want to be sure of your hardwood flooring’s sustainability, look for an official stamp of approval from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an organization ensuring the proper management of global forests. The FSC gives certifications for hardwood grown, harvested, and manufactured with the environment in mind.

For eco-friendly flooring, look for the FSC stamp on the product itself (not just a logo on the website) first before you buy.

Is Solid Hardwood More Eco-Friendly Than Engineered Hardwood?

Both solid and engineered hardwood are highly durable, beautiful flooring options that can increase the overall value of your home. But what about the overall friendliness to the earth?

While both are sustainable flooring options, engineered hardwood is a bit more eco-friendly.

It’s constructed with just a top layer of natural hardwood, while an entire board of solid hardwood technically requires more wood (and trees) to produce.

The amount of wood used for one piece of solid hardwood can produce multiple engineered hardwood boards.

In Summary, “Green Hardwood” is Not Real

Until the day arrives in the distant future when someone can wave a magic wand and produce hardwood flooring out of thin air, hardwood floors are always going to require taking wood from the earth.

Eco-friendly flooring isn’t impossible. The key is to do thorough research to make sure you’re investing in eco-friendly flooring that will last.

To have a conversation with a dedicated flooring professional about what hardwood products are best for your home, Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate today!

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