Learn the Basics of Flooring

Hardwood comes in two different constructions. (Made two different ways)

Solid & Engineered

Depending on your subfloor, height transitions, style, and color preferences, it's best to know some basics before making your final decision. At the end of the day, it comes down to which color and style suit your personal preference. 

Solid Hardwood is wood planks cut straight from the tree. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times. Since Solid is a non-modified hardwood (meaning no alterations to the wood) if liquid sits on or against it for a long period of time damage can occur. Temperature is also something to keep in mind for solid hardwood, heat can cause expansion, and if it’s too cold, it can contract, causing small gaps in between the planks. Gapping can also occur when a house “settles”. Seasonal Gapping is a normal occurrence with solid hardwood

Engineered Hardwood is also wood straight from the tree, the difference is that the wood is cut into thin layers, each layer is put on top of one another in different grain directions. The reason for layering is simple; if an engineered wood plank were to get wet or affected by seasonal changes, each layer pulls one another in different directions causing minimal shrinkage or gapping. In addition to having more core stability, it also allows the homeowner to have real hardwood in their basement. Engineered hardwood is slightly more difficult to refinish, screening engineered is usually a better option if the top layer is rotary peel and not a sawn cut.

Painted Bevel - The beveled edges of each piece are painted by a special machine with a complimenting color to the floor. 

Micro Bevel -  A micro bevel is a very small bevel which defines each board’s outline.

CraftedEdge™ - technology creates a chiseled hand-crafted bevel found on today’s most luxurious floors. (Exclusive to Mannington)

Square Edge -  Square Edged boards are precisely cut with their edges at perfect right angles so that they sit flush with one another. Therefore, the joints between each board are much less visible than on beveled floorboards. 

Luxury vinyl was developed to give your floors the authentic hardwood look without the hefty price tag. Vinyl flooring remains one of the top choices for home and business owners today. While the benefits have remained consistent, with luxury vinyl being waterproof, scratch-resistant, and easy to maintain, its composition and construction continue to evolve, making it one of the most popular and versatile product categories in the floor covering industry. Luxury vinyl is made up of multiple layers, starting from top to bottom;

Finish Layer- A coating applied to the top of the wear layer for scratch resistance, stain protection, and appearance retention.

Wear Layer- A protective layer applied to the top surface of vinyl flooring that varies in thickness with each product. This layer is measured in Mils (mm) which is about the thickness of a page in a phone book. (8mil, 12mil, 20mil, 30mil) A thicker wear layer will help with performance under heavy traffic.

Image Layer - A layer of printed film gives the look of wood or stone, which is very important when choosing what style and color of flooring you want in your home.

Core Layer- This can vary depending on the construction of what flooring you choose. 

• LVT - Traditional vinyl planks and tiles, constructed with layers of PVC (polyvinyl chloride, which is the material that makes up vinyl flooring) 
• WPC - (Wood polymer composite) Constructed with a foamed up extruded core with built-in air pockets for added stability, superior comfort, and sound absorption.
• SPC - (Stone Plastic Composite) Dense core for impact and dent resistance. Stands up to heavy rolling loads with ease, 100% waterproof, and thermally stable for little to no acclimation or expansion/contraction. 

Backing Layer- Bottom layer that provides a supportive foundation to ensure a high-performing product.