Buying Guides

The Hardwood Flooring Buying Guide

Buying a floor is a decision you live with for decades. This step by step guide walks you through everything that matters, so you choose once and choose right.

Step 1. Pick your species and look

Species sets the color, grain and hardness of your floor. Light and airy, warm and red, or deep and dramatic. If durability is a priority, Brazilian hardwoods lead the field. Browse our species guide to compare them side by side.

Step 2. Choose solid or engineered

This depends on where the floor is going. Solid hardwood is ideal on or above ground over a wood subfloor and refinishes many times. Engineered hardwood is the right call over concrete, in basements, or over radiant heat. Our full breakdown is in Solid vs Engineered.

Step 3. Decide on width and finish

Narrow boards read traditional and formal. Wide planks feel open and contemporary. Finish matters too: a matte finish hides everyday wear better than high gloss, while gloss shows off depth of color. Consider your traffic and your lighting.

Step 4. Measure your space

Measure the length and width of each room and multiply for square footage. Add the areas together, then add roughly ten percent for cutting waste and future repairs. If you would rather not measure alone, send us your room dimensions and we will do the math with you.

Step 5. Order samples

Never buy a floor from a screen. Wood color shifts dramatically under different light. Order real samples, lay them in the actual room, and look at them in morning and evening light before you commit.

Step 6. Plan the installation

Decide whether you are hiring a professional or installing yourself. Real wood needs to acclimate in the room before installation, and the subfloor must be clean, dry and flat. Our downloadable installation guide covers the full process.

Step 7. Check the warranty

A strong warranty signals a manufacturer that stands behind the product. Our engineered floors carry a 25 year residential warranty. Read the terms so you know what is covered and how to keep coverage valid.