How Hardwood Differs From Softwood Or Manufactured Wood

"There are three types of wood flooring: hardwood

, softwood and processed or manufactured wood. These three types have their own distinct characteristics and that's what we will be talking about in this article.

Let's discuss hardwood flooring first. Hardwood floors are made from timber and is specially made to be used as flooring. Hardwood trees include pine, spruce trees and many others. These kinds come in different widths and thickness.

Hardwood offers natural beauty and charm for years of enjoyment. There are dozens of hardwood floors available, all with its unique characteristics that fit almost any design. There are a variety of colors, grains, textures, and profiles to choose from.

Softwood is similar to hardwood but, as its name implies, it is made out of softer wood. Though this is softer compared to hardwood, they can resist wear and tear. The natural charm and sturdiness of this type of wood can certainly add coziness and warmth to your home.

What's great about this type of wood is that the dents or scratches that go with aging actually makes it more elegant. Quite simply, this wood looks better over time. Using it is also a great way to save on renovation or construction costs. By choosing softwood over hardwood, you get real wood floor with some money left for other house improvements you need to do.

Manufactured wood consists of 3 to 10 thin layers of wood that are called plies that are glued together in cross ply construction. The top layer of the wood can be between 1/16 inch to 1/6 inch thick. The thickness of the board can be between 1/4 to 3/4 inches. This type of wood is more stable and is less vulnerable to shrinking and expanding that can be caused by temperature changes because of its multi ply structure.

Compared to other types of wood flooring, this type can actually hold up better in humid areas. Since this type has layered construction, it is more dimensionally stable and the installation can be done on dry concrete or wood sub floors. This type is installed using a staple gun, thus handling them is easier and faster. This type have different styles, sizes and colors. The value of your home will truly increase since manufactured wood is hypo allergenic.

The key is to make sure that the type of flooring you choose fits the interior design of the rest of the house. Thus, the type of flooring that you choose won't matter.

by: Greg Pierce

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