There are two basic types of hardwood flooring - solid and engineered. Engineered hardwood floors are made from layers (plies) of both hardwood and softwood. The top layer is typically a solid ply of the species. Solid hardwood flooring is not made up of any plies. It is the pure solid hardwood species and typically costs more.
Nail/staple down, glue down and floating are the three main installation methods. The floating method is the most flexible as it allows for installation on or below grade, over radiant heat floors; in fact, over virtually any subfloor. The Janka hardness test measures the ability of a wood species to withstand damage and degradation. The species' at the top of the list are harder and more durable. SPECIES JANKA RATING Brazilian Cherry 2350 Merbau 1925 Pecan 1820 Maple 1450 White Oak 1360 Ash 1320 Beech 1300 Red Oak 1290 Birch 1260 Walnut 1010 Teak 1000 Cherry 950
