Product:

  

 Solid Hardwood Engineered Hardwood Longstrip Laminated Bamboo Cork
Durability:   Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent Excellent
How Supplied:   planks; planks multi-board planks, 7' Planks Planks, panels Planks, Tiles
Install Where:   above-grade anywhere, above or below-grade anywhere, above or below-grade anywhere, above or below-grade; concrete above-grade above-grade
Float, Nail,
Staple, Glue:		   N, S F, N, S, G F, N, S, G F N, S, G (F) F, S, G
DIY Install:   NR Y Y Y Y* Y*
Ease of Cleaning:   Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Refinishable:   Y** Y** Y** NR Y** Y**
Sound Deadening:   Minimal Minimal Minimal Medium Medium High
    RESISTS:
Fading:   Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Stains:   Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Excellent Very Good
Moisture:   Fair Good Good Good Good Fair
Mold/Mildew:   Fair Fair Fair Fair Good Very Good
Anti-bacterial:   Poor Poor Poor Poor Good Very Good
Pricing:   Medium/High Medium Medium Low/Medium Low/Medium Medium/High
   Notes:
  • Based on residential materials and use
  • Price Range is meant as a general guideline; for material only, excluding underlayment, padding, substrate preparation; based on national figures, so will vary by region and store.
  • DIY installation assumes some level of experience in carpentry and similar projects. Although considered fairly “easy,” this is a subjective determination; new flooring installation would not generally be a good novice project.
  • “Stain Resistance” is based on normal household chemicals.
  • If moisture is present below grade you should consult a professional flooring contractor to see if the room is suitable for floor covering.
  • *Some styles of bamboo and cork flooring may be better suited for professional installation
  • **Generally speaking, DIY refinishing is not recommended as the original multi-coat finish cannot be replicated. However, the solid wood products are more refinishable than the laminated products because they have no top veneer that might be sanded through, or sub-plies to be exposed. Most floorings are better fixed by replacing damaged sections with new pieces or pieces from hidden areas (room edges) which are themselves replaced with new.