For a virtually guaranteed wow factor in any residential or commercial setting, hardwood floors are in a category of their own.
Hardwood has been the default flooring choice for hundreds of years and shows no signs of fading. It is easier on your feet than harder surfaces, warmer to the touch, and brings a sense of permanence and character that few other materials can replicate.
In residential settings, wood floors appear throughout the home, including spaces like bathrooms, utility rooms, and mudrooms where other materials are often assumed to be the only option. In commercial environments, hardwood creates warm, inviting interiors in retail shops, restaurants, offices, conference rooms, and public venues like museums, libraries, and auditoriums.
Traditional solid hardwood, milled from planks of solid timber, remains a popular choice wherever a classic, timeless feel is the goal.
Engineered hardwood offers an alternative worth understanding. It is constructed from thinner layers of real wood bonded to other materials, delivering the full look of hardwood while resisting the seasonal expansion and contraction that affects solid planks. Engineered flooring can also be glued directly to concrete and other surfaces, expanding where hardwood can realistically be installed.
One important distinction: engineered hardwood is not laminate. Laminate is made from pressed wood board with a printed image of wood on top, protected by a clear wear layer. With engineered hardwood, the top layer is actual wood. They are very different products.
Oak has long been the top choice in hardwood flooring. Durable, widely available, and receptive to stain, its natural grain suits a broad range of design directions. Walnut is softer than oak with a richer, warmer tone, making it a strong choice when a darker finish is the goal. Other options include hickory, cherry, maple, and ash. The decision largely comes down to personal preference in color and grain character.
Homes from the 18th and 19th centuries typically feature wide plank floors, while more modern construction often used two to three inch strips. Wide plank flooring has made a strong return in recent years. As a general rule, larger rooms handle the aesthetic of wider planks more naturally.
Logs can be cut three ways: plain-sawn, rift-sawn, and quarter-sawn, each producing a distinct grain pattern. They can be sourced individually or mixed. The choice is one of personal preference; all three have a place in well-designed spaces.
This is one of the more consequential decisions in a hardwood flooring project, and your ACS team will have worked through it with you during the planning process.
Prefinished hardwood arrives with stain and topcoat already applied. You know exactly what you are getting, installation moves faster, and the floor is ready for use almost immediately. Prefinished is often the preferred choice for installations over concrete, radiant heat systems, and floating floor configurations.
Site-finished hardwood is finished on location after installation. It offers greater control over stain, sheen, and overall appearance, with access to a broader range of colors, finishes, and custom options including patterns, borders, inlays, and medallions. Site-finished floors can also achieve a perfectly flush surface that is difficult to replicate with prefinished products.
The finish type is another area your ACS team will have discussed with you in advance. The fundamental choice is between oil and polyurethane.
Oil penetrates the wood and delivers a more natural, organic appearance. It is more susceptible to stains and surface damage than polyurethane, but also more forgiving. Scratches are less visible and easier to address, and the floor responds well to regular maintenance.
Polyurethane is the tougher option. It requires less day-to-day maintenance and holds up well under heavy use. When damage does occur, however, the repair may involve replacing a board or recoating an entire section rather than a simple spot treatment.
Both options are handled by ACS craftsmen with the certification and experience to deliver quality results regardless of the finish selected.
Hardwood has specific acclimation requirements that set it apart from other flooring types. We typically recommend that the wood be delivered to your location at least three days before installation to allow it to adjust to the moisture balance in the space. Dry climates may require a longer acclimation period. The interior temperature should remain steady between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit before and during installation, with humidity levels maintained between 30 and 50 percent.
Your ACS team will confirm the specific requirements for your product and location ahead of installation day.
Getting Ready for Your Installation? Download our complimentary Preparing for Your Installation Guide and make sure everything is in order before your ACS team arrives.