There are a lot of different flooring types out there and it can be hard to figure out what type of flooring you have. We will walk you through the different types of flooring including laminate, solid hardwood and engineered flooring. This guide will help you to figure out what type of flooring you have in your home.
Laminate is a hard surface flooring but is not actually hardwood. It is particle board with a printed image on the surface. Laminate can be a beautiful product but it is not hardwood so it cannot be refinished.
Engineered hardwood flooring is a popular option. It is a widely popular product and was especially popular in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. This wood is technically hardwood so it can be confusing to homeowners who are told they have “hardwood”. It is not always a solid plank and the upper layer of the flooring may be different then the rest of the board. The upper layer can be as thing as 1/8th of an inch. When trying to refinish this type of wood it can be too thin and can actually ruin the flooring.
Solid Hardwood is truly a solid hardwood plank. It can be sanded and stained anywhere from 2-6 times throughout the life of the floor. Floors from decades ago and even centuries ago can be resanded and brought back to life.
If you want to identify what flooring you have you can check your air vent. Pulling the cover off and inspecting that plank allows you to see what kind of wood you have. When you look at the plank you will either see a solid plank, layers of wood, or a thin plastic layer. Doing this when you are buying a home is a great way to ensure you know exactly what you are getting. This can also help you save time instead of having a company come out to tell you that your flooring is not refinishable.