This unique, high quality, floor was installed by Handyguy Brian. Listen to the podcast for details.

The Handyguys tackle hard wood flooring.

The Handyguys would like to thank A to Z Exotic Hardwoods for sponsoring this episode. They specialize in procuring the worlds most beautiful woods. With a virtually unlimited palette of colors and figures in native American as well as imported species, they can use the warmth and radiance of real woods to customize your interior projects

Steve asked:

Hey Handyguys… awesome shows.  I am planning to replace my carpets on the first floor of my house with hard wood flooring.  However, when I began to research hard wood flooring I learned that there are many kinds of “hard wood” flooring.  There are laminate floors, pre-finished floors, pre-engineered hardwoods and traditional solid hardwood planks.  And then there are laminate floors that use “fake” wood.  Please let me know what kind of wood flooring I should use on the first floor of my house including the kitchen.

There are many choices in wood flooring especially since resellers are marketing wood from all over the world.

Your floors should be flat, clean and stable before installing hardwood. Listen to the podcast for an overview of the install process.

Let’s define your choices:

Laminate flooring.  Several companies make laminate flooring that is uses particle board (or similar) as a base and then a top layer that is not necessarily wood.  It is made to look like wood.  This flooring is generally put down in sections that are glued or snapped together.

Brian does not like this flooring for reasons that may surprise you. Listen to the podcast to find out why.

Engineered flooring.  This flooring typically uses a plywood base with a layer of real wood on the top.  This wood has some benefits for installation and stability and can have a tough finish.  It can be pricey though.

Traditional Hard wood flooring.  This is typically 3/4″ thick.  You have lots of choices from around the globe.  The installation will require a nailer and you have a choice between non-finished and pre-finished.

So what kind of floor should the handyguy purchase and install? And how do you install it?  Listen to the podcast for our recommendations.

The Handyguys would like to thank A to Z Exotic Hardwoods for sponsoring this episode. The images below are just a few of their customers floors. Click on the banner to visit their site and contact them if you want hardwood floors. Click each image to see a larger view.