Choosing the perfect hardwood floors is as much a practical decision as it is a personal one. Your new floors should be a reflection of who you are, but you also have to consider environmental factors. Florida weather is notoriously hot and humid, so the subtropical climate plays a huge part in deciding which floors are right for your home. It can be overwhelming but don’t buy hardwood flooring direct from the manufacturer before you know what floors will work best for your home. Ability WoodFlooring is here to remove the guesswork. Let’s take a look at the effects Florida weather could have on solid and engineered hardwood.
Unfinished Solid Hardwood Flooring
Unfinished wood flooring is flooring that’s finished AFTER installation. Solid hardwood isn’t the best option for Florida’s climate because it easily absorbs moisture. Florida’s average humidity is around 74% which means there’s a high probability of swelling and warping in solid wood floors. Severe cracking and separation of the floorboards mean that it’s probably time to replace hardwood floors. Oiling, varnishing or lacquering can protect them from warping that inevitably follows prolonged exposure to humid environments.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered wood is a little easier to deal with. As the name implies, engineered hardwood is made of layered materials, usually, several layers of plywood sandwiched between two layers of natural wood, while solid hardwood is made of solid wood blocks. The plywood layers are moisture-resistant, so unfinished engineered wood receives minimal damage compared to solid wood flooring. This is why it may be a good idea to replace your hardwood floor with engineered wood. A durable topcoat helps prevent the warping of the top layer of engineered wood planks, but these floors tend to require less maintenance than solid wood overall.
CTA: Don’t buy hardwood flooring direct from manufacturers! Get fair pricing and quality floors from Ability Wood Flooring. Check out our inventory here.
What to Choose?
Engineered hardwood floors may present the least amount of issues for Florida homeowners. They tolerate humid environments much better than solid hardwood floors, so choosing to replace hardwood floors with engineered wood may be the best option. With proper maintenance and installation, these floors could last a long time.
If you live in the Orlando area and are in need of flooring installation and maintenance, give Ability Wood Flooring a call at (407) 422-0169.
Don’t buy hardwood flooring direct from the manufacturer! If you’re ready to replace your hardwood floors with engineered wood, Ability Wood Flooring offers the best prices and the largest selection of wood flooring to customers across the U.S. Check out our inventory here!
