The first thing you might want to consider,is what type of board you’ll be needing. Of course, the most common for most homeowners is the solid wood boards, which are one piece of wood, all the way through. However, you can also choose engineered wood. This consists of a real wood veneer attached to a backing material. It’s still “real wood”, but it can be installed in places where hardwood can’t. Since it doesn’t expand and contract with changes in humidity and temperature, there’s less chance that it will warp, split or break with these changes.
You will also have the choice of having your floors factory finished,or finished right on your own site. Factory finishes cost a bit less and are usually quicker and easier to install. What’s more, you won’t have the added odors and chemicals that can accompany the process. Site finished, however, will give you a gorgeous appeal that is completely unique to your own home. You have more control over customization this way, although they do require more skill and craftsmanship.If you choose to go the site finished route, you will likely need to vacate your home for days, and possibly weeks, but it’s likely to be very much worth it.
This is another type of flooring that you will want to allow professional installer to complete. Amateur installation of solid hardwood floors can lead to many problems later that you should not have to deal with overall.