Hardwood flooring is a classic choice that blends well with nearly any type of home. Choosing the type of hardwood floor you want can be challenging because of the large variety available over a wide price range. Here's a look at some factors that help narrow down your choice.

If You Have Kids or Dogs

Hardwood floors are a good match for kids and dogs as long as you choose the right kind of wood. Different types of wood have different degrees of hardness. You can even find the hardness rating on the wood when you look at samples in a flooring store. Harder wood stands up better to heavy use, which means it can resist denting and scratching better. Also, wood that has a scraped or weathered finish has a lot of texture that can hide scratches. Wood that has rich grain, knots, and holes is also a good choice if you anticipate your floors will get a lot of wear from an active household.

If Moisture is a Possibility

There are two types of hardwood flooring: engineered and solid. Neither type tolerates getting wet, but solid hardwood doesn't even tolerate dampness or high humidity like you might find in a basement. Solid hardwood is suitable for rooms above grade, and engineered hardwood can be used in basements and above radiant floor heating. Engineered hardwood has a top layer of solid wood glued to a base of other layers of wood that limits swelling and contracting in response to humidity. This prevents the wood from warping and cracking. You can find both types of wood flooring in a variety of types and finishes. You might be able to refinish engineered flooring only once, while you can refinish solid wood several times over the life of your floor.

When Ease of Installation Matters

If you're going to install your floors yourself, you probably want an option that's easy to put down. If you'll have the floors installed professionally, an easy installation process helps the work go quicker and will be less disruptive. If you want easy installation, then consider engineered floating floors or prefinished planks. Engineered hardwood can float above the sub floor by clicking the planks together. This makes for a more friendly DIY installation. Also, when you buy planks that are finished at the factory, you won't have to deal with the disruption of having the floors finished at your house after the planks are installed. Pre-finished planks may even resist scratching better because the manufacturer can add products that protect the wood and apply them in multiple layers. You can still choose the degree of glossiness and color that you like.

The biggest decision you have is choosing the appearance of your floor. The kind of wood you choose determines the color and amount of knots and grain. You can choose from strips, planks, and wide planks. This allows you to buy the right floor for your home no matter what type of house you have and the type of decor you love.