Today’s post is from Rob Jones, chief blogger, social media guy, and online marketer with BuildDirect, an online building materials and flooring supplier. Hardwood flooring is a reliable, great looking, and very long-lasting floor option. Millions of homeowners and companies invest in hardwood floor installations every year with great satisfaction and long-term success for all of these reasons. BUT! Just be aware that it doesn’t always make sense for your particular space. This can be due to environmental barriers like high-moisture content for instance. When this is the case, it’s time to re-access. A word of advice that reputable vendors give to customers regarding solid hardwood flooring is that sometimes, it’s best to choose an alternative that will stand up to things like higher moisture content. Moisture, or sometimes the lack of it, can make hardwood swell and contract. It’s a natural material, so that’s what it does in any circumstance. Actually, you should expect it to do that to some degree. But, when the balance isn’t right, this can lead to a very poor result. And when you bought hardwood flooring, that’s not what you signed on for. So, installing in these areas are to be avoided: bathrooms laundry areas ‘below-grade’ installations – basically, anywhere below the ground like your basement areas not environmentally controlled all-year around – like cottages and summer homes not occupied all year . Another thing to consider is that hardwood has to be nailed to a subfloor. If you’re on a slab, that’s just not feasible. But, what are the alternatives when installing solid hardwood just isn’t the way to go? Well, let’s look at a few examples here: 1. Laminate flooring Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. Laminate flooring can be floated, so no ‘nail-down’ needed if you don’t have a wood subfloor. And the evolution of laminate has taken it to another level these days so as to make it almost indistinguishable from solid hardwood. Review the warranty with your chosen vendor, though, when it comes to off-limits areas to install them. And it’s not a great idea to install these in bathrooms/laundry rooms either. Check the AC rating too, which is a grade on how much traffic the particular type of laminate has been tested for. 2. Engineered Hardwood The beauty of engineered is that it incorporates real wood as a veneer layer, but it’s reinforced to manage expansion and contraction with a core of material made from high-density fiberboard. This means when it comes to the basement installation that you need to float, you can go crazy. Many types of engineered floors can go over

radiant heating systems too, which is not a good idea with solid. Ask your vendor about that. But, much like laminate, a lot of the ‘excessive moisture’ rules apply. Don’t put them in your bathroom, or laundry room. 3. ‘Direct Print’ Bamboo Bamboo has an eco-friendly reputation, and for many good reasons. But, not everyone likes its distinctive ‘knuckle-pattern’ look. But, there’s a solution; direct print bamboo, which takes strand-woven bamboo boards and overlays a hardwood pattern and color range directly on to it. The result is an unbelievable replica of a real hardwood species. With bamboo, you can generally glue it to a subfloor if you need to. But, you should still be mindful of moisture.Bamboo expands and contracts with the best of them. 4. Vinyl Tile/Plank When you’re looking to incorporate that wood grain look quickly, within a tight budget, and without having to hire an installer, vinyl tile or vinyl planks that feature wood grain patterning, and even texture, is a great choice. The great part is that they can be laid over nearly any surface, within reason of course. And moisture isn’t really a concern as it would be with a natural wood product like solid hardwood. 5. Porcelain ‘Wood Grain’ Tile This may be one of the most amazing products listed here. As you may or may not know, porcelain tile is completely impervious to moisture, which is why it’s been used widely in the areas talked about here as being problem areas for wood; bathrooms and laundry rooms. But, innovation has brought porcelain into other areas too, and done so with style. The wood grain pattern is, again, indistinguishable from the real thing. And if you want to put it in your bathroom, or laundry room, or basement, or pretty much every room of the house, you go for it . So, there you have it. Just because solid hardwood isn’t a great fit for your space, there are plenty of options to consider beyond it for that classic wood grain look. As mentioned above, when you’re making a big purchase like a new floor, a good dialogue with your vendor is vital. Ask them about installation issues and how they affect your warranty, for instance. Make sure that your investment in a new floor is going to be a long-term investment. And whatever you decide on, enjoy your floors! *** For more from Rob, read the BuildDirect blog . You can follow Rob and BuildDirect on Twitter , and ‘like’ the BuildDirect Facebook page , too.

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Creative Alternatives to Wood Flooring