Wood floors give a special feel not only to the feet, it adds warmth and makes the home a little more cosy. Many homeowners want to install wood floor because it is easy to clean, it is durable, it is tough, natural, warm and safe for the environment. You can give your home a makeover by just changing to a wood floor.

But before you start to install your wood floor, there are few details you may want to take care of. First you need to understand the types of wood flooring. There are basically three main types of wood flooring :

1. Strip

This type of flooring is differentiated by the thickness and width of the wood planks. Strip lengths vary depending on the grade of material. Strip flooring ranges in thickness from 5/16 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch wide that are laid parallel. Strip flooring is a versatile solid wood product, they have interlocking tongue and groove edges on four sides. It is suitable for use as a structural floor.

2. Planks

Planks can be one of your materials to install wood floors. Planks are obtained when a saw is passed through the log, with each consecutive plank cut a little wider

until the center was reached. The end result was several different widths of wood planks. Planks range from 3 to 7 inches wide and may be laid in random lengths and plugged at the ends of each piece.

3. Parquet

Parquet floors is a mosaic of small pieces of wood used in a geometric pattern. The patterns of parquet flooring are entirely geometrical and angular. Some laid in squares, or some in triangles. The most popular parquet flooring pattern is herringbone.

You can install your wood floors in 6- to 12-inch tiles which is now most commonly done.

Most hardwood floors come coated with waterborne urethanes and impregnated acrylics that are durable and very resistant to liquids. This is good when children would spill anything from soup to soda and cleaning up is extremely easy. For maximum durability, once you install your wood floor, it must be sanded and then sealed with at least two coats of polyurethane or wax.