With the leaps and bounds in technology it is now easier than ever before to install hardwood floors. Two of the more popular emerging technologies for this task include glued down strips as well as floating strip flooring. Either of these offers an excellent choice for the installation of engineered hardwood flooring.



Glued down strip flooring is often considered superior investment for the price. This type of flooring is surprisingly easy to install. This flooring consists of a top layer that is actually made of wood and multiple layers beneath that are made of softer woods. The reason for this is that the layers of soft wood are less likely to expand and contract as a result of humidity, which will increase the resistance to warping and swelling during your floors lifetime. This particular type of flooring, while popular in Europe, has only recently gained notice in America.

Floating flooring is another popular type of hardwood flooring. This particular type of flooring uses a locking system for installation. This flooring comes in strips that are designed with a top layer that is made of hardwood and a less expensive wooden backing. The hardwood layers on this particular type of flooring will fluctuate between .5 mm and 2.5 mm thick. As a result of the thinness of the wooden layer this type of flooring is often referred to as a veneer. It is also generally too thin to sand or stain. The thicker hardwoods can be sanded and finished at least one time but the vast majority cannot.

These floors are both rather simple to install as the pieces come in strips that fit together like the pieces of a puzzle. Your job is to snap the pieces into place and lay them on top of the sub flooring. The floors have a special design that allows the boards to create a special type of surface tension. This tension allows them to support an amazing amount of weight without breaking. Another bonus to this type of flooring is the ease at which it can be cleaned.

There are a few things you should consider before installing either of these flooring types. First, both flooring types are sold as both multi-strips or wide plank boards. A multi-strip board combines hardwood with softwood backing while the wide plank boards are one solid piece of hardwood and often much more rustic in appearance. They also tend to have beveled edges rather than the smooth square edges known to provide smoother seems.

When you choose the types of floors you want to install, make sure that you are aware and comfortable with the procedure for installing the floors you've chosen. Berryloc and Uniclic offer some of the sturdiest interlocking flooring systems. If price is a deciding factor skip the sanding and staining and select floors that offer attractive elegant veneers. Some of the more beautiful veneers include Mahogany, Wenge, Bamboo, and Zebrano. The attractiveness of these hardwoods makes them an excellent choice for floors.