How to Choose the Perfect Hardwood Floors for Your Home
Hardwood floors are an excellent addition to any home or interior space. They add elegance, warmth, comfort, and even a higher resale value to any space.
However, with so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right hardwood floor for your home and understand the specifications. To help you make an informed decision, we'll discuss some essential factors to consider when purchasing hardwood floors and why The Allora Difference makes every color in our collection the perfect match for your next project.
Type of Wood & Plywood: The type of wood you choose for your hardwood floor will have a significant impact on its durability, appearance, and cost. Some popular options include oak, maple, and hickory. These woods are hard, durable, and can withstand heavy foot traffic without showing signs of wear and tear. Other options such as cherry, walnut, and mahogany are softer but have a beautiful grain pattern that adds character to the floor. Consider the look you want to achieve and the level of foot traffic in the area when choosing the type of wood for your floor.
The Allora Difference: Our premium Italian floors are created using the highest quality European Oak, a species renowned for stunning beauty, exceptional durability, and superior quality. Our high-end floors are crafted using a European Oak wear layer and Birch plywood, a combination of the finest materials and precision manufacturing techniques. This creates a product that is functional, luxurious, and durable. Learn more about our Birch plywood core and why it is so superior to other construction materials. [link to Why Birch article]
Thickness & Wear Layer: The thickness of the hardwood floor will affect its durability and longevity. Thicker planks tend to be more durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic and the thicker the wear layer, the more frequently you can sand and refinish a flooring, if it has excessive wear and tear. Beware of engineered flooring that is too thick or wear layers that are greater than 4mm – these floors tend to perform more like solid flooring and have the instability issues that engineered flooring alleviates with multiple layers.||
The Allora Difference: Allora floors are created at a thickness of 5/8” (15 mm) and a wear layer of 4.0 mm. This is the perfect size for premium engineered hardwood flooring, offering the stability of an engineered product, the durability of a thicker profile, and the longevity of a 4.0 mm wear layer that can be sanded and finished several times over the course of the floor’s lifetime. Our floors are perfect specified for any space, from residential bedrooms to commercial lobbies.
Width: The width of the hardwood planks will affect the overall appearance of the floor. Wider planks create a more spacious and elegant look, while narrower planks create a more traditional and rustic feel. Although this comes down to preference, wider plank floors (7” wide and up) bring a level of modernity and luxury that can be hard to achieve with narrower planks.
The Allora Difference: Our 7-1/2” wide planks are a popular and versatile option for hardwood floors due to the aesthetics, versatility, ease of installation, and durability of this size. Wider planks can create a visually appealing and dramatic look and work well in a variety of room sizes and styles, from small to large. If you are interested in 9-1/2” wide floors, they can be special ordered in any color – simply contact us for more information!
Length: The length of planks can also affect the overall appearance of the floor. Longer planks create a more seamless and sophisticated look, while shorter planks create a more casual and rustic look. Longer planks are harder to source and thus tend to be harder to find
The Allora Difference: Allora floors are impressively long, with each box of flooring offering a majority of planks up to 7’8-1/2”. These incredibly long planks create a more spacious and stunning feel within a room and are sure to be noticed for their premium quality and structure. Finding flooring at these lengths is rare, especially with Select grade colors, which we proudly carry and continue to manufacture at all times.
Texture: The texture of the hardwood floor can add depth and character to the room. Smoother finishes create a clean and modern look, while distressed finishes create a more rustic and worn-in look. Wire-brushed finishes create a textured, weathered look that is perfect for a more vintage aesthetic. Consider the style of your home and personal preferences when choosing the texture of your hardwood floor.
The Allora Difference: Allora’s light wire brushed hardwood floors have a subtle, slightly textured surface that adds depth and character to the wood without being aggressively noticeable. The wire brushing process removes the softest part of the wood grain, leaving a natural, organic texture that enhances the appearance of the floor. This type of texture can help to hide scratches and other imperfections, making it a popular choice for high-traffic areas. Our floors are the delicate balance between smooth flooring and distressed flooring, and with an incredibly durable matte UV lacquer finish, perfectly complement the range of incredible colors we offer.
Finish: The finish of the hardwood floor affects its appearance and durability. There are several types of finishes, including oil-based, water-based, and polyurethane. Oil-based finishes tend to give the floor a more natural and matte appearance, while water-based and polyurethane finishes can create a glossy and reflective surface.
The Allora Difference: Our matte UV lacquer finish is the best choice for those who want a natural-looking finish with minimal shine or reflection, but with all the durability to withstand high traffic areas. The UV-cured lacquer provides a protective layer that helps to resist scratches, stains, and fading from sunlight exposure. This finish gives the floor a matte and even appearance, while also highlighting the natural grain and texture of the wood, without sacrificing durability.
Summed up, Allora premium Italian floors are renowned for their exceptional quality, durability, and beauty. Our floors offer the ideal wide-plank and long-length specifications for stunning aesthetics. Combined with a premium thickness and wear layer, and durable finish, our luxurious looks are backed by superior durability and longevity.
