Hardwood Floors in Peoria, IL

Hardwood flooring is known for its natural beauty as well as durability. Its rich color and elegance are associated with luxury and value.  At Columbia Rug Carpet One Floor & Home, our flooring professionals can help you make an educated purchase. We can access the latest industry news and exclusive waterproof and pet-friendly hardwood brands to fit your lifestyle. 

Are you considering hardwoods for your space? Here are a few things to consider when purchasing your new floors.

Can Humidity Damage My Hardwood Floors?

While most wood products can benefit from humidity, there is a specific range of humidity for hardwood floors. The relative humidity of a house with hardwood floors should range from 35% to 60%.

During the winter, the air in your home can be dry, leading to gapping between your floorboards as the planks shrink. In humid months, swelling can cause your hardwood planks to buckle and cup.

Protect Your Hardwoods from Humidity

• During installation, it’s a good idea to leave space between the wood planks when we install your floor so that they can naturally expand and shrink.
• A hygrometer can help you maintain your humidity levels.
• Use a humidifier and dehumidifier when appropriate to keep your wood floors in the best possible shape.

Are There Different Types of Hardwood Flooring?

When selecting hardwood floors, there are various choices to compare.

Different hardwood species differ in strength and color, so if you need a floor to stand up to heavy foot traffic or children and pets, choose a more solid type of hardwood. You can even choose between unfinished and finished hardwood for a customized look.

What is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

The most significant decision with hardwood is choosing between engineered and solid hardwood, both of which have beneficial characteristics such as refinishing.

• Solid hardwood floors are the original hardwood option. They have a simple construction in which each plank is made from a single solid piece of premium wood. This includes maple, mahogany, hickory, birch, and oak. Solid hardwood is beautiful and can add real estate value to your home. This is partly because the planks are designed to last for decades or even longer. They are usually thick enough to refinish them for a brand-new floor over the years.

• Engineered hardwood is made by laminating together 3 to 7 layers of composite wood. The top layer is a natural wood veneer, which is why solid and engineered floors look identical from the surface. The sublayers are pressed together in a cross-grain direction. If you are dealing with a space with a lot of foot traffic or are concerned about humidity warping your solid wood floors, consider engineered planks. Engineered planks are stabilized to prevent swelling in moisture-prone conditions. Unlike solid wood, some engineered planks can’t be refinished more than once or twice. However, higher-quality engineered floors have thicker veneers that can be sanded down just as often as solid wood.

Where Can Hardwood Floors Be Installed?

Engineered hardwood planks can be installed on all levels of your home, including in finished basements.

• These floors are ideal for busy and active households.
• They can withstand the heavy burden of furniture and other appliances without showing much wear and use.

Solid hardwood flooring is best for homes that see moderate foot traffic.

• If you have pets, trim their nails so they do not damage the floor. The drawback to solid wood is that it can only be installed in limited areas of your home.
• Sticking with dry spaces that are on or above grade is recommended, like a bedroom or home office.

Where Can I Find the Best Hardwood Flooring in Peoria?  

Columbia Rug Carpet One Floor & Home is more than your locally-owned flooring retailer. We are a member of one of the largest flooring cooperatives, which gives us an advantage over the big box flooring retailers. We carry all the best hardwood brands, such as Mannington and Baroque.

We promise you'll find unique and distinctive products with us for a great price, thanks to our increased buying power as a co-op. We encourage you to browse our online hardwood selection or visit our showroom today.