Confused when people start taking about laminate flooring, engineered wood, hardwood, solid woods...pre-finished vs. unfinished..well then read on and this will help 110%!! 1) There are two types of Genuine Wood...Solid is 100% solid wood, and most of the time able to be sanded and refinished. Engineered Hardwood is also 100% wood but is manufacutured by permanently bonding together multiple layers of solid wood in a cross-ply construction. The result is superior strength and a moisture humidity resistance. 2) Pretty as a picture...lamiante flooring is not real engineered hardwood. It is a printed piece of paper laminated onto a fiberboard and then given a protective coating...the advantages are cost, and ease of installation. In addition the advances in technology produce some very realistic laminates. 3) Installed everywhere...Solid hardwood flooring is almost always recommended for installation at or above ground level because it is sensative to shrinking and expanding from moisture or temperature change and is typically nailed or stapled to the sub-floor. Engineered hardwood can be installed at any level in the home and can be glued, stapled or floated over wood (just like laminate), concrete or other existing floors. 4) Pre-finished vs. Unfinished...In pre-finished floors, stains and high performance aluminum oxide coatings are applied and dried in a controlled factory environment using specialized equipment which is not available to flooring installers. The result is a much more durable finish, a uniform stain application and a cleaner environment. The look and durability is far greater in pre-finished then site finished. 5) Color variation..The color of the wood is a result of its natural color and graining, as well as the stain that is applied to the wood. With many species, the wood's color will change over time as it is exposed to natural sunlight...just slighty. 6) Species impacts look and durability..For example, traditional Oak species have pronouced variations in grain and shade while Maple's wood grain is cleaner and more understated. And not all species of hardwood are equally as hard. 7) Width and edge detail are key...Hardwood comes in Strips(under 3" wide, usually 2-1/4" wide) and Planks (three inches or wider). The way the edges and ends of the board are cut is caled edge detail. There are many options such as square(flush) or beveled(groves) and each option will give you a different look. 8) Gloss and texture...Hardwood floors come in basically one gloss level, although some products are available in low gloss. 9) Trim and moldings...For a finishing touch, many coordinated hardwood moldings are available..quarter round for where the floor meet the baseboard, end moldings for finishing edges such as sliding glass doors, fireplaces, cabinets etc, T Molding where two pieces of flooring meet together, Reducer strips to go from flooring to carpeting and Stair Nose for stairs....Your flooring retailer will help you choose the right types of molding for your project 10) Maintenance is easy...Sweep or dust mop once a week with soft fabircs like cotton or terry cloth. Clean up spills immediately. And, regularily use recommended hardwood flooring cleaners. Hopefully this takes some of the mystery out of the hardwood dilema. Hardwood is perfect for kitchens, baths, basements or anyroom of the house. What will help is a knowledable retailer to hep guide you to making the right decisions for your home. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (866) 705-1340 and I can elaborate on anything in this article or other questions you may have. I hope you enjoyed my first piece of writing!!