Flooring Selection Guide

Serving Southeastern Wisconsin

Flooring Guide: Choosing the Right Floor for Your Home

At Wicks Wood Floors, Inc, we believe the best flooring decision is an informed one. With so many styles, grades, and materials available, it can feel overwhelming to know which option is right for your home. This guide is designed to simplify the process by helping you understand the differences between hardwood grades, lumber cuts, construction types, and alternatives like LVP.

Need help deciding? Contact us today for a free consultation and estimate.

Hardwood Floor Grades

Hardwood grades reflect the visual characteristics of the wood, not its durability. Each grade affects the amount of visible character, knots, and color variation.

Red and White Oak Grades

• Clear wood: Minimal character marks with a smooth, uniform look
• Select wood: Natural color variation with subtle knots and streaks
• No. 1 common: A blend of light and dark tones with visible character marks
• No. 2 common / character: Rustic appearance with prominent natural features
• Live sawn white oak: Shows knots, sapwood, and streaks for a varied, natural look

Hickory Grades

• Clear wood: Natural variation in color with occasional tight knots and streaks
• Character grade: Rustic look with open knots (fillable), worm holes, checks, and bird pecks

Beech, Birch, and Hard Maple Grades

• First grade: Minimal imperfections with natural color consistency
• Second grade: Includes streaks, sound knots, and checks while maintaining quality
• Third grade: More imperfections and variation for a rustic or practical floor

By understanding these grading terms, you'll be better equipped to choose a look that fits your home, from clean and modern to warm and rustic.

Types of Lumber Cuts

The way hardwood is cut from the log impacts both its appearance and performance.

• Plainsawn: Cathedral-style grain patterns and the most common cut
• Quartersawn: Straight grain lines with decorative flecks, more dimensionally stable
• Riftsawn: Very linear and uniform grain, ideal for modern aesthetics
• Livesawn: A mix of cuts that create a naturally varied and rustic floor

Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood

Both options use real hardwood but differ in structure and where they perform best.

Solid hardwood

• Made from one solid piece of wood
• Refinishable multiple times over its lifetime
• Ideal for above-grade areas like bedrooms and living rooms
• Feels substantial and traditional underfoot

Engineered hardwood

• Constructed with a hardwood top layer and plywood core
• Handles moisture and humidity better, suitable for basements and radiant heat
• Refinishable depending on the thickness of the wear layer
• Typically more affordable and versatile

Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Prefinished hardwood is stained and sealed at the factory, ready to install right away.

Benefits of Prefinished Hardwood

• Quick installation: No sanding or staining after installation
• Less mess: No dust from sanding or odors from finishes
• Durable finish: Factory-applied finishes are extremely strong and consistent
• Wide variety: Available in many stain colors, textures, and sheens

Things To Consider

• Prefinished planks usually have micro-beveled edges, leaving small seams between boards
• Limited customization compared to site-finished hardwood
• Harder to blend seamlessly with existing hardwood

Engineered Prefinished Hardwood

Engineered prefinished hardwood offers the benefits of engineered stability and factory-applied finishes.

• Real hardwood top layer over a multi-layer plywood core
• Fast, clean installation with a wide selection of styles
• Suitable for basements, concrete slabs, or radiant heat systems
• Refinishable depending on wear layer thickness

Choose prefinished (solid or engineered) for speed, durability, and a wide variety of factory-finished looks. Choose site-finished for custom stains and a seamless surface.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and Tile (LVT)

LVP and LVT mimic the look of real wood or stone with added durability and affordability.

Benefits of Luxury Vinyl

• Waterproof and scratch-resistant: Ideal for high-traffic and moisture-prone areas
• Cost-effective: A stylish alternative to hardwood or tile
• Easy maintenance: Simple to clean and care for
• Comfortable: Softer and warmer underfoot than ceramic tile

Types of LVP Cores

• SPC (stone plastic composite): Rigid, waterproof, and durable for kitchens and basements
• WPC (wood plastic composite): Softer and more cushioned underfoot, great for family spaces

Which Flooring Is Right for You?

• Want timeless beauty and refinishing potential: Choose solid hardwood
• Need moisture resistance in basements or radiant heat: Choose engineered hardwood
• Want fast installation with less mess: Choose prefinished hardwood
• Looking for a waterproof and budget-friendly option: Choose LVP or LVT
• Love rustic character: Select No. 1 or No. 2 common grades
• Prefer clean, modern lines: Try riftsawn or quartersawn white oak
• Need low-maintenance flooring: Prefinished or LVP are ideal

Let Wicks Be Your Guide

Every home and family is different, and so is every floor. At Wicks Wood Floors, we’ll walk you through your options, answer your questions, and recommend the best fit for your lifestyle, space, and budget.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We proudly serve Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Delafield, Pewaukee, Hartland, and surrounding Lake Country communities.