From colour to quality standards, here are four key things to consider when buying hardwood.

It’s stylish, it’s solid, and it’s so easy to clean€”our love of hardwood is here to stay. Alberta Hardwood Flooring shared some insider knowledge about what’s in right now and how it benefits homeowners.

AHF_HardwoodTrends_0031. Wide Plank Flooring

Director of Sales, Paul Rivington, explains that people are moving away from traditional 2-3€ wide planks, in favour of 5-7€ or even 12€ wide hardwood planks. €œIt’s a European influence on style,€ he says. €œThat old industrial look seen in factories is really coming back.€

2. Back to Naturals

Rivington is glad to leave the dark hardwood ages behind. €œDark stained floors don’t accommodated most people’s lifestyles,€ he explains. €œThey reveal every scratch, stain and speck of dirt so easily.€ He calls lighter, even natural oaks and maples a responsible choice for homeowners. €œThey also pair easier with other decor,€ he adds. €œIt’s better from both a practicality and style standpoint.€

3. Engineered Hardwood

€œThe acceptance of engineered hardwood has grown in the last five years,€ says Rivington. The more resistant product (4mm of oak, maple or hickory on top of a plywood core) doesn’t gap from humidity changes, adding stability to those stylish wide planks. €œOur manufacturers only use the highest quality woods in the construction of their engineered cores,€ he says. €œAnd good quality engineered products can be refinished multiple times.€

AHF_HardwoodTrends_0024. Interest in Origins

Rivington has noticed a huge shift in consumers€™ awareness and expectations of quality. €œRecent media coverage has revealed that many overseas manufacturers don’t meet North American quality standards,€ he explains. €œMost customers want Canadian products, or very high quality European products€”which is exactly what we carry.€ Alberta Hardwood Flooring’s entire selection adheres to all Carb and VOC standards.